Scripps News Shutting Down OTA

[EricStein]

I would add a few more networks to that list: Buzzr, which like Cozi draws from a library owned by the same company as the channel (Fremantle); Antenna TV/Rewind TV, which are established concerns with viewer recognition and owned by the same company (Nexstar) as many of the stations that run those two networks; and the rest of the Weigel (MeTV) networks, especially H&I, Catchy Comedy, MeTV Toons, and Movies! since they operate on sheer volume of focused programming with a huge library to draw from and have wide carriage.

I think the Sinclair diginets (Comet and Charge!, in particular) have longer legs than the Nexstar networks, based on the strength of the content each network airs.

I also feel like Fremantle is underutilizing BUZZR. They're running their B-game show titles like "Password" and "Classic Concentration" into the ground. They have better shows in their library they used to run when the network was new, but the only one that seems to be airing these days are the many variations of "Match Game."

 

[yeoldeschool]

No sooner did I complain about the loss of the second "straight news" diginet than a new, partisan one popped up in my channel scan this morning:

Salem Breaks Into TV, As Its News Channel Debuts In 55 Markets.

By way of a partnership with HC2 Broadcasting, Salem Media Group has made the move into broadcast television, making its Salem News Channel available over the air in 55 U.S.

www.insideradio.com

 

[TheBigA]

No sooner did I complain about the loss of the second "straight news" diginet than a new, partisan one popped up in my channel scan this morning:

No mention of staffing. Looking at the affiliate list, they're all either low power or digital only. This is even worse than Scripps.

 

[yeoldeschool]

I also feel like Fremantle is underutilizing BUZZR. They're running their B-game show titles like "Password" and "Classic Concentration" into the ground. They have better shows in their library they used to run when the network was new, but the only one that seems to be airing these days are the many variations of "Match Game."

I've noticed that myself. The outlier in me used to love watching the black and white stuff overnight in particular. But in general, everything now looks like styrofoam-cheap pulp that was originally front-end syndicated to low budget independent stations or something.

I did see that they recently began running Barker-era "Price is Right" episodes, though.

 

[HappyThoughts1257]

I bet these primary channels like KILM in Los Angeles, CA, WCLJ in Bloomington, Indiana, WFPX in Archer Lodge, North Carolina, WDLI in Cleveland, Ohio and WSFJ in Columbus, Ohio might probably become an Independent stations replacing Scripps News to air Syndicated Programming, live local news, live local current events and live local sports coverage and on subchannels in other markets they might probably become QVC or HSN2 or any other affiliates that's my opinion.

 

[TheBigA]

I bet these primary channels like KILM in Los Angeles, CA, WCLJ in Bloomington, Indiana, WFPX in Archer Lodge, North Carolina, WDLI in Cleveland, Ohio and WSFJ in Columbus, Ohio might probably become an Independent stations replacing Scripps News to air Syndicated Programming, live local news, live local current events and live local sports coverage and on subchannels in other markets they might probably become QVC or HSN2 or any other affiliates that's my opinion.

The catch with all of that is the expense. They couldn't afford to do national news on a national platform, so live local news would be a huge expense. Airing outside syndication costs money in rights fees. That's why I suggested running in-house Ion shows.

Scripps IS looking into live sports programming in several markets. They already have a deal in Phoenix. But once again, sports rights fees are expensive and it would be a regional network rather than a single station.

 

[Loganfly]

My prediction is that the stations with Scripps News on their primary channels (KILM, WCLJ, WFPX, WDLI, WSFJ) could be satellites of their sister Ion stations or put Ion Plus on them.

As for the subchannel ones, leasing is the right option, compared to running a new channel which might only last 3 to 4 years

 

[EricStein]

The catch with all of that is the expense. They couldn't afford to do national news on a national platform, so live local news would be a huge expense. Airing outside syndication costs money in rights fees. That's why I suggested running in-house Ion shows.

Scripps IS looking into live sports programming in several markets. They already have a deal in Phoenix. But once again, sports rights fees are expensive and it would be a regional network rather than a single station.

The outside market sports programming initiative Scripps in Phoenix is trying out is a gamble. You think the few die-hard Phoenix Coyotes fans are going to follow them to Utah? Also, does the Vegas Golden Knights have a built-in fan base here? Also, they will probably have to run the ads for the regional merchants (such as R.C. Willey and car dealerships) which aren't in the Phoenix area. If there is no interest in the teams being shown, they won't be able to sell local ads (or if they do, they would cost so little it wouldn't even be worth it).

 

[genius]

Not shocked here at all.

I told people that the name change and format tweaking on this board just wasn’t going to work but everyone blew me off.

Newsy lasted 14 years.

This experiment, while well intentioned, only lasting just under two years.

 

[HappyThoughts1257]

My prediction is that the stations with Scripps News on their primary channels (KILM, WCLJ, WFPX, WDLI, WSFJ) could be satellites of their sister Ion stations or put Ion Plus on them.

As for the subchannel ones, leasing is the right option, compared to running a new channel which might only last 3 to 4 years

Not going to happen again

Primary channels (KILM, WCLJ, WFPX, WDLI and WSFJ) had been a Ion Plus affiliate in 2018 until 2021 but in my opinion they might probably become an Independent station otherwise these markets are without an Independent station.

 

[TheBigA]

Primary channels (KILM, WCLJ, WFPX, WDLI and WSFJ) had been a Ion Plus affiliate in 2018 until 2021 but in my opinion they might probably become an Independent station otherwise these markets are without an Independent station.

KCAL-9 is an independent station. Also KWHY 22.

No requirement that a market has to have an independent station.

 

[HappyThoughts1257]

KCAL is an independent station

In my opinion KILM might probably become an Independent station possibly branded as California 64 to air the former KDOC Programming that's what I have a feeling.

I already know that KCAL is an Independent station but they don't air too much Syndicated Programming what other LA stations do offer but I'm sure KILM might be interested in picking up the entire Syndicated Programming what KDOC and KTLA showed like: Forensic Files, Cheaters, Young Sheldon, Friends, Two and a half Men, The Big Bang Theory, The Connor's, The Goldberg's, Court Cam, Full Measure with Sharyl Atkinson, ¡Popstar! Today, Murdoch Mysteries and Bloodline Detectives because some Syndicated shows have not been in the LA Market 2 years ago since KDOC went off the air, these Syndicated shows need to be back on the air in the LA Market.

 

[TheBigA]

I'm sure KILM might be interested in picking up the entire Syndicated Programming what KDOC and KTLA showed

The problem with that as I said is the expense. The fee they will pay will be based on market size, not audience. So they will have to pay more than they will ever make from advertising. That kind of thing is better done on either cable or streaming, where the expense can be spread out for a larger audience. There's a reason why it's hard to run syndication locally, and the reason is it's too expensive. If you want to see those shows, subscribe to a streaming service.

 

[HappyThoughts1257]

My prediction is that the stations with Scripps News on their primary channels (KILM, WCLJ, WFPX, WDLI, WSFJ) could be satellites of their sister Ion stations or put Ion Plus on them.

As for the subchannel ones, leasing is the right option, compared to running a new channel which might only last 3 to 4 years

Otherwise KILM, WCLJ, WFPX, WDLI and WSFJ could put HSN on them.

That's another option

 

[Loverofradio]

So they go to the internet and social media where there are no standards, no responsibility, and ALL opinion based news. But now they can pick the news they want to believe. How has that helped media trust or the health of the country? People say they don't trust the media because it has opinion, but that's the only news that gets an audience. That's why Scripps is shutting down.

Scripps is shutting down because no one knew about it. Not because the product wasn’t good. NewsNet on the other hand was just terrible and much like Scripps it was stuck on .2 channels. Regardless, it’s hard to get noticed without promotion. It’s funny that even the big news networks realize you have to spend money to make money, while watching an nfl game today, I saw ads for Fox News and cbs news.

 

[TheBigA]

Scripps is shutting down because no one knew about it. Not because the product wasn’t good.

Scripps is in the media business. People go to them to advertise, not the other way around. The ads you saw for Fox or CBS were aired on Fox and CBS. Not bought on other media. Scripps did promotion, but you didn't see it.

 

[landtuna]

Ouch. Did they ever advertise in any way? Market-customized spots on radio giving their local channel number, telling people tired of cable news that there was some breathable oxygen available? As much as everybody hates Youtube ads, they could have even run spots there, saying "search Scripps News right here on Youtube" to pick up instant views from people already using the platform.

Phoenix has Scripps News on 51.4 and a Scripps O&O on 15 however I never saw any advertising on 15 for 51.4 even though both identified as Scripps.

 

[Loverofradio]

Scripps is in the media business. People go to them to advertise, not the other way around. The ads you saw for Fox or CBS were aired on Fox and CBS. Not bought on other media. Scripps did promotion, but you didn't see it.

For example: how many ads on espn or other competing networks for other streaming services? I’ve seen several ads for Peacock on espn, same with paramount plus. Why can’t for profit news organizations advertise?

 

[powergate92]

Phoenix has Scripps News on 51.4 and a Scripps O&O on 15 however I never saw any advertising on 15 for 51.4 even though both identified as Scripps.

I have seen ads on KNXV 15 for Scripps News during the 11 AM newscast and they would say at the end of the ad that it's on 51.4 and can be streamed on these services with a list of FAST services. Also, KASW 61 airs Scripps News Morning Rush in the morning and Scripps News Live at 1 PM.

 

[landtuna]

The outside market sports programming initiative Scripps in Phoenix is trying out is a gamble. You think the few die-hard Phoenix Coyotes fans are going to follow them to Utah? Also, does the Vegas Golden Knights have a built-in fan base here? Also, they will probably have to run the ads for the regional merchants (such as R.C. Willey and car dealerships) which aren't in the Phoenix area. If there is no interest in the teams being shown, they won't be able to sell local ads (or if they do, they would cost so little it wouldn't even be worth it).

I watched the pre-season game last Friday on 61.1 and noticed about half the commercials were from Las Vegas interests (the game was in LV). Thought that was kind of odd.

There is a continuing hockey interest in Phoenix despite the decades of miserable ownership issues. I can see fans wanting to follow the current Utah hockey club roster before they switch their allegiance to Las Vegas. That will weaken over time I suspect.