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Raycom Selling TV Stations

S

Stitch

From NY NewsDay:

Raycom Media announces plans to sell 12 TV stations

November 1, 2005, 6:20 PM EST

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Raycom Media Inc. plans to sell 12 network-affiliated stations to more effectively focus on and strengthen its core group in the Southeast and Midwest, the company announced Tuesday.

Raycom President and CEO Paul McTear said the stations, with more than 800 employees, would likely be valued in excess of $600 million.

He said the company's August agreement to purchase 15 stations from Liberty Corp. of Greenville, S.C., presented a chance to reassess Raycom's station group. Two Liberty stations, KGBT-TV of Harlingen-McAllen-Brownsville, Texas, and WWAY-TV of Wilmington, N.C., will be sold as soon as the transaction announced in August is consummated, Raycom said in a statement.

The other 10 television stations to be sold are: WFXL, Albany, Ga.; KASA, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, N.M.; KXRM-KXTU, Colorado Springs, Colo.; WACH, Columbia, S.C.; KTVO, Ottumwa, Ind.-Kirksville, Mo.; WLUC, Marquette, Mich.; WSTM-WSTQ, Syracuse, N.Y.; WNWO, Toledo, Ohio; WPBN-WTOM, Traverse City-Cadillac, Mich.; KWWL, Waterloo-Cedar Rapids-Iowa City-Dubuque, Iowa.

"The sale of these properties, which either duplicate existing market holdings or lie outside our core geographies, will allow us to strategically reshape our holdings and provide the resources to reinvest in expanding our reach within priority markets," McTear said.

Raycom, based in Montgomery, operates 37 network-affiliated television stations in 20 states, and has other holdings. Its stations cover more than 10 percent of U.S. television households and employ 2,500 people.

On the Net:

Raycom: http://www.raycommedia.com
 
Just to save some people time cause I'm bored....

Last number is Nielsen Market Rank (Out of 210 Markets)

Former Liberty Stations:

KGBT-TV of Harlingen-McAllen-Brownsville TX (CBS) (#92)
WWAY-TV of Wilmington NC (ABC) (#140)

Currently Owned by Raycom:

WFXL Albany, GA (FOX)(#147)
KASA Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM (FOX) (#46)
KXRM-KXTU-LP Colorado Springs, CO (FOX / UPN)(#93)
WACH, Columbia, SC (FOX)(#83)

KTVO Ottumwa IA -Kirksville MO (ABC)(#199)

WLUC, Marquette, MI (NBC)(#180)
WSTM-WSTQ-LP, Syracuse, NY (NBC / UPN)(#76)
WNWO, Toledo, Ohio (NBC) (#70)
WPBN-WTOM Traverse City-Cadillac, MI (NBC / NBC)(#112)
KWWL Waterloo-Cedar Rapids-Iowa City-Dubuque IA (NBC)(#88)<P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>
 
> Former Liberty Stations:
>
> KGBT-TV of Harlingen-McAllen-Brownsville TX (CBS) (#92)
> WWAY-TV of Wilmington NC (ABC) (#140)
>
> Currently Owned by Raycom:
>
> WFXL Albany, GA (FOX)(#147)
> KASA Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM (FOX) (#46)
> KXRM-KXTU-LP Colorado Springs, CO (FOX / UPN)(#93)
> WACH, Columbia, SC (FOX)(#83)
>
> KTVO Ottumwa IA -Kirksville MO (ABC)(#199)
>
> WLUC, Marquette, MI (NBC)(#180)
> WSTM-WSTQ-LP, Syracuse, NY (NBC / UPN)(#76)
> WNWO, Toledo, Ohio (NBC) (#70)
> WPBN-WTOM Traverse City-Cadillac, MI (NBC / NBC)(#112)
> KWWL Waterloo-Cedar Rapids-Iowa City-Dubuque IA (NBC)(#88)

Hmmm...5 NBC affils, 2 ABC affils, 4 FOX affils, 1 CBS affil, 2 low-powered UPN affils.

Chances are that they might spin these stations off piece by piece like Emmis did with theirs. And they seem to have some good properties that they're willing to give up, especially KASA and WSTM/WSTQ.
 
> From NY NewsDay:
>
> Raycom Media announces plans to sell 12 TV stations
>

Dammit! Sell WTOC! A small child or a jellyfish could run that station a hell of a lot better!
 
Hopefully whoever buys WLUC in Marquette updates their logo. It looks to be straight out of the 1960s. Keep the slogan though, just update the logo.<P ID="signature">______________
From WNBC-TV New York this is Liiiiive at Fiiiiive!</P>
 
> Hopefully whoever buys WLUC in Marquette updates their logo.
> It looks to be straight out of the 1960s. Keep the slogan
> though, just update the logo.
>
"<img src=http://www.raycommedia.com/companies/images/wluc_logo.gif>"<P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>
 
> > Hopefully whoever buys WLUC in Marquette updates their
> logo.
> > It looks to be straight out of the 1960s. Keep the
> slogan
> > though, just update the logo.
> >
> ""
>
Looks more like the '70s than the '60s.
 
> Currently Owned by Raycom:
> >

> > KASA Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM (FOX) (#46)

Could Hubbard buy KASA? They own KOB and produce newscasts for KASA (the exact same graphics for both stations except for Id's- but lousier newsreaders!)
 
Well, I don't know whether or not to be suprised that decided to keep KCBD TV Lubbock (NBC). Lubbock is #145, I or there abouts, so why would they want to focus on that?

On the other hand, KCBD's local programming has long dominated the ratings, so obviously they get a top performer.

I just wonder if an affiliate switch will be in order (since NBC is in 4th place). Also, you've heard me gripe about Channel 11's news set and outdated music. But I do like their newscasts. Very solid and straightforward.

Sorry to go a bit off track. But the whole Raycom thing is pretty interesting...
IMHO.


> From NY NewsDay:
>
> Raycom Media announces plans to sell 12 TV stations
>
> November 1, 2005, 6:20 PM EST
>
> MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Raycom Media Inc. plans to sell 12
> network-affiliated stations to more effectively focus on and
> strengthen its core group in the Southeast and Midwest, the
> company announced Tuesday.
>
> Raycom President and CEO Paul McTear said the stations, with
> more than 800 employees, would likely be valued in excess of
> $600 million.
>
> He said the company's August agreement to purchase 15
> stations from Liberty Corp. of Greenville, S.C., presented a
> chance to reassess Raycom's station group. Two Liberty
> stations, KGBT-TV of Harlingen-McAllen-Brownsville, Texas,
> and WWAY-TV of Wilmington, N.C., will be sold as soon as the
> transaction announced in August is consummated, Raycom said
> in a statement.
>
> The other 10 television stations to be sold are: WFXL,
> Albany, Ga.; KASA, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, N.M.; KXRM-KXTU,
> Colorado Springs, Colo.; WACH, Columbia, S.C.; KTVO,
> Ottumwa, Ind.-Kirksville, Mo.; WLUC, Marquette, Mich.;
> WSTM-WSTQ, Syracuse, N.Y.; WNWO, Toledo, Ohio; WPBN-WTOM,
> Traverse City-Cadillac, Mich.; KWWL, Waterloo-Cedar
> Rapids-Iowa City-Dubuque, Iowa.
>
> "The sale of these properties, which either duplicate
> existing market holdings or lie outside our core
> geographies, will allow us to strategically reshape our
> holdings and provide the resources to reinvest in expanding
> our reach within priority markets," McTear said.
>
> Raycom, based in Montgomery, operates 37 network-affiliated
> television stations in 20 states, and has other holdings.
> Its stations cover more than 10 percent of U.S. television
> households and employ 2,500 people.
>
> On the Net:
>
> Raycom: http://www.raycommedia.com
>
 
> Well, I don't know whether or not to be suprised that
> decided to keep KCBD TV Lubbock (NBC). Lubbock is #145, I
> or there abouts, so why would they want to focus on that?
>
> On the other hand, KCBD's local programming has long
> dominated the ratings, so obviously they get a top
> performer.
>
> I just wonder if an affiliate switch will be in order (since
> NBC is in 4th place). Also, you've heard me gripe about
> Channel 11's news set and outdated music. But I do like
> their newscasts. Very solid and straightforward.

I don't see KCBD-11 leaving the Peacock Network, so why tinker with success, especially for a small-market powerhouse.

But then again if they do switch, they could go after KLBK-13's CBS affiliation, since I don't see them pursuing ABC, which seems to be happy with KAMC-28.
 
> > > Hopefully whoever buys WLUC in Marquette updates their
> > logo.
> > > It looks to be straight out of the 1960s. Keep the
> > slogan
> > > though, just update the logo.
> > >
> > ""
> >
> Looks more like the '70s than the '60s.
>
Talk about old-school...WLUC even has an old 80's Ford Econoline van as part of its ENG fleet...

http://www.wluctv6.com/Global/category.asp?C=10002&nav=menu134_1<P ID="signature">______________
"Not fixing [New Orleans'] levees before Katrina struck will now cost us untold billions. Not resolving the nation's issues of race and class has and will cost us so much more."
--Wynton Marsalis
</P>
 
And to think, WLUC-6 is about to celebrate their 50th anniversary in December.
 
> Could Hubbard buy KASA? They own KOB and produce newscasts
> for KASA (the exact same graphics for both stations except
> for Id's- but lousier newsreaders!)

If that wasn't illegal I bet they would!

KASA can't be bought by KOB as there's only five commercial VHF stations in the market (and does KCHF-11 even count?) and there have to be seven to have a duopoly on VHF (see Los Angeles).

- Trip<P ID="signature">______________
Visit my website, www.rabbitears.info! It's eventually going to be your one resource for television info! Digital television, histories, and technical information for the entire USA from one source!</P>
 
> KASA can't be bought by KOB as there's only five commercial
> VHF stations in the market (and does KCHF-11 even count?)
> and there have to be seven to have a duopoly on VHF (see Los
> Angeles).

Not quite. The rule says you can't create a duopoly that has more than one of the top four stations in the market. I would guess that KASA and KOB are both in the top 4, which would rule out a duopoly.

The VHF/UHF rule was tossed out a few years ago. As we head into DTV-land and the boundary between Vs and Us disappears completely, the FCC is going to have to get rid of the last regulatory vestiges of that difference, including the UHF discount for ownership caps. But I digress...<P ID="signature">______________
Tower Site Calendar 2006 JUST RELEASED! - <a target="_blank" href=http://www.fybush.com/nerw.html#calendar>www.fybush.com</a></P>
 
Hi everyone:

> From NY NewsDay:
>
> Raycom Media announces plans to sell 12 TV stations

[snip....]

> The other 10 television stations to be sold are: WFXL,
> Albany, Ga.; KASA, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, N.M.; KXRM-KXTU,
> Colorado Springs, Colo.; WACH, Columbia, S.C.; KTVO,
> Ottumwa, Ind.-Kirksville, Mo.; WLUC, Marquette, Mich.;
> WSTM-WSTQ, Syracuse, N.Y.; WNWO, Toledo, Ohio; WPBN-WTOM,
> Traverse City-Cadillac, Mich.; KWWL, Waterloo-Cedar
> Rapids-Iowa City-Dubuque, Iowa.

What's interesting is the fact they are (apparently?) keeping KHNL 8/13 (NBC) Honolulu, HI.

If they aren't, my bet is one of two things will happen...

A). Belo will buy the station back (This is my bet).

B). Gannett (former owners of KGMB 9) will re-enter the market and buy KHNL themselves.

BTW...I think someone referred to KXTU 57 (UPN) in Colorado Springs, CO as a low-powered station. Just an FYI, while the station isn't city grade like KTVD 20 is here in Denver, it's nogt exactly an LPTV outlet either.

Speaking of KXTU, it'll be interesting to see who winds up with that duopoly. Neither Post-Newsweek, Gray Communications or Pikes Peak Broadcasting can take BOTH stations (one yes). My bet is the owners of KTVD 20 will buy the two stations since KTVD, like KXTU, is a UPN affiliate. Alternatively, the cluster will be split up. Two of the aforementioned existing owners in Colorado Springs will (most likely Post-Newsweek and Gray Communications) AND produce 9:00 PM newscasts.

Anyhow....Those are my thoughts. :)

Comments anyone?

Cheers for now :)

Pat <P ID="signature">______________
<img src="http://jeeper1radio.home.comcast.net/images/patspodcast03a.jpg">
http://patspodcast.blogspot.com/
Radio? Uhh.....What's THAT?? :)</P><P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Podcaster Pat on 11/03/05 05:33 AM.</FONT></P>
 
> BTW...I think someone referred to KXTU 57 (UPN) in Colorado
> Springs, CO as a low-powered station. Just an FYI, while
> the station isn't city grade like KTVD 20 is here in Denver,
> it's nogt exactly an LPTV outlet either.
>
> Speaking of KXTU, it'll be interesting to see who winds up
> with that duopoly. Neither Post-Newsweek, Gray
> Communications or Pikes Peak Broadcasting can take BOTH
> stations (one yes). My bet is the owners of KTVD 20 will
> buy the two stations since KTVD, like KXTU, is a UPN
> affiliate. Alternatively, the cluster will be split up.
> Two of the aforementioned existing owners in Colorado
> Springs will (most likely Post-Newsweek and Gray
> Communications) AND produce 9:00 PM newscasts.

KXTU is a low-power station. Their license is LPTV and their ERP is 135kW, below the maximum 150kW allowed for LPTV UHF stations. And since they're LPTV and not full-service, Post-Newsweek, Gray or Pikes Peak can buy them and KXRM together.
 
> Not quite. The rule says you can't create a duopoly that has
> more than one of the top four stations in the market. I
> would guess that KASA and KOB are both in the top 4, which
> would rule out a duopoly.
>
> The VHF/UHF rule was tossed out a few years ago. As we head
> into DTV-land and the boundary between Vs and Us disappears
> completely, the FCC is going to have to get rid of the last
> regulatory vestiges of that difference, including the UHF
> discount for ownership caps. But I digress...

I read, and I am slowly learning everything on the internet is wrong, LOL, that the UHF discount would not apply only to the "big four." (ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS)

Is that right? And I also read that it doesn't matter if they are commercial or educational allocations. The reason I recall is because in some markets like Nebraska or Iowa, they are huge and have 4 or 5 educational stations (as part of a statewide PBS system). The FCC response was, they MAY be educational now but that doesn't mean at some point they can't be reclassed, so we will count them

I don't know if that was or is still a point
<P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>
 
Hi everyone:

> > Speaking of KXTU, it'll be interesting to see who winds up
>
> > with that duopoly. Neither Post-Newsweek, Gray
> > Communications or Pikes Peak Broadcasting can take BOTH
> > stations (one yes). My bet is the owners of KTVD 20 will
> > buy the two stations since KTVD, like KXTU, is a UPN
> > affiliate. Alternatively, the cluster will be split up.
> > Two of the aforementioned existing owners in Colorado
> > Springs will (most likely Post-Newsweek and Gray
> > Communications) AND produce 9:00 PM newscasts.
>
> KXTU is a low-power station. Their license is LPTV and
> their ERP is 135kW, below the maximum 150kW allowed for LPTV
> UHF stations. And since they're LPTV and not full-service,
> Post-Newsweek, Gray or Pikes Peak can buy them and KXRM
> together.

I stand corrected on KXTU however I believe KXRM is a full powered (for the size of the Colorado Springs market that is) TV station. As such, I don't think it can legally be sold to either of the existing aforementioned rival station owners if KXRM & KTXU are sold to the same buyer (be it PN, Gray or PP) as a cluster.

If someone (such as the owner of KREX 5 Grand Junction?) were to move into the market, then they could. Otherwise, I'd expect the owners of KTVD 20 to jump on it AND/OR the cluster to be split up.

Just my (misinformed?) opinion :)

Cheers for now :)

Pat<P ID="signature">______________
patspodcast03a.jpg

http://patspodcast.blogspot.com/
Radio? Uhh.....What's THAT?? :)</P>
 
> I stand corrected on KXTU however I believe KXRM is a full
> powered (for the size of the Colorado Springs market that
> is) TV station. As such, I don't think it can legally be
> sold to either of the existing aforementioned rival station
> owners if KXRM & KTXU are sold to the same buyer (be it PN,
> Gray or PP) as a cluster.
>
> If someone (such as the owner of KREX 5 Grand Junction?)
> were to move into the market, then they could. Otherwise,
> I'd expect the owners of KTVD 20 to jump on it AND/OR the
> cluster to be split up.
>
> Just my (misinformed?) opinion :)
>
> Cheers for now :)
>
> Pat

I need to amend my statements. I forget that it's Colo Springs/Pueblo and not Denver, so the rules for duopolies affect them differently. I also forget that duopolies are for the most part prohibited which involve more than one top-4 network.

Because Sangre de Cristo, Gray and Pikes Peak own the NBC, CBS and ABC affiliates, respectively, and KXRM is a Fox affiliate, the other 3 should not be able to buy KXRM as rules prohibit ownership of more than one station affiliated with the largest 4 networks, which would be the case here. However, the FCC could approve a waiver if they feel it's warranted.

Whether Post-Newsweek can buy KXRM or not depends on what they already own in Colo Springs/ Pueblo. If they own a daily newspaper, then they can buy KXRM a long as they own 50% of the radio station limit or less. If they only own radio stations or don't own anything at all, then they can buy KXRM.

See http://www.bcfm.com/financial_manager/OctNovDec2003/NewspaperBroadcast.htm for a summary of the rules.
 
> > I stand corrected on KXTU however I believe KXRM is a full
>
> > powered (for the size of the Colorado Springs market that
> > is) TV station. As such, I don't think it can legally be
> > sold to either of the existing aforementioned rival
> station
> > owners if KXRM & KTXU are sold to the same buyer (be it
> PN,
> > Gray or PP) as a cluster.
> >
> > If someone (such as the owner of KREX 5 Grand Junction?)
> > were to move into the market, then they could. Otherwise,
>
> > I'd expect the owners of KTVD 20 to jump on it AND/OR the
> > cluster to be split up.
> >
> > Just my (misinformed?) opinion :)
> >
> > Cheers for now :)
> >
> > Pat
>
> I need to amend my statements. I forget that it's Colo
> Springs/Pueblo and not Denver, so the rules for duopolies
> affect them differently. I also forget that duopolies are
> for the most part prohibited which involve more than one
> top-4 network.
>
> Because Sangre de Cristo, Gray and Pikes Peak own the NBC,
> CBS and ABC affiliates, respectively, and KXRM is a Fox
> affiliate, the other 3 should not be able to buy KXRM as
> rules prohibit ownership of more than one station affiliated
> with the largest 4 networks, which would be the case here.
> However, the FCC could approve a waiver if they feel it's
> warranted.
>
> Whether Post-Newsweek can buy KXRM or not depends on what
> they already own in Colo Springs/ Pueblo. If they own a
> daily newspaper, then they can buy KXRM a long as they own
> 50% of the radio station limit or less. If they only own
> radio stations or don't own anything at all, then they can
> buy KXRM.
>
> See
http://www.bcf> m.com/financial_manager/OctNovDec2003/NewspaperBroadcast.htm
> for a summary of the rules.
>


First of all, Post-Newsweek ain't buying a FOX affiliate in the Springs. Second, Sangre de Cristo is a subsidiary of Cordillera Communications which is a subsidiary of the Post Newspaper company in Charleston, SC. Their properties include NBC in Tucson, Lexington and San Luis Obispo, and CBS in virtually all of Montana.

I don't know who is going to buy the place, but it will not be Gannett, McGraw Hill, a "Big Four" network, Tribune, Hearst, Nexstar or Hoak (they're the guys who overpaid for the pile of trash in Grand Junction known as KREX).
 
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