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NBC Boston channel speculation.
- Thread starter Garrett
- Start date
Re: Coluld NBC in Boston end up on (gasp) TV 68?
Ion does own 68, in addition to 58 (Vineyard) and 21 (New Hampshire). NBC re-upped their affiliation agreement with Sunbeam around the time they bought 56. There was discussion that NBC would buy 56 from Tribune and turn it into the NBC station. Sunbeam beat them to the punch in buying 56 for a duop.
Ion does own 68, in addition to 58 (Vineyard) and 21 (New Hampshire). NBC re-upped their affiliation agreement with Sunbeam around the time they bought 56. There was discussion that NBC would buy 56 from Tribune and turn it into the NBC station. Sunbeam beat them to the punch in buying 56 for a duop.
Re: Coluld NBC in Boston end up on (gasp) TV 68?
NBC can't take over control of ION, because it would put them over the ownership limit in multiple markets. They would be forced to divest most of the ION stations, or they would have to dump most of their Telemundo stations. Since they're not likely to dump Telemundo, GE/NBC will not be able to go past their current non-controlling minority interest in ION.
That could change if the FCC raised the local ownership cap to allow GE/NBC to own three stations in major markets. The FCC tried to do that several years ago, but was rebuffed in the courts. So, at this point, I'd see it as being very unlikely.
Aside from that, NBC knows that they're better off with WHDH as an affiliate versus having a lackluster O&O are channel 68 that has no news department and no established image. As CBS has found out with channel 62 in Detroit, that's a really difficult competitive situation.
Garrett said:
NBC can't take over control of ION, because it would put them over the ownership limit in multiple markets. They would be forced to divest most of the ION stations, or they would have to dump most of their Telemundo stations. Since they're not likely to dump Telemundo, GE/NBC will not be able to go past their current non-controlling minority interest in ION.
That could change if the FCC raised the local ownership cap to allow GE/NBC to own three stations in major markets. The FCC tried to do that several years ago, but was rebuffed in the courts. So, at this point, I'd see it as being very unlikely.
Aside from that, NBC knows that they're better off with WHDH as an affiliate versus having a lackluster O&O are channel 68 that has no news department and no established image. As CBS has found out with channel 62 in Detroit, that's a really difficult competitive situation.
Re: Coluld NBC in Boston end up on (gasp) TV 68?
I know NBC wants an OnO in Boston.
What about WWDP? Just put up a WWDP-HD signal,have Comcast carry it (moving UniversalHD to 835),and presto an NBC OnO!
I know NBC wants an OnO in Boston.
What about WWDP? Just put up a WWDP-HD signal,have Comcast carry it (moving UniversalHD to 835),and presto an NBC OnO!
Re: Coluld NBC in Boston end up on (gasp) TV 68?
NBC certainly can take control over ION - the question is: will they? The ownership cap can easily be dealt with by selling off the less attractive properties. In the case of Boston, NBC would not have to sell anything. They could easily hold on to channel 68 as well as Telemundo 60. They may have to sell off channels 58 and 21, though 21 could be excepted as NH is a funny case - and it is licensed to Merrimack County. With channels converting their signals to HD, dial position may not matter as much which could add value to those properties. Either way it could be interesting.
TexasTom said:
NBC certainly can take control over ION - the question is: will they? The ownership cap can easily be dealt with by selling off the less attractive properties. In the case of Boston, NBC would not have to sell anything. They could easily hold on to channel 68 as well as Telemundo 60. They may have to sell off channels 58 and 21, though 21 could be excepted as NH is a funny case - and it is licensed to Merrimack County. With channels converting their signals to HD, dial position may not matter as much which could add value to those properties. Either way it could be interesting.
Re: Coluld NBC in Boston end up on (gasp) TV 68?
Well I know that 68 is a full power station, and EVERYONE in Boston knows its there. And, with a DT signal, I wonder if NBC would indeed have a new outlet for their main network. My question is this: Does NBC have an out in WHDH's contract? Also, could there be some kind of deal in the works between NBC and WHDH regarding the whole thing?
My gut tells me NBC will just spin 68 off, and it will continue to be an also ran among Boston TV stations. I see no reason why Sunbeam would ever trade in their NBC affiliationship, or why NBC would ever want their network on 68, barring some kind of HD thing. Unless there's some coverage differences between 68 and 7 that I'm not aware of.
Well I know that 68 is a full power station, and EVERYONE in Boston knows its there. And, with a DT signal, I wonder if NBC would indeed have a new outlet for their main network. My question is this: Does NBC have an out in WHDH's contract? Also, could there be some kind of deal in the works between NBC and WHDH regarding the whole thing?
My gut tells me NBC will just spin 68 off, and it will continue to be an also ran among Boston TV stations. I see no reason why Sunbeam would ever trade in their NBC affiliationship, or why NBC would ever want their network on 68, barring some kind of HD thing. Unless there's some coverage differences between 68 and 7 that I'm not aware of.
Re: Coluld NBC in Boston end up on (gasp) TV 68?
I'm sure that Ed Ansin did his homework and planned for any eventuality. He would never go through a repeat of the hassle he had when NBC dumped his WSVN (Channel 7) in Miami back in the 80's. Allegedly, that is why he bought WLVI, to prevent another "hostle takeover" from NBC. Yes, Channel 56 was a prime target and Tribune was hard up for cash. Ansin has the money and Tribune saw dollar signs. The result, December 18, 2006, 150 employees of WLVI lost their jobs and 56 was absorbed by WHDH (Merry Christmas!).
Channel 68 will cease to exist on the analog side and will be strictly a DTV on Channel 32. It has a signal at par with the other stations in town and will be just as viable as any other Boston station. Right now, WBPX has very little overhead and could be made a real player in the market, provide they program it accordingly. Both WHDH and WBPX cover the market nicely both over-the-air and on cable (thanks to must carry and some hard work by the broadcast lawyers). Don't count 'BPX out.
Garrett said:
I'm sure that Ed Ansin did his homework and planned for any eventuality. He would never go through a repeat of the hassle he had when NBC dumped his WSVN (Channel 7) in Miami back in the 80's. Allegedly, that is why he bought WLVI, to prevent another "hostle takeover" from NBC. Yes, Channel 56 was a prime target and Tribune was hard up for cash. Ansin has the money and Tribune saw dollar signs. The result, December 18, 2006, 150 employees of WLVI lost their jobs and 56 was absorbed by WHDH (Merry Christmas!).
Channel 68 will cease to exist on the analog side and will be strictly a DTV on Channel 32. It has a signal at par with the other stations in town and will be just as viable as any other Boston station. Right now, WBPX has very little overhead and could be made a real player in the market, provide they program it accordingly. Both WHDH and WBPX cover the market nicely both over-the-air and on cable (thanks to must carry and some hard work by the broadcast lawyers). Don't count 'BPX out.
C
chuckydoll
Guest
Just another fantasy
68 has never been a major player in Boston television. The one exception was the year or two that it carried the Red Sox.
Tribune Co. is the target of a hostile takeover out in Chicago. CW56 would have been sold off as a result; Sunbeam Television decided to buy the station before the takeover.
In fact, ALL analog TV stations will cut over to DT on February 17, 2009. That date is mandated by U.S. law.
68 has never been a major player in Boston television. The one exception was the year or two that it carried the Red Sox.
Peter Q. George (K1XRB) said:
Tribune Co. is the target of a hostile takeover out in Chicago. CW56 would have been sold off as a result; Sunbeam Television decided to buy the station before the takeover.
Peter Q. George (K1XRB) said:
In fact, ALL analog TV stations will cut over to DT on February 17, 2009. That date is mandated by U.S. law.
Re: Just another fantasy
You are correct about Channel 68. The only time 68 was making a mark was during the Boston University ownership. Channel 68 (then WABU) was poised to be THE sports station with the Red Sox contract and it's various other sports programs. It would have worked. However, "Bud" Paxson (owner of PAX) not pleased with the over-the-air/cable coverage of his own O&O's (WBPX/46 and WPXB/60) and wanted a real Boston station. Boston University was more than glad to oblige him. Paxson bought Channel 68, as well as satellite stations 21 and 58 and moved the PAX programming to them. The infomercials returned to 46/60 for a while and today 46 is ShopNBC and 60 is Telemundo. With ION, the verdict is still out. With NBC wanting to take control of ION, anything could happen with WBPX. As I said before, when the analog sunset planned for 2/17/09 happens, technically all stations will be on a level playing field. Anything can happen.
chuckydoll said:
You are correct about Channel 68. The only time 68 was making a mark was during the Boston University ownership. Channel 68 (then WABU) was poised to be THE sports station with the Red Sox contract and it's various other sports programs. It would have worked. However, "Bud" Paxson (owner of PAX) not pleased with the over-the-air/cable coverage of his own O&O's (WBPX/46 and WPXB/60) and wanted a real Boston station. Boston University was more than glad to oblige him. Paxson bought Channel 68, as well as satellite stations 21 and 58 and moved the PAX programming to them. The infomercials returned to 46/60 for a while and today 46 is ShopNBC and 60 is Telemundo. With ION, the verdict is still out. With NBC wanting to take control of ION, anything could happen with WBPX. As I said before, when the analog sunset planned for 2/17/09 happens, technically all stations will be on a level playing field. Anything can happen.
Re: Just another fantasy
...unless there is less than 85% of viewers in the market who are able to receive that station's digital signal, which in that case the deadline is extended until that threshold is reached. As far as I know, that's the only exception. (There were exceptions for LPTVs and Class-As, but I don't know if those are still in effect.)
chuckydoll said:
...unless there is less than 85% of viewers in the market who are able to receive that station's digital signal, which in that case the deadline is extended until that threshold is reached. As far as I know, that's the only exception. (There were exceptions for LPTVs and Class-As, but I don't know if those are still in effect.)
Re: Just another fantasy
Feb 17 2009 is a DROP DEAD DEADLINE! The 85% rule applied to the original deadline of Dec 31 2006.
azumanga said:
Feb 17 2009 is a DROP DEAD DEADLINE! The 85% rule applied to the original deadline of Dec 31 2006.
WHDH TV 7 Boston may lose NBC affiliation
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business...hake-boston/ZtdmbRyk22jycRoHY8IUDI/story.html
>>One potential result — moving NBC programs to NECN — could even upend the traditional, over-the-air broadcast model employed by national networks since their inception.If talks on an acquisition or affiliate extension were to go poorly (and that’s a big if), NBC could yank its programs — “Today,” “Dateline,” “Sunday Night Football” and all the rest — off Channel 7 and shift them to NECN, the regional cable channel owned by Comcast Inc., the parent of NBCUniversal Inc.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business...hake-boston/ZtdmbRyk22jycRoHY8IUDI/story.html
>>One potential result — moving NBC programs to NECN — could even upend the traditional, over-the-air broadcast model employed by national networks since their inception.If talks on an acquisition or affiliate extension were to go poorly (and that’s a big if), NBC could yank its programs — “Today,” “Dateline,” “Sunday Night Football” and all the rest — off Channel 7 and shift them to NECN, the regional cable channel owned by Comcast Inc., the parent of NBCUniversal Inc.
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O
Omnibus
Guest
"Talks may shake up local TV WHDH's network up for renewal, By Callum Borchers GLOBE
By Callum Borchers, Boston Globe
"In the TV business, network affiliate contracts are typically renewed without incident, allowing viewers to continue watching their favorite national programs on the same local channels year after year.
But with 14 months left on a decade-long deal between NBC and WHDH-TV (Channel 7), widespread media upheaval could combine with the companies’ contentious history to make the next round of negotiations uncommonly tense, or possibly lead to the first shakeup on the Boston dial in 20 years.
One potential result — moving NBC programs to NECN — could even upend the traditional, over-the-air broadcast model employed by national networks since their inception.
NBC, which owns its affiliates in other large markets, like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, would rather purchase WHDH than sign a contract extension, according to a recent report in Broadcasting & Cable, an industry publication. WHDH is owned by Sunbeam Television Corp. of Miami.
If talks on an acquisition or affiliate extension were to go poorly (and that’s a big if), NBC could yank its programs — “Today,” “Dateline,” “Sunday Night Football” and all the rest — off Channel 7 and shift them to NECN, the regional cable channel owned by Comcast Inc., the parent of NBCUniversal Inc.
“They can do it, but it’s very aggressive,” said Reed Hundt, a former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission who is now chief executive of the Coalition for Green Capital in Washington. “If they did that, it would be big news because it would be regarded as NBC phasing the ‘B’ [for broadcasting] out of its name.”
An NBC spokeswoman said the company does not comment on discussions with affiliate partners.
‘It would be big news because it would be regarded as NBC phasing the ‘B’ [for broadcasting] out of its name.’
Reed Hundt, former chairman of the FCC
Quote IconChris Wayland, executive vice president of Sunbeam, said, “We fully expect to be the NBC affiliate in Boston beyond 2016.”
Wayland will probably be right in the end, said Mark Fratrik, chief economist at the media research firm BIA/Kelsey. Networks like NBC have maintained the affiliate system, even in markets where they don’t own a local broadcaster, to ensure maximum distribution.
But he said that for many years, they also have kicked around the idea of cutting out stations like WHDH, anticipating a time when virtually everyone watches television on cable, satellite, or the Internet, making the advantage of over-the-air broadcasting negligible. Six percent of US households still rely on antennas, according to a study last year by the Consumer Electronics Association.
“In the strategic planning departments of these networks, it’s a constant topic,” Fratrik said. “It’s just that no one’s done it yet.”
Michael Botein, a former FCC attorney and professor emeritus at New York Law School, said Americans’ viewing habits are changing so rapidly that moving network programs from a local broadcast station to a cable channel could make business sense right now.
“It may look bizarre, but I don’t think it is,” Botein said.
NBC has pulled programming from a Sunbeam station before. In 1988, the network bought a station in Miami and transferred its shows off Sunbeam’s WSVN-TV in that market. WSVN subsequently switched to a Fox affiliate.
The relationship between Sunbeam and NBC appears not to have fully recovered. In a heated public episode six years ago, NBC threatened to strip WHDH of its network affiliation when Sunbeam owner Ed Ansin initially refused to air “The Jay Leno Show,” the comedian’s short-lived hiatus from “The Tonight Show.”
Ansin told the Globe at the time that airing Leno on weeknights at 10 p.m. would be “very adverse to our finances.” He planned instead to launch a 10 p.m. newscast to compete with WFXT-TV (Channel 25). John Eck, NBC’s president of network operations at the time, responded by calling WHDH’s rejection of Leno “a flagrant violation of the terms of their contract with NBC.”
“We have a number of other strong options in the Boston market, including using our existing broadcast license to launch an NBC-owned and operated station,” Eck said.
After a two-week standoff, Ansin ultimately agreed to broadcast Leno’s show, and WHDH kept its affiliation with NBC.
At the bargaining table now, NBC’s ownership of NECN provides leverage it didn’t have during the Leno dispute or when the current deal with WHDH was signed in 2006.
(Comcast acquired a full ownership interest in NECN in 2009, then bought a majority stake in NBCUniversal in 2011. It later placed NECN into the corporate giant’s local TV division, known as NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations.)
But Sunbeam has a new lever to pull, too. In March, the FCC plans to begin a broadcast spectrum buyback program, purchasing local TV signals from stations willing to go off the air. The agency then hopes to auction space on the airwaves to wireless communications companies desperate for more bandwidth.
To motivate owners to sell, the FCC commissioned a study by the New York investment bank Greenhill & Co., which estimated the value of a broadcast station’s air in every media market. In Boston, the nation’s seventh-largest market, Greenhill put the price at as much as $540 million.
“It’s opened the eyes of people who hadn’t considered selling,” said Mitt Younts, a media broker at Chapman & Associates in Richmond, Va. “If you’re somebody like WHDH and you’re open to selling, you might go to NBC and say, ‘Hey, you’ve got to beat the FCC’s price.’ ” "
By Callum Borchers, Boston Globe
"In the TV business, network affiliate contracts are typically renewed without incident, allowing viewers to continue watching their favorite national programs on the same local channels year after year.
But with 14 months left on a decade-long deal between NBC and WHDH-TV (Channel 7), widespread media upheaval could combine with the companies’ contentious history to make the next round of negotiations uncommonly tense, or possibly lead to the first shakeup on the Boston dial in 20 years.
One potential result — moving NBC programs to NECN — could even upend the traditional, over-the-air broadcast model employed by national networks since their inception.
NBC, which owns its affiliates in other large markets, like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, would rather purchase WHDH than sign a contract extension, according to a recent report in Broadcasting & Cable, an industry publication. WHDH is owned by Sunbeam Television Corp. of Miami.
If talks on an acquisition or affiliate extension were to go poorly (and that’s a big if), NBC could yank its programs — “Today,” “Dateline,” “Sunday Night Football” and all the rest — off Channel 7 and shift them to NECN, the regional cable channel owned by Comcast Inc., the parent of NBCUniversal Inc.
“They can do it, but it’s very aggressive,” said Reed Hundt, a former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission who is now chief executive of the Coalition for Green Capital in Washington. “If they did that, it would be big news because it would be regarded as NBC phasing the ‘B’ [for broadcasting] out of its name.”
An NBC spokeswoman said the company does not comment on discussions with affiliate partners.
‘It would be big news because it would be regarded as NBC phasing the ‘B’ [for broadcasting] out of its name.’
Reed Hundt, former chairman of the FCC
Quote IconChris Wayland, executive vice president of Sunbeam, said, “We fully expect to be the NBC affiliate in Boston beyond 2016.”
Wayland will probably be right in the end, said Mark Fratrik, chief economist at the media research firm BIA/Kelsey. Networks like NBC have maintained the affiliate system, even in markets where they don’t own a local broadcaster, to ensure maximum distribution.
But he said that for many years, they also have kicked around the idea of cutting out stations like WHDH, anticipating a time when virtually everyone watches television on cable, satellite, or the Internet, making the advantage of over-the-air broadcasting negligible. Six percent of US households still rely on antennas, according to a study last year by the Consumer Electronics Association.
“In the strategic planning departments of these networks, it’s a constant topic,” Fratrik said. “It’s just that no one’s done it yet.”
Michael Botein, a former FCC attorney and professor emeritus at New York Law School, said Americans’ viewing habits are changing so rapidly that moving network programs from a local broadcast station to a cable channel could make business sense right now.
“It may look bizarre, but I don’t think it is,” Botein said.
NBC has pulled programming from a Sunbeam station before. In 1988, the network bought a station in Miami and transferred its shows off Sunbeam’s WSVN-TV in that market. WSVN subsequently switched to a Fox affiliate.
The relationship between Sunbeam and NBC appears not to have fully recovered. In a heated public episode six years ago, NBC threatened to strip WHDH of its network affiliation when Sunbeam owner Ed Ansin initially refused to air “The Jay Leno Show,” the comedian’s short-lived hiatus from “The Tonight Show.”
Ansin told the Globe at the time that airing Leno on weeknights at 10 p.m. would be “very adverse to our finances.” He planned instead to launch a 10 p.m. newscast to compete with WFXT-TV (Channel 25). John Eck, NBC’s president of network operations at the time, responded by calling WHDH’s rejection of Leno “a flagrant violation of the terms of their contract with NBC.”
“We have a number of other strong options in the Boston market, including using our existing broadcast license to launch an NBC-owned and operated station,” Eck said.
After a two-week standoff, Ansin ultimately agreed to broadcast Leno’s show, and WHDH kept its affiliation with NBC.
At the bargaining table now, NBC’s ownership of NECN provides leverage it didn’t have during the Leno dispute or when the current deal with WHDH was signed in 2006.
(Comcast acquired a full ownership interest in NECN in 2009, then bought a majority stake in NBCUniversal in 2011. It later placed NECN into the corporate giant’s local TV division, known as NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations.)
But Sunbeam has a new lever to pull, too. In March, the FCC plans to begin a broadcast spectrum buyback program, purchasing local TV signals from stations willing to go off the air. The agency then hopes to auction space on the airwaves to wireless communications companies desperate for more bandwidth.
To motivate owners to sell, the FCC commissioned a study by the New York investment bank Greenhill & Co., which estimated the value of a broadcast station’s air in every media market. In Boston, the nation’s seventh-largest market, Greenhill put the price at as much as $540 million.
“It’s opened the eyes of people who hadn’t considered selling,” said Mitt Younts, a media broker at Chapman & Associates in Richmond, Va. “If you’re somebody like WHDH and you’re open to selling, you might go to NBC and say, ‘Hey, you’ve got to beat the FCC’s price.’ ” "
O
Omnibus
Guest
Hope NBC sticks it to Ansin one of the worst lowest common denominator owners of a TV station. Maybe NBC just got tired of Ansin tabloid - if it bleeds it leads - approach to news.
With any luck they will buy him out and Channel 7 will be an O and O NBC station. That would be great for Boston.
What a bunch of baloney. The NBC affiliation isn't going anywhere, and Comcast isn't going to blow up NECN after the millions they've recently poured into the network and all the work that went into maintaining cable clearances in New England. Either NBC backs up the Brinks truck and makes Ansin (who isn't getting any younger) an offer he can't refuse, or they will simply renew. NBC learned the hard way that it's not easy replacing a strong affiliate in a major market.
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