The CW signs Sinclair!

[jellyeggs]

8 stations in total, including Baltimore, Nashville, Vegas & Okla. City. I guess Sinclair made CW sweeten the pot a bit? http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6330747.html?display=Breaking+News

 

[marko83]

I was really hoping (and they were proabably too) that this would not happen since we all know how crappy Sinclair is. I mean, would YOU want your network associated with them? But I guess it is better than nothing in some markets.

 

[Darrel M]

I guess Sinclair made CW sweeten the pot a bit?

Perhaps, but my guess is there was pressure on both sides to get this done: Sinclair would've seen these stations lose value if they didn't reach an affiliation deal. Also, CW would've gone into May upfronts with these glaring holes in their affiliate lineup (Minneapolis, Baltimore, etc) if this deal wasn't reached, which in turn would cause advertisers to not pony up as much in ad dollars as CW would've hoped.But regardless of which side blinked, a deal has been reached and CW can now go into May upfronts happy in the fact that they'll reach at least 68 of the top 70 markets (so far, only Harrisburg and Memphis are the notable markets without a CW deal as of yet).

 

[EricStein]

Sinclair in Las Vegas

I still don't understand why Sinclair placed what is bound to be the weaker of the two upstarts (MyNet) on its strongest, most established station in Las Vegas (KVWB-21). Unless they make a switch before everything is settled, this doesn't make sense.

 

[rch66]

But regardless of which side blinked, a deal has been reached and CW can now go into May upfronts happy in the fact that they'll reach at least 68 of the top 70 markets (so far, only Harrisburg and Memphis are the notable markets without a CW deal as of yet).

In Harrisburg, CW has a backup carrier, WPMT 43 (FOX), Tribune. FOX 43 used to be the WB affiliate station of that market as well, with WB programs at 1am on weekdays and a Saturday afternoon hour.Harrisburg has 5 commercial stations, excluding the religious one. WLYH is in position to choose either CW or My Net. I think it maybe something else other than abulia on Clear Channel's part. Possibly, Clear Channel has bigger plans for WLYH 15, like a big 4 network. Maybe, they are trying to lure FOX onto WLYH 15, away from Tribune. A reverse compensation deal, if provided by Clear Channel, would please Fox. Fox could simply tell Tribune they have received a better offer, dependant on WPMT's existing length of affiliation with Fox.On Clear Channel's website, it's listed that WLYH(UPN) is an owned station, while WHP(CBS) is an LMA. Maybe there'd be some profit benefit for Clear Channel to have WLYH be the CBS station, while WHP the other. One issue, however, is WLYH's signal goes a little more east into Philadelphia and Baltimore, moreso than WHP, that CBS wouldn't want. Not sure if it's still applicable w/ digital OTA, however. Lastly, Tribune hasn't signed a deal with MyNetwork for Philadelphia, Atlanta or Seattle. If MyNetwork does land on Tribune stations, it may go out that WPMT is the part-time MyNet carrier, assuming CW lands on Clear Channel, WLYH. Cable systems there already carry WPHL, which wouldn't need to be dropped or changed.

 

[genius]

On a side note, WLYH was a CBS station until 1995. But actually I think it was bound to happen. Yes, Sinclair is terrible and cheap, but with NewsCentral gone and many of their stations already set to MyNet, I'm sure they needed some leverage if MyNet's Americanized telenovelas end up flopping.

 

[Kent]

Lastly, Tribune hasn't signed a deal with MyNetwork for Philadelphia, Atlanta or Seattle. If MyNetwork does land on Tribune stations, it may go out that WPMT is the part-time MyNet carrier, assuming CW lands on Clear Channel, WLYH. Cable systems there already carry WPHL, which wouldn't need to be dropped or changed.

I wouldn't expect Tribune to affiliate with My Network TV at any of their stations. There is a rumor that Fox is very unhappy with them over the CW deal that landed the network at so many of its stations at their expense and may even be interested in disaffiliating the handful of Tribune Fox affiliates in return.

 

[jellyeggs]

As far as the "My" situation in Tribune markets goes, I saw a bit in Broadcasting & Cable on Pax/I & it mentioned that Pax/I turned down an offer to affiliate with "My" because Fox only wanted to affiliate in a few markets. Where these clearances would`ve been for`s not mentioned, but could they`ve been by chance Phiily, Seattle, Miami &/or Atlanta?

 

[EricStein]

If anything, I'd expect MyNet to land on Belo's KONG-16 in Seattle before they consider the "i" station. In Philadelphia, Atlanta, and possibly Boston, they could end up on a multicast channel of the FOX O&O if Tribune and/or CBS doesn't affiliate any of its stations with MyNet.As for the FOX/Tribune relationship, I don't think that FOX would want to lose its VHF status in Seattle, as well as being on an established station in Hartford/New Haven. In fact, I thought that Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes were happy to have its stations free of a network owned by one of its competitors.Speaking of Roger Ailes, I'm surprised that KYES in Anchorage, owned by a rather left-leaning individual (they're probably the only commercial TV station in the U.S. which airs the TV simulcast of Democracy Now!), signed on with MyNet. But then again, MyNet had nowhere else to go in Anchorage. Talk about strange bedfellows!

 

[KML0224]

As for the FOX/Tribune relationship, I don't think that FOX would want to lose its VHF status in Seattle, as well as being on an established station in Hartford/New Haven. In fact, I thought that Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes were happy to have its stations free of a network owned by one of its competitors.

WCTX-TV (UPN) channel 59 of New Haven recently announced that they will be the MyTV affiliate for the market. WTXX-TV (WB) channel 20 of Waterbury/Hartford will be our CW affiliate. Tribune operates WTXX-TV under a local market agreement.