TV shakeup

[John-Summers]

Not radio-related but certainly an interesting development regarding WHTM-TV 27. Owner Allbritton has announced that it has sold all of its TV stations to....Sinclair, which recently assumed control of WHP-TV 21 and the LMA of WLYH-TV 15. This creates a problem for Sinclair, as it is unlikely they would be permitted to own both 21 and 27. A statement from Sinclair indicates the company is going to "sell the license and certain related assets" of the stations they own in markets in which a conflict exists (Harrisburg, Birmingham and Charleston).

Sinclair trading-up from 21 to 27 is certainly a good deal for them. Not so much for the people who work at either of the stations involved. So who will end up with the beleaguered Channel 21. What happens to Channel 15? And is there any relationship with this and the recent shake-up at WGCB-TV in the York area? Should be interesting.

 

[bossjock 56]

Curious...how does the GCB deal figure in? Last I heard...the station was sold for the spectrum...but hey decided to keep it status quo for a while. Has any of THIS changed?

 

[vetguy]

No effect on WGCB. As of right now the spectrum auction for the TV channels won't happen until some time in 2014, if not later, delayed by FCC and court actions.

 

[John-Summers]

Curious...how does the GCB deal figure in? Last I heard...the station was sold for the spectrum...but hey decided to keep it status quo for a while. Has any of THIS changed?

Could be a coincidence, but Titan Broadcast Management, a company that manages a number of stations for absentee owners (including Sinclair) recently marched in to WGCB and cleaned house, with the exception of the techs needed to keep it running. Certainly there is something happening there. Perhaps an LMA for another station in the market?

Harrisburg, York and Lancaster are separate radio markets, but they are one TV market, #43. Four of the top TV groups operate stations here: Sinclair, Hearst, Tribune and Nexstar (which owns WLYH). Rumor has it that Nexstar desires to end the LMA with Channel 21 when it expires and take back Channel 15. Could Nexstar, with WLYH's superior signal to WHP-TV, make a bid for CBS? Anything is possible when Sinclair takes over 27 and divests itself of 21.

 

[double-d-sharp]

I wonder if a rebranding of 21 was already in the works. Besides a recent overhaul to their web site, both www.cbs21.com and www.whptv.com now point to www.local21news.com.

 

[Tim Y]

Titan Broadcasting,purchased by Sinclair,was running WGCB TV49,a "NRJ" station.
Where that leaves Family 49 now is anybody's guess.Stay tuned.
Matt UHL,former station Mgr at WHP and Sales Mgr at Fox43,was appointed station
manager at WGCB TV.Rumor is that the guy only stops in the station twice or so a week
for a few hours and has adopted a "don't give a damn" attitude.Somewhat of a loose canon.
Lou Castriota,who was let go,apparently is still running the station.Rumor also has it that
Sinclair may simply sell WHP TV to one of it's "fake" companies and in actuality still possess
WHP.It's getting interesting in this "Harrisburg" television market.Stay tuned-"more at 11".

 

[epmark]

Could be that Sinclair will sell WHP assets, but retain non-content (sales) control. If above comment on Nexstar is true (eliminating LMA, taking CBS) WHP might be a hard 100% sale for Sinclair (and MyTV affiliation on 21.2 might be aggressively bid away by the other major players). In any event, expect to see unique, locally-produced content reduced as the players are consolidated.

 

[Tim Y]

Rumor has it that Joe Lewin,Mgr of channel 27,will retire ( he is in his 70's ).
The curent GM of WHP TV will take over and Manage both TV27 and TV21.
Sinclair will simply sell WHP to one of it's numerous "dummy" companies.
Stay tuned- more possibly this coming week.