Scripps lands McGraw-Hill stations

[TheRob]

NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — The McGraw-Hill Companies today announced a definitive agreement to sell its nine-station Broadcasting Group to The E. W. Scripps Company for $212 million in cash. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

“This transaction is another step in executing McGraw-Hill’s Growth and Value Plan for the benefit of our shareholders, customers and employees,” said Harold McGraw III, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “This divestiture will produce good value for a non-strategic asset as we work to create two focused operating companies, one centered on capital and commodities markets and the other on digital learning and education services. Our goal is to enhance strategic and financial flexibility and to establish two pure-play investment opportunities for shareholders. The Growth and Value Plan also includes accelerated share repurchases and actions to increase efficiency and reduce overhead costs.

“I am proud of the contributions the Broadcasting Group has made during its rich history with McGraw-Hill. Scripps is a respected media company that will provide an excellent new home for our broadcasting stations and allow them to deepen their ties and value in the markets they serve,” Mr. McGraw continued.

The Broadcasting Group includes ABC affiliates in Denver, Colorado (KMGH-TV), San Diego, California (KGTV), Bakersfield, California (KERO-TV), Indianapolis, Indiana (WRTV) and Azteca America affiliates in Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, San Diego and Bakersfield.

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/mcgraw-hill-sells-tv-stations-to-scripps-for-212-million_b24080
(URL provided as a courtesy by Radio-Info.com)

 

[desertv]

So will the MGH stations get the Scripps imaging? (The black/yellow abc## station ID)

 

[flashback]

i`m from indianapolis and have no knowledge about scripps.

what kind of changes can be expected?

 

[taylorjsdad]

i`m from indianapolis and have no knowledge about scripps.

what kind of changes can be expected?

I have only seen one of their stations (WFTS-Tampa) and they are not a bad station. Their newscast is either number 3 or 4 in the market (I think fourth) but it is not a bad newscast either. I would think you will see the Action News branding used. They tend to own mostly ABC affiliates (I know they own NBC in KC, Tulsa and West Palm Beach and an indy in KC too) so this is a good match in that regard.

 

[gregg75]

I saw on the web that 10 of these stations would be ABC. I guess that's what they
already are?????

 

[KML0224]

@ TAYLORJSDAD: You are correct about WFTS-TV (ABC) channel 28 of Tampa. You can see their studio from the upper levels of Raymond James Stadium, if looking towards the southeast. Here is my shot of it when I was at a Buccaneers NFL game in September of 2009:

http://imgur.com/2TYOX

 

[ShawnHill1]

I sort of figured that the McGraw-Hill stations would be bought by an ABC-friendly station group, and it gives Scripps more stations north (KMGH Denver) and west of Phoenix (KGTV and KERO in California). Scripps is a pretty strong performer, ratings-wise, in many of their markets, such as Detroit, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.

 

[EricStein]

Scripps does not own stations in a market as small as Bakersfield, so I wonder if they will keep KERO in the long run...

As for the Azteca LPTV's, Una Vez Mas may eventually look to increase their footprint by buying them.

 

[TheRob]

So will the MGH stations get the Scripps imaging? (The black/yellow abc## station ID)

I suspect this imaging is in their future (from KSHB)

http://kcradio.tripod.com/kshb2011.jpg

 

[KML0224]

Your image isn't working. Try again!

 

[Robnoxious]

Scripps does not own stations in a market as small as Bakersfield, so I wonder if they will keep KERO in the long run...

As for the Azteca LPTV's, Una Vez Mas may eventually look to increase their footprint by buying them.

Bakersfield is still a growing market albeit a small one (DMA #125). At one time, KERO was THE news leader in the Southern San Joaquin Valley by a huge margin. It slid a bit when KERO and KBAK swapped network affiliations (KERO was once a long time CBS affiliate just as KBAK was a long time ABC affiliate). The swap occurred back in the late 90's when CBS was floundering without the NFL. At the time, it seemed smart for KERO to flip to a stronger network in ABC but hindsight is always 20/20.

Not as soon as KERO flipped to ABC, CBS started to climb back into the game starting with CBS acquiring the AFC package of the NFL and of course, we all saw what ESPN did to ABC Sports rendering it non existent and relegated to cable.

Scripps shouldn't see KERO and the Bakersfield market as useless. There are opportunities to make a favorable mark there.

 

[JeeperOne]

So will the MGH stations get the Scripps imaging? (The black/yellow abc## station ID)

NO WAY

The KMGH "ABC 7" logo is unique & stands in a class by itself. Sorta like the red circle "7" which only WHDH & WSVN both use

Besides, KMGH is the only station on virtual channel 7 that's owned by McGraw Hill anyway

I figured McGraw Hill was looking to get out of the broadcasting business. It was only a matter of knowing who would buy the stations (I was thinking Hearst-Argyle though)

I just hope Scripps doesn't trash & gut KMGH like they did the Rocky Mountain News before Tribune (Owners of the Denver Post ) took it over

JMO.....

Cheers & 73

 

[JeeperOne]

Scripps does not own stations in a market as small as Bakersfield, so I wonder if they will keep KERO in the long run...

Considering that it's an overflow of ABC O&O KABC in Los Angeles much like KNTV 11 in San Jose was before they became an NBC O&O, I would think no

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Disney/ABC bought it & converted it to an Indie sister to KABC 7 ala what KCAL 9 is to KCBS 2

Thoughts?

Cheers & 73

 

[JeeperOne]

So will the MGH stations get the Scripps imaging? (The black/yellow abc## station ID)

I suspect this imaging is in their future (from KSHB)

http://kcradio.tripod.com/kshb2011.jpg

For some odd reason, the image is blocked even though it's on Tripod. Can you post it to flickr or someplace like that instead?

Cheers & 73

 

[Robnoxious]

Scripps does not own stations in a market as small as Bakersfield, so I wonder if they will keep KERO in the long run...

Considering that it's an overflow of ABC O&O KABC in Los Angeles much like KNTV 11 in San Jose was before they became an NBC O&O, I would think no

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Disney/ABC bought it & converted it to an Indie sister to KABC 7 ala what KCAL 9 is to KCBS 2

KERO and KABC no longer overlap ever since Syndex regulations were put into place. The only programming Bakersfield can see from KABC these days is Eyewitness News and it's been that way for decades. The two markets are very much different and have always been separated by the mountains that make up the Grapevine.

 

[bpatrick]

I sort of figured that the McGraw-Hill stations would be bought by an ABC-friendly station group, and it gives Scripps more stations north (KMGH Denver) and west of Phoenix (KGTV and KERO in California). Scripps is a pretty strong performer, ratings-wise, in many of their markets, such as Detroit, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.

Given that at the time WJBK Detroit and WJW Cleveland switched from CBS to becoming Fox o&os, and in exchange for keeping WXYZ and WEWS from moving from ABC to CBS Scripps switched four other stations to ABC (WMAR Baltimore from NBC, WCPO Cincinnati from CBS, and WFTS Tampa and KNXV Phoenix from Fox), I have no reason to believe that Scripps will switch any of the four McGraw-Hill ABC affiliates. In two markets they're locked out of a network: Denver, where KCNC is a CBS o&o; and San Diego, where NBC has a majority ownership in KNSD. Also, in Denver they're up against KUSA, an NBC affiliate owned by Gannett, and the company and network have a very strong relationship. WRTV Indianapolis is in the same part of the country as WCPO, WEWS, and WXYZ; and can Bakersfield stand another switch?

 

[azumanga]

So will the MGH stations get the Scripps imaging? (The black/yellow abc## station ID)

NO WAY

The KMGH "ABC 7" logo is unique & stands in a class by itself. Sorta like the red circle "7" which only WHDH & WSVN both use

And besides, only WMAR and KNXV use the same imaging scheme -- all the other Scripps stations have their own schemes for imaging and naming -- especially Kansas City (KSHB) and Tampa Bay (WFTS), which don't use their channel number at all anymore.

 

[kilamanjero]

Well, if they were to be sold to somebody, I would rather to see these stations wind up with a strong group like Scripps.

 

[Radio3787]

They will probably model KGTV like ABC 15 in Phoenix if they change it at all. The 10News <sun> branding has been around for as long as I can remember.

 

[FightingIrish]

So will the MGH stations get the Scripps imaging? (The black/yellow abc## station ID)

NO WAY

The KMGH "ABC 7" logo is unique & stands in a class by itself. Sorta like the red circle "7" which only WHDH & WSVN both use

And besides, only WMAR and KNXV use the same imaging scheme -- all the other Scripps stations have their own schemes for imaging and naming -- especially Kansas City (KSHB) and Tampa Bay (WFTS), which don't use their channel number at all anymore.

Most likely, KSHB and WFTS don't use their channel number in imaging because (a) they're both higher on the UHF (virtual) dial and (b) they're probably on different channel locations on local cable.