Got word today via RSS/Email Newsletters/Web that Harry J. Pappas is looking to spend more time with his family and enjoy; thus he is looking to sell most if not all of his stations. Forty Years of broadcasting and unfortunately no one to pass it on to.
I recall at one meeting at the NAB, Mr. Pappas introduced new VP's that would carry on his tradition, so that he could step back from the day-to-day operations and enjoy life and spend time with his family. That was the day that the company changed, unfortunately for the worse. You rarely heard complaints on News Blues and F-TV from employees at stations near Mr. Pappas; further away, complaints were common.
I recall when Pappas rarely purchased equipment that was introduced at NAB, they often waited until the bugs were worked out and there were operating units in the field. The company went BLEEDING-EDGE, buying un-tested, often not-production ready equipment for 2 and 3 times the price of established equipment. We had $600,000 in such equipment in Greensboro that could not even be used because of the Strip Club location (it needed extensive electrical and HVAC work). It sat on the floor for two years, I understand it has since been moved elsewhere.
Management turn-over at most of the local stations made things worse. People who were Pappas-hires were being replaced by the new VP. It's a shame.
They say that the most valuable part of any television station is the license. Pappas stations tend to be Full-Power, Maximum-Height. But that is old thinking as today the most important part is the fiber link to the cable company and satellite POP. With the FCC mandating the return of Local Programming and the Cable Companies ready to play hard-ball when the analog transmitters go dark, Broadcast Television is a short-term investment at best. We could see a lot of stations going dark on the next license renewal period when they fail the Public Service commitment. May be it is a good time to get out for the owners of smaller stations.
I recall at one meeting at the NAB, Mr. Pappas introduced new VP's that would carry on his tradition, so that he could step back from the day-to-day operations and enjoy life and spend time with his family. That was the day that the company changed, unfortunately for the worse. You rarely heard complaints on News Blues and F-TV from employees at stations near Mr. Pappas; further away, complaints were common.
I recall when Pappas rarely purchased equipment that was introduced at NAB, they often waited until the bugs were worked out and there were operating units in the field. The company went BLEEDING-EDGE, buying un-tested, often not-production ready equipment for 2 and 3 times the price of established equipment. We had $600,000 in such equipment in Greensboro that could not even be used because of the Strip Club location (it needed extensive electrical and HVAC work). It sat on the floor for two years, I understand it has since been moved elsewhere.
Management turn-over at most of the local stations made things worse. People who were Pappas-hires were being replaced by the new VP. It's a shame.
They say that the most valuable part of any television station is the license. Pappas stations tend to be Full-Power, Maximum-Height. But that is old thinking as today the most important part is the fiber link to the cable company and satellite POP. With the FCC mandating the return of Local Programming and the Cable Companies ready to play hard-ball when the analog transmitters go dark, Broadcast Television is a short-term investment at best. We could see a lot of stations going dark on the next license renewal period when they fail the Public Service commitment. May be it is a good time to get out for the owners of smaller stations.