Sinclair to add another group to its conquest: Fisher!

[Charles1]

The one bright spot could be if they try to keep KOMO or KATU, the liberals in those markets might organize some mor concerted anti-Sinclair action...

The main reason why Sinclair (and even Nexstar) have flown under the radar on their buying sprees are that they've avoided larger markets and those that Sinclair is in mainly have been mostly netlet affiliates. This obviously changes everything especially as criticism in a Seattle or Portland is much different than criticism in Madison or even Austin.

In contrast, the radio parallel to this (Clear Channel's turn-of-the-century buying spree) was much, much larger and when it was all said and done which mainland markets of note did they not own stations in besides Buffalo?

Another mid-major market where Clear Channel has no presence is Knoxville.

 

[Kent]

I don't see why other station groups have simply let Sinclair and Nexstar buy up stations to begin with. Now it's almost as if they feel that they aren't going to get the stations no matter how hard they try, so they leave it to those two to get them.

If you're interested in selling, Sinclair's money spends as well as anyone else's. If you're another group, what can you really do to stop them? The only option you really have is to outbid them, which could drive up your debt to unsustainable levels. As Michael points out, if you think Sinclair's spending too much on these stations, you'll get a second crack at them, probably at a lower price, if you're right. On top of that, if you're another operator, you'd probably rather compete against Sinclair than some of the other guys. Sinclair has a reputation for cost cutting. It's really been more of a company that buys bottom feeders and tries to bring them to the middle-of-the-pack (in revenue, if not in ratings) than it is a solid contender for number one in most places.

In contrast, the radio parallel to this (Clear Channel's turn-of-the-century buying spree) was much, much larger and when it was all said and done which mainland markets of note did they not own stations in besides Buffalo?

Kansas City. Don't know if Buffalo's still a top-50 market (it was about to fall out a few years ago), but Kansas City and Buffalo used to be the only top-50's that didn't have a Clear Channel presence. It was probably just coincidence and driven more by the lower wages and cost of living in the Midwest, but it always seemed weird that Newport put its headquarters in KC after buying all those TV stations from them!

 

[only1moore]

Seattle is a huge market, home to Microsoft, Starbucks, etc and it's a huge an international destination/hub. Sinclair running one of the major network stations, an ABC affiliate, won't be good. Likely costs will be cut and the city/market will get a low class product. All the tourists into the market will see a low class ABC affiliate as well.

Assuming the ABC affiliation was close to expiring, Maybe Disney could buy out another station in the market?

Highly unlikely that ABC will drop KOMO, since KING is happy with NBC, Cox will stick with KIRO and Tribune just re-upped KCPQ with Fox. CBS-owned KSTW will stick with The CW but if they do sell Cox will go after the station.

BTW Disney isn't looking for stations at this moment, more like unloading than adding them.

 

[michael hagerty]

Seattle is a huge market, home to Microsoft, Starbucks, etc and it's a huge an international destination/hub. Sinclair running one of the major network stations, an ABC affiliate, won't be good. Likely costs will be cut and the city/market will get a low class product. All the tourists into the market will see a low class ABC affiliate as well.

Assuming the ABC affiliation was close to expiring, Maybe Disney could buy out another station in the market?

Highly unlikely that ABC will drop KOMO, since KING is happy with NBC, Cox will stick with KIRO and Tribune just re-upped KCPQ with Fox. CBS-owned KSTW will stick with The CW but if they do sell Cox will go after the station.

BTW Disney isn't looking for stations at this moment, more like unloading than adding them.

Yeah, I really think we're past the point where the major nets are going to buy up more O&Os. As long as the reverse compensation checks clear and the ratings don't dive to the point where it affects the nationwide average and requires ad rate adjustments, an affiliate is pretty safe. It would take something major.

 

[Morgan Wick]

Seattle is a huge market, home to Microsoft, Starbucks, etc and it's a huge an international destination/hub. Sinclair running one of the major network stations, an ABC affiliate, won't be good. Likely costs will be cut and the city/market will get a low class product. All the tourists into the market will see a low class ABC affiliate as well.

Assuming the ABC affiliation was close to expiring, Maybe Disney could buy out another station in the market?

Highly unlikely that ABC will drop KOMO, since KING is happy with NBC, Cox will stick with KIRO and Tribune just re-upped KCPQ with Fox. CBS-owned KSTW will stick with The CW but if they do sell Cox will go after the station.

BTW Disney isn't looking for stations at this moment, more like unloading than adding them.

Yeah, I really think we're past the point where the major nets are going to buy up more O&Os. As long as the reverse compensation checks clear and the ratings don't dive to the point where it affects the nationwide average and requires ad rate adjustments, an affiliate is pretty safe. It would take something major.

Tell that to people in Charlotte...

 

[ding12]

py with NBC, Cox will stick with KIRO and Tribune just re-upped KCPQ with Fox. CBS-owned KSTW will stick with The CW but if they do sell Cox will go after the station.

BTW Disney isn't looking for stations at this moment, more like unloading than adding them.

Maybe it could buy the Tribune MNT affiliate there?

As for Disney, it might unload Raleigh or whatever small markets it might have left (although Raleigh isn't that small anymore), but for them to be fine with a crappy affiliate in Seattle will be somewhat surprising. The DMA is huge, and Disney can keep the cable retransmission revenue by owning the affiliate.

 

[michael hagerty]

Seattle is a huge market, home to Microsoft, Starbucks, etc and it's a huge an international destination/hub. Sinclair running one of the major network stations, an ABC affiliate, won't be good. Likely costs will be cut and the city/market will get a low class product. All the tourists into the market will see a low class ABC affiliate as well.

Assuming the ABC affiliation was close to expiring, Maybe Disney could buy out another station in the market?

Highly unlikely that ABC will drop KOMO, since KING is happy with NBC, Cox will stick with KIRO and Tribune just re-upped KCPQ with Fox. CBS-owned KSTW will stick with The CW but if they do sell Cox will go after the station.

BTW Disney isn't looking for stations at this moment, more like unloading than adding them.

Yeah, I really think we're past the point where the major nets are going to buy up more O&Os. As long as the reverse compensation checks clear and the ratings don't dive to the point where it affects the nationwide average and requires ad rate adjustments, an affiliate is pretty safe. It would take something major.

Tell that to people in Charlotte...

That one is a surprise.

 

[jdb820]

Tell that to people in Charlotte...

That one is a surprise.

Well, Bahakel has been kind've over their heads for a while so...

 

[EricStein]

Champagne bottles are popping at KOMO and KATU's competition this morning.

I always heard KOMO-TV and KATU were struggling under Fisher. I suppose that could have changed, or I could have heard incorrectly, though.

KOIN improved a ton under New Vision's ownership and that kind've pushed KATU into third place and I wouldn't be shocked if they were in fourth in some time periods though what may be saving them from that is KPTV's dragging their heels with HD news.

As for KOMO, the fact that a station in a large market is still doing SD news, even as "enhanced widescreen", in 2013 probably is hurting them more than they'd like to admit. Even the jarring "HD in-studio but SD in-the-field" approach taken by stations such as WJLA is better than nothing.

Two decades ago, I remember visiting Oregon and KATU seemed to have a dominant newscast. Things must have really gone downhill for Fisher since then. Wherever Sinclair has gotten its hands on a TV property, they've mandated the stations to carry the Mark Hyman commentary and the weekly Armstrong Williams opinion program. I don't think they're going to make exceptions because the populations of Seattle and Portland politically lean left.

I've read that the Belo stations in the PacNW were slipping a little. I don't know if NBC's problems have caused ratings to drop, or letting news talent go. I think KING and KGW are still number one in their respected markets, but KIRO and KOIN are catching up.

 

[e-dawg]

Looks like the it's a done deal. Sinclair officially owns the Fisher stations couple days ago.