TV Station for Sale for Sale WLNE

[Kenny Atkinson]

As predicted...
http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/08/television-station-channel-6-i.html

 

[bg02445]

According to the article it could be sold to:

A. Local investors
-Lin is Local

B. A media company based in NYC
-Hearst
-ABC
-McGraw-Hill

or

C. A media company based in the Midwest
-Barrington Broadcasting
-Scripps
-Local TV
-Meredith Corporation
-Post Newsweek
-Tribune

 

[MarcB]

A. Local investors
-Lin is Local

Not when they own Channel 12 and have a controlling interest in Channel 64.

B. A media company based in NYC
-Hearst

Maybe. It will go good with Channel 5 in Boston and Channel 9 in Manchester.

-ABC

I don't think the network will buy the station.

A media company based in the Midwest
-Scripps

Maybe.

Meredith Corporation

Could go well with Channel 3 in Hartford and "WSHM" in Springfield.

-Tribune

Nope. They're bankrupt. In fact both Hartford Tribune stations WTIC-TV (FOX) and WCCT-TV are listed as being owned by DEBTOR IN POSSESSION. WTIC-TV as TRIBUNE TELEVISION COMPANY, DEBTOR IN POSSESSION and WCCT-TV as WTXX INC, DEBTOR IN POSSESSION.

[/quote]

 

[necrat123]

Deleted comment.

 

[Skynet74]

I really like their Newscast a lot. More poeple should give them a chance. That will be the tricky part for the new company. Figuring out how to pull people away from WJAR and WPRI.

 

[Sammi Brie]

According to the article it could be sold to:

A. Local investors
-Lin is Local

B. A media company based in NYC
-Hearst (too close to 'CVB if WMUR might throw a flag)
-ABC
-McGraw-Hill (I could truly see this one happen - it's an ABC affiliate in a mid-sized market)

or

C. A media company based in the Midwest
-Barrington Broadcasting (doesn't seem like a fit)
-Scripps (no way!)
-Local TV (they've grown so much they might be jaded)
-Meredith Corporation (maybe if they can get synergy with WSHM?)
-Post Newsweek (no way, this is too small a fry for a station group that hasn't bought in 15 years, even IF WJXT is Mkt 47)
-Tribune

I personally think outside of that a good station group fit might be Allbritton Communications (though I think Raycom Media would do a good job, it's way outside of their cluster footprint – then again, they haven't sold KOLD yet).

 

[newsbot]

I still say it's probably Hearst or Nexstar. Deathstar owns or operates a number of ABC affiiates, and of course they already operate WLWC in the Providence market. I think Hearst can pass muster with the FCC by virtue of WLNE's perpetually disadvantaged status compared to the NBC and CBS affiliates. McGraw Hill, although most of its stations are ABC affiliates, hasn't bought a major affiliate IIRC since they bought out the Time-Life group in '72. I think Allbritton is preoccupied getting TBD up and running in DC. Meredith is another long shot; despite the obvious geographical synergies, they have no ABC affiliates in their group.

 

[Skynet74]

Well my personal vote goes for ABC Network as #1 choice.
Hearst is choice number #2.

I guess we'll know by the end of the year.

 

[DToTheJ]

My dark horse is Clear Channel - don't forget, they still own some television stations. ;D (Realistically, of course, I'm sure that purchase wouldn't get off the ground. But think of all the synergy with WHJJ, Coast 93.3 et al!)

 

[tripinva]

My dark horse is Clear Channel - don't forget, they still own some television stations. ;D (Realistically, of course, I'm sure that purchase wouldn't get off the ground. But think of all the synergy with WHJJ, Coast 93.3 et al!)

I recall Clear Channel selling off all their stations to Newport Television a few years ago.

- Trip

 

[necrat123]

Clear Channel owns one TV station still, a low power station in Defiance, OH.

 

[tripinva]

Everyone's forgetting the obvious Midwest company: Nexstar. They already operate WLWC and would probably like to make that into a duopoly...

- Trip

 

[mescutia]

Everyone's forgetting the obvious Midwest company: Nexstar. They already operate WLWC and would probably like to make that into a duopoly...

Newsbot mentioned them.

Here's a thought: What if ABC and Hearst (for example) teamed up to buy WLNE, sharing ownership a la NBC and Lin's shared ownership of KXAS and KNSD? That way, neither company would have to get funding for the complete cost, and each could have right of first refusal in a year or two when the other decides to sell their share.

Admittedly, it's a strange idea, but in this economy, anything's possible.

 

[tripinva]

My mistake.

- Trip

 

[bg02445]

Nexstar is based in Irving, Texas...not really the Midwest.

 

[qunewsguy]

If the station's in dire straits already i'd look for a company that can provide local synergy to do some immediate cost-cutting. Why would a company that focuses totally on the midwest come east just for one full-power station that's already having trouble paying the bills?

 

[tripinva]

Who, Nexstar? They already operate WLWC, and own stations in New York and Pennsylvania.

- Trip

 

[MarcB]

What about that local company that bought WGGB Channel 40 in Springfield a couple years ago? They seem to have improved the station since they bought it from Sinclair. And they launched "FOX 6" on WGGB Channel 40.2 - Of course with all the network affiliations taken in Providence maybe if they bought WLNE they could put THIS-TV or the new soon-to-launch Antenna TV on Channel 6.2

 

[necrat123]

There wasn't a company that bought WGGB, it was an individual, John Gormally. I doubt he is in the market to buy an out of market TV station.

 

[qunewsguy]

Gormally almost got into deep financial straits shortly after his WGGB purchase. Don't think he's looking to branch out to a market he knows nothing about.