Scripps WSAH/Bridgeport,CT plans

[rch66]

I know this is somewhat off the radar, but back 10 years ago, Scripps extorted the ABC Network to get their independent UHF station in Phoenix an ABC affiliation. It wasn't expected, but it was pulled by the Scripps execs.Here's a thought: Scripps has thought about extorting ABC again this time - WSAH an ABC affiliation for the Hartford/New Haven market area, away from LIN Television. (yes, technically WSAH is not in the county that's defined by the Nielsen DMA where Hartford/New Haven is listed nor does WSAH's signal rival WTNH in the DMA), but big 4 nets often serve an adjacent market, and stations move their towers as well. Sadly for LIN, they have only 1 affiliate with an ABC affiliate, thats WTNH meaning less leverage with ABC, compared to Scripps, Hearst or Allbritton. (Replace Scripps with ABC, and ABC might ponder relaying WABC up there, then modifying it to be more local, and later ending the deal with LIN).But more realistically, would WSAH try filling in for the Hartford/New Haven market as something? Maybe NBC could buy it out as a Telemundo repeater for WNJU 47 and into CT. Scripps has a Shop At Home station in Raleigh, NC that could also be sold to NBC for Telemundo.

 

[KML0224]

Show me what portion of the Hartford/New Haven DMA gets them over the air. I only get a weak color signal of theirs IF I've got rabbit ears on an older TV set up on the third floor here in New Britain. COX Communications in the Southington and Meriden areas have the station on their lineup but Comcast of New Britain and Hartford do not. As for WUTH-CA channel 47 in Hartford, no cable system in this area carries that at all. They are a Telefutura affiliate, not Telemundo. Telemundo gets taken care of by WRDM-LP channel 50 (formerly channel 13) of Hartford, which is on Comcast channel 13 in New Britain and Hartford.

 

[oldschooltv]

It's available over the air with a decent signal only in western New Haven County and southern Litchfield County... but don't worry bud, you're not missing anything at all - I'd block the channel out if I could! haha ;D

 

[oldschooltv]

I thought this was interesting when I digged it up.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDERAdopted: April 14, 2000 Released: April 18, 2000By the Deputy Chief, Cable Services Bureaurdering clausesAccordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section 614(h) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §534(h), and Section 76.59 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. §76.59, that the petition for partial reconsideration of Paxson New York License, Inc., 14 FCC Rcd 7715 (CSB 1999) IS GRANTED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that the television market of television station WASH(TV) IS MODIFIED to include the following Connecticut communities: Branford, Chester, East Haven, Guilford, Madison, North Branford, North Haven, Wallingford, the City of New Haven, Clinton, Deep River, Durham, Essex, Haddam, Hamden, Killington, Old Saybrook, Westbrook, West Haven, Orange, Milford, Stratford, Woodbridge, Prospect, Wolcott, Waterbury, Middlebury, Plymouth, New Milford, Bridgewater, Southbury, Woodbury, Kent, Washington, Roxbury, Bethlehem Borough, Seymour, Shelton, Naugatuck, Oxford, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby and Ansonia. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the television market of television station WSAH(TV) IS NOT MODIFIED with respect to the following Hartford County, Connecticut communities: Avon, Berlin, Bloomfield, Bristol, Burlington, Canton, East Hartford, Farmington, Hartford, New Britain, Plainville, Simsbury, West Hartford, Windsor, Meriden, Cheshire, Southington, Manchester, Glastonbury, Newington, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield and South Windsor.

Unless the FCC ruling has changed since 2000, I'm surprised that the station could be offered by COX in Meriden and Southington.

 

[MarcB]

That thing is wrong. It says Cheshire and Meriden are in Hartford County. They're not. They're in New Haven County. The COX franchise that includes Meriden, Cheshire, and Southington is based in Meriden, which is in New Haven County. That I think is why WSAH is on COX.

 

[oldschooltv]

That is straight from the FCC website, unedited... seems like another mistake by the government!

 

[RexManning]

rch66 wrote 'Sadly for LIN, they have only 1 affiliate with an ABC affiliate, thats WTNH 'what about WOTV in michigan? theyre not abc anymore?

 

[rch66]

rch66 wrote 'Sadly for LIN, they have only 1 affiliate with an ABC affiliate, thats WTNH 'what about WOTV in michigan? theyre not abc anymore?

Oh yes, they still are, although they are a secondary ABC affiliate in the market.

 

[azumanga]

what about WOTV in michigan? theyre not abc anymore?

Oh yes, they still are, although they are a secondary ABC affiliate in the market.

Actually, it's more complex than that -- first of all, WOTV was establised in 1971 (as WUHQ) to provide ABC service to southwestern Michigan, an area where it's difficult, if not impossible, to pick up WZZM (whose tranny is northeast of Muskegon). Second of all, both stations cover Grand Rapids proper, with sister station WOOD (the NBC affiliate) promoting WOTV as THE ABC station for Grand Rapids.