Major networks rebrand or merge in the future?

[RFCCRadioAudio]

I just got through watching a YouTube video about the possibility in the future of the UK's over the air broadcast networks merging to try and combat Netflix and Amazon taking over viewership. It got me to thinking that the US network might could do this if they got desperate.

CBS and the CW are already co-owned somewhat, and CW could rebrand to CBS-2 or CBS Plus
Fox and MyNet are already co-owned somewhat, and My could brand the rest of the network as "Fox Plus (several My affiliates are already "Fox Plus" branded)
NBC and ABC could come back together like they used to be with NBC back as NBC Red with a red peacock and ABC back as NBC Blue with a blue peacock
ION is already set with ION and ION Plus
TBN buys or merges with Daystar and TBN becomes TBN and Daystar becomes TBN-2 or TBN-3 depending on if TBN Inspire gets rebranded to one or the other
and PBS is already set with Main PBS, World Channel, PBS Kids and Create

 

[desertaire]

The FCC would block any ABC/NBC merger. Remember the FCC forced NBC to divest its "Blue" network in the 40s...which became ABC.

 

[TheBigA]

CBS and the CW are already co-owned somewhat, and CW could rebrand to CBS-2 or CBS Plus

Highly unlikely. As of 2022, CBS/Paramount only holds a 12% interest in the CW, and they dropped the network at 8 of their owned stations. Nexstar owns 75% of the network now.

The FCC ownership rules prohibit broadcast networks from combining:

FCC Broadcast Ownership Rules

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sets limits on the number of broadcast stations (radio and TV) an entity can own, as well as limits on the common ownership of broadcast stations and newspapers.

www.fcc.gov

Dual Television Network Ownership
FCC rules effectively prohibit a merger between any two of the big four broadcast television networks: ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.

The rule ONLY applies to broadcast networks, not cable or streaming.

 

[davideduardo]

The FCC would block any ABC/NBC merger. Remember the FCC forced NBC to divest its "Blue" network in the 40s...which became ABC.

While this is the "ultra" version of speculating about the impossible, remember that "back then" there was just AM radio and only about 1000 total radio stations.

Today we have 16,000 radio stations (not even including translators), thousands of TV stations, satellite radio and streams. A merger of networks that have trouble getting their top scripted shows to be seen by 3% of the population would not be a monopoly.

But there are so many antitrust involving the parent corporations of the major TV networks that these considerations are minor by comparison.

 

[TheBigA]

Today we have 16,000 radio stations (not even including translators), thousands of TV stations, satellite radio and streams. A merger of networks that have trouble getting their top scripted shows to be seen by 3% of the population would not be a monopoly.

This case has been made to the FCC in an attempt to loosen the above linked ownership rules, and the FCC has held fast to their obsolete rules, to the point where the NAB has sued in court.

NAB Files Brief in its Challenge to FCC's Broadcast Ownership Restrictions

www.nab.org

 

[E-Cam]

CBS and the CW are already co-owned somewhat, and CW could rebrand to CBS-2 or CBS Plus

Or UPN (but too bad Nexstar owns the majority of the network so it's highly unlikely for a rebrand, but it could be)

Fox and MyNet are already co-owned somewhat, and My could brand the rest of the network as "Fox Plus (several My affiliates are already "Fox Plus" branded)

I'm surprised that this "network" is still going after all these years.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

I just got through watching a YouTube video about the possibility in the future of the UK's over the air broadcast networks merging to try and combat Netflix and Amazon taking over viewership. It got me to thinking that the US network might could do this if they got desperate.

CBS and the CW are already co-owned somewhat, and CW could rebrand to CBS-2 or CBS Plus
Fox and MyNet are already co-owned somewhat, and My could brand the rest of the network as "Fox Plus (several My affiliates are already "Fox Plus" branded)
NBC and ABC could come back together like they used to be with NBC back as NBC Red with a red peacock and ABC back as NBC Blue with a blue peacock
ION is already set with ION and ION Plus
TBN buys or merges with Daystar and TBN becomes TBN and Daystar becomes TBN-2 or TBN-3 depending on if TBN Inspire gets rebranded to one or the other
and PBS is already set with Main PBS, World Channel, PBS Kids and Create

That suggestion sounds off for CBS to call their secondary stations CBS-2 given that Paramount’s main priority is to protect Paramount+.

Also ABC to merge with NBC not going to happen because Comcast is protecting Universal Pictures and NBC content via Peacock app. Likewise Disney is Protecting all of their labels like Disney, 20th Century, ABC News and ESPN via Hulu and Disney+ apps. The others sound right given that they have their secondary brands via subchannels or on FAST apps.

 

[davideduardo]

Ohhhhhhhhkaaayyy. We (your moderators) have been discouraging "fantasy situation" posts.

I'm going to close this thread with a suggestion that we stay closer to our own known universe.