KRON for sale-Young hires advisers to help make a deal by first-quarter end

[tripinva]

Nobody'll watch. CBS has tried on and off and people just have 2/4/7 too ingrained.

- Trip

 

[djj]

"Hey Jim Gabbert KRON Channel 4 is 4 Sale! Work your magic!"

Good idea. He could even recycle the original TV 20 jingle and image slogan, only this time, it would be:

"We've got what you're looking 4..."

Day-glo KRON 4 billboards and bumper stickers all over the Bay Area. Midday "Mystery Movies" (ha, ha) consisting of Barnaby Jones and Cannon reruns, hosted by TK (Tony Kilbert). The Sunday Night Movie from the Sleazy Arms Hotel. A KRON 4 50's Dance Party hosted by Gabbert in that ridiculous sequin jacket.

What could be better? I'd waste some time watching it...

So would I...
Heck, I'd even settle for the return of The Old Sourdough and Wachikanoka on KRON...

Wow - that above quote is EXACTLY a-year-and-1-day-old tonight! Hasn't the Dance Party returned to TV 20 since?

KRON's VJ's shoot with relatively small prosumer sized cameras. And they may be not be shoulder mounted, as are the broadcast cameras other Bay Area station photogs use.

Comparing the two types, it's harder to keep a smaller, lightweight camera from shaking... in part due how it's held, the lack of mass (and inertia) that keeps a larger camera steadier... and the camera may not have any optical or digital movement compensation... or it may not be turned on.

That's why I use a tripod whenever possible....
TL.

I cannot say how long it's been since I watched KRON 4 Gnus, but it's been awhile. The VJs (Video
Journalists) with either their shaky-camera or nail-your-camera-down-to-the-ground prowess just
started getting to me. At times, the VJ cameras make KRON look so cheap compared to the
stations around them. Many times, you didn't get to see the journalist's face on camera. Sad...

But what can Young Broadcasting DO with KRON, with the economy and KRON's overall ratings problems?
--jay

 

[Madmansam]

We are hearing that Sinclair Broadcast Group may be a possible buyer of the Young Stations. This is only a rumor and nothing has been finalized.....

Oh no! Sinclair? Remember how they gutted KOVR. Remember those commentaries that are forced on all Sinclair stations... "The Point" by Mark Hyman?

Hmmm....

Michael, I am curious? What Was Worst: What Sinclair Did To KOVR or What Young Did To KRON? If Sinclair were to acquire KRON, There is not much left to Gut There.

Well, it's hard to fathom, but I guess KRON could eliminate the entire news operation, and run even more hours of infomercials.

Maybe KRON can give the ION Network/KKPX-65 a run for its money?

 

[JackBauer112]

I think KRON's best buyer is Belo Corporation which owns WFAA-TV Dallas/Fort Worth (Flagship) and the Dallas Morning News. They also once owned KXTV 10 from 1984 (Corinthian) to 1999 when Gannett swapped KXTV with KVUE due to the establishment of the Texas Cable News which has since somewhat flopped because it's modeled after King Broadcasting's (Acquired by Belo in 1997 with merger with Providence Journal Company) NorthWest Cable News Which shares it's sources from KING 5/KONG 6 16 Seattle, KGW 8 Portland, KREM 2 Spokane and KTVB 7 Boise. With that happening, Belo should acquire KRON so they could re-enter a Cali market after the KXTV sale to Gannett nearly 10 years ago.

 

[LKellerIII]

I think KRON's best buyer is Belo Corporation which owns WFAA-TV Dallas/Fort Worth (Flagship) and the Dallas Morning News. They also once owned KXTV 10 from 1984 (Corinthian) to 1999 when Gannett swapped KXTV with KVUE due to the establishment of the Texas Cable News which has since somewhat flopped because it's modeled after King Broadcasting's (Acquired by Belo in 1997 with merger with Providence Journal Company) NorthWest Cable News Which shares it's sources from KING 5/KONG 6 16 Seattle, KGW 8 Portland, KREM 2 Spokane and KTVB 7 Boise. With that happening, Belo should acquire KRON so they could re-enter a Cali market after the KXTV sale to Gannett nearly 10 years ago.

Either I'm experiencing deja vu all over again, or we've talked about these same potential buyers before.

Why would Hearst, Belo, or any other corporation want to buy KRON in the first year of an economic downturn that is hopefully not the second Great Depression - especially considering KRON was losing money when the economy was healthy?

You might as well say Klingons should come to Earth to buy KRON to start their terrestrial media empire. It's only slightly less likely.

 

[1069_KIFR]

Klingons should come to Earth to buy KRON to start their terrestrial media empire! And enter the Cali market!
(sorry, just couldn't pass that up)
;D

 

[Newschannel4SF]

More Changes coming to KRON - Dr. Phil moves back to 8PM on February 2nd

Well the KRON Primetime News at 8 didn't fly and Dr. Phil will move back to 8PM beginning Monday, February 2nd. This comes as evidence the station is struggling with the ratings....just wonder what is next on the agenda?????

 

[djj]

Re: More Changes coming to KRON - Dr. Phil moves back to 8PM on February 2nd

....just wonder what is next on the agenda?????

Since you asked, NC4SF, it's not good...

Today (January 22) in the San Francisco Chronicle's business section (second item when you scroll
within the link below), it states that Young Broadcasting "skipped a $6.125 million interest payment
to bondholders last week, as it tries to "restructure" its way out of going belly-up.
"The company, based in New York, is in debt to the tune of $821 million"...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/22/BU4G15EFC7.DTL&hw=KRON&sn=001&sc=1000

Stay tuned for further developments...
Maybe...
--jay

 

[1069_KIFR]

They blew it with the My Network affiliation. They lost the 9pm news, frim which I understood did fairly well in the ratings. Dr. Phil at 8pm did pretty good also. With Dr. Phil as a lead in to the 9pm news, that was a good thing they had going until the My Network schedule screwed it all up.

 

[Newschannel4SF]

Young delisted on the Nasdaq

Young has been officially been notified of their delisting on the Nasdaq. Their new listing is YBTVA.PK > SEC Filings for YBTVA.PK.

 

[lugnuts6]

From what has been reported, young is going to be on the OTC stocks, plus Does ANYONE have any info on the continued rumors of the miami based spanish language tv network UNIVISION buying up young broadcasting stock???!!!

 

[JackBenny]

Hi Folks - I have never posted here but I thought this would be of interest to the thread:

TV station owner Young Broadcasting files Chp. 11
TV station owner Young Broadcasting files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in NY court
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/TV-station-owner-Young-apf-14364659.html

UPDATE 1-TV operator Young Broadcasting files bankruptcy
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idINN1317496920090214?rpc=44

Young Broadcasting to Restructure Balance Sheet Through Chapter 11
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Young-Broadcasting-to-bw-14364116.html

 

[Newschannel4SF]

Vern Glenn officially ended his 19 year weekend sports with some great clips from the past. He officially announced last night that this weekend would be his last sportscast. Vern will do sports reporting off-site Monday through Friday on the KRON 4 evening News. Vern did say that this change was part of the reorganization Young is doing at the station.

 

[LKellerIII]

Vern Glenn officially ended his 19 year weekend sports with some great clips from the past. He officially announced last night that this weekend would be his last sportscast. Vern will do sports reporting off-site Monday through Friday on the KRON 4 evening News. Vern did say that this change was part of the reorganization Young is doing at the station.

I feel bad for Vernon Glenn - a talented sportscaster. Unlike most local TV news farewells, it's likely only a few hundred people were watching.

"Reorganization" in this case is obviously means laying off even more people - especially the few well paid veteran professionals that are left at KRON. Maybe one of those VJ reporters will anchors sports now.

 

[JackBauer112]

Well, I officially now give up on KRON, all they now air are morning news which is now 7-8 hrs long plus, infomercials in the afternoon. One more reason why this officially puts the nail in the coffin for the station and the group as well. :-[

 

[djj]

Well, I officially now give up on KRON, all they now air are morning news which is now 7-8 hrs long plus, infomercials in the afternoon. One more reason why this officially puts the nail in the coffin for the station and the group as well. :-[

When Catherine Heenan and/or Gary Radnich depart, THAT'S the time to say sayonara to KRON...
and it's sad what happened to Vernon Glenn...

You can look at this list and see who has departed since Young's purchase of KRON in November 1999:
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KRON-TV#Former_personalities >
--jay

 

[LKellerIII]

Well, I officially now give up on KRON, all they now air are morning news which is now 7-8 hrs long plus, infomercials in the afternoon. One more reason why this officially puts the nail in the coffin for the station and the group as well. :-[

When Catherine Heenan and/or Gary Radnich depart, THAT'S the time to say sayonara to KRON...
and it's sad what happened to Vernon Glenn...

You can look at this list and see who has departed since Young's purchase of KRON in November 1999:
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KRON-TV#Former_personalities >
--jay

That's actually a list of people who have ever departed KRON - including lots of people who left years before Young took over (Fred LaCosse, George Redding, etc.), and it's far from a complete list.

The good new is - many of their reporters have found work at other local stations.

 

[Newschannel4SF]

Well the bids are in and come Tuesday, July 14th the judge in New York will make the final decision. Some of the contenders are Oak Hill/LLC, Nextar and Silverpoint. As of press time we are not sure which way this is going to go

 

[LKellerIII]

Well the bids are in and come Tuesday, July 14th the judge in New York will make the final decision. Some of the contenders are Oak Hill/LLC, Nextar and Silverpoint. As of press time we are not sure which way this is going to go

Yup. Found this link with some interesting details:

1. The entire group of Young stations is up for auction (didn't know that).

2. The current worth of KRON is estimated at $150-$200m (ouch!).

3. It couldn't be a worse time economically for this auction (no surprise, there).

4. If none of the bids reach the minimum required (a very possible scenario), the banks would take over the stations in an equity for debt swap, then would likely hold them until the economy improves.

It looks to me like the misery is far from over.


http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/314791-Young_Eyes_Watershed_Sale_at_Stations_Auction.php

 

[TexasTom]

Apparently, there is also a possibility that KRON would be sold separately from the rest of Young -- the three buyers that are looking at the overall group are apparently less than interested in owning KRON.