KMSB & KTTU to be operated by KOLD

[Mediafrog+]

Yes, it's Tucson, not Phoenix, but of interest in Arizona:

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2011/11/15/55453/belo-turning-over-kmsb-kttu-to-kold

 

[desertv]

I wonder why they didn't just keep it in the "azfamily" and transfer operation to 3TV/CW6? Typical Tuk-son anti Phoenix mentality?

 

[formeraa]

I wonder why they didn't just keep it in the "azfamily" and transfer operation to 3TV/CW6? Typical Tuk-son anti Phoenix mentality?

No, I'm sure it was made at a much higher level of Belo than the management of the Tucson stations. I'm sure they investigated a number of possibilities, including doing the news again here in Phoenix. At the end of the day, it was probably a cost-based decision. Perhaps KOLD has agreed to hire some of the employees and/or management. Furthermore, it sounds like the Tucson stations' offices are basically closing altogether. Unless we have an insider here, we'll never know.

 

[Sammi Brie]

Consolidation makes my stomach sick.

It is time to just outright ban JSAs/LMAs/SSAs. They have been abused, and it is time for station owners to pay the price.

 

[landtuna]

I wonder why they didn't just keep it in the "azfamily" and transfer operation to 3TV/CW6? Typical Tuk-son anti Phoenix mentality?

I was about to mention that Tucsonans will not be happy if they learn their programming is coming from that detested big city to the north.

 

[EricStein]

I wonder why they didn't just keep it in the "azfamily" and transfer operation to 3TV/CW6? Typical Tuk-son anti Phoenix mentality?

No, I'm sure it was made at a much higher level of Belo than the management of the Tucson stations. I'm sure they investigated a number of possibilities, including doing the news again here in Phoenix. At the end of the day, it was probably a cost-based decision. Perhaps KOLD has agreed to hire some of the employees and/or management. Furthermore, it sounds like the Tucson stations' offices are basically closing altogether. Unless we have an insider here, we'll never know.

Maybe the master plan is for Belo to sell their Arizona stations, now that they've given Raycom the keys to its Tucson stations (master control for KMSB/KTTU are leaving KTVK). I don't think the Phoenix stations are worth as much as when they bought them in '99 (mornings are doing well for KTVK, other dayparts not so much). But, who's buying stations right now? Scripps already owns a property in Phoenix, and Sinclair would gut the stations even leaner than Belo has done.

 

[ShowLow]

Since KOLD took over the news operations at KMSB I don't notice much change other than the anchors and reporters. Low quality version of KOLD's own newscast IMO. And then KOLD repeats the same stories at 10pm.

 

[formeraa]

Amazingly, Tucson stations absorbed most of the KMSB staff as reporters and anchors. I think only three of their on-air people had to leave town.

Belo really didn't play up the regional nature of its stations...e.g. "Covering all of Arizona", etc. Good Morning Arizona could have truly lived up to its name, with a reporter and anchor in Tucson, for instance.