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TV Station for Sale for Sale WLNE

Here is an interesting thought. Could NBC, CBS or FOX buy them and force an affiliate change? If that happens things could really change.
 
Skynet74 said:
Here is an interesting thought. Could NBC, CBS or FOX buy them and force an affiliate change? If that happens things could really change.
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That certainly would be interesting. Unfortunately, both NBC and CBS have been in more of a selling mood than a buying mood. Each has expressed a desire to limit their local affiliates to the largest markets. Now, given the current market conditions, they are sitting on a lot of O&O properties in mid-sized markets - but they sure don't care to add another.

I can't comment on FOX, though I really don't see that WLNE brings much to the table for them. You should hope that Hearst-Argyle buys WLNE, they might actually make a player out of them. H-A has an excellent record of turning local stations around. But, again, I don't think that they are in acquisition mode right now.

Honestly, I am not sure who will buy WLNE at this point.
 
From what I heard some kind of deal should be announced by the end of the year. So it shouldn't be to much longer. Apparently someone is interested. The station just isn't saying WHO.
 
Skynet74 said:
Here is an interesting thought. Could NBC, CBS or FOX buy them and force an affiliate change? If that happens things could really change.
Click to expand...

Just like CBS (with the top-rated CBS Evening News) helped their newscasts back in the 70's and 80's?!?
 
formeraa said:
Skynet74 said:
Here is an interesting thought. Could NBC, CBS or FOX buy them and force an affiliate change? If that happens things could really change.
Click to expand...

Just like CBS (with the top-rated CBS Evening News) helped their newscasts back in the 70's and 80's?!?
Click to expand...


At this point I think almost anything could help. There is only one direction to go from the bottom.
 
jimmyone said:
just a RUMOR...But supposedly two people who held the same office might be looking at it....
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Based on that RUMOR: Former Mayors "Paolino" and "Cianci" are my guess. Interesting. That certainly isn't major network Money being brought to the table if that's the case. It's also not people who have any experience running a TV station. My guess is that ABC6 won't be any better off if that rumor actually is true. I'll admit that I like Cianci and I think he did some great things for the city. But there is a big difference between running a city and running a TV station.
 
Skynet74 said:
jimmyone said:
just a RUMOR...But supposedly two people who held the same office might be looking at it....
Click to expand...

Based on that RUMOR: Former Mayors "Paolino" and "Cianci" are my guess. Interesting. That certainly isn't major network Money being brought to the table if that's the case. It's also not people who have any experience running a TV station. My guess is that ABC6 won't be any better off if that rumor actually is true. I'll admit that I like Cianci and I think he did some great things for the city. But there is a big difference between running a city and running a TV station.
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Wouldn't former Mayor Cianci be unable to be own even a portion of the WLNE license due to his past infractions of the law? I believe that is the rule with the FCC. Just curious if that is still the rule.
 
Skynet74 said:
Garrett said:
What about Ansin?
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Yeah he would be good. Hearst would be good. ABC would be good. I just have a sinking feeling that all the good choices are going to stay far away.
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I don't know if that's true."If" Ansin were looking to buy another property, I would think 6 would be an excellent choice. It's proximity to Channel 7 (I believe the two have some overlap in coverage on the Cape) might make it a golden opportunity for Ansin to expand coverage south. Now that NBC no longer owns WJAR, I would think that affiliation agreements are up for grabs. Don't know about that for sure of course. But I bet Ansin could turn WLNE around very quickly. First, they'd likely be able to consolodate all operations with WHDH (as Ansin did with WLVI). That would save WLNE a LOT of money. And isn't that what this is all about?

From what I've seen, Ansin has a pretty good track record in that department. Or do they?
 
Or threaten to pull the entire ABC lineup each night at 10 PM and get people talking about him or the station! It worked in Boston...sort of! ;)
 
Skynet74 said:
formeraa said:
Skynet74 said:
Here is an interesting thought. Could NBC, CBS or FOX buy them and force an affiliate change? If that happens things could really change.
Click to expand...

Just like CBS (with the top-rated CBS Evening News) helped their newscasts back in the 70's and 80's?!?
Click to expand...


At this point I think almost anything could help. There is only one direction to go from the bottom.
Click to expand...

I recall making the same comment in 1981. :D ;D
 
As much as we would love to see ABC buy WLNE and turn the station around for once and for all, I HIGHLY doubt ABC would buy WLNE. When's the last time one of the 'Big Three' bought a station? It's just a small market weak ABC affiliate in a market that can't seem to support 3 newscasts. I don't see any reason for ABC to step in, and isn't there a rumor that the future of small market affiliates is bleak anyways?

That being said, if Hearst bought WLNE would they just turn it into a WCVB drone and add a Rhode Island news branch to NewsCenter 5? If so, whats so great about them picking up the station? (Im sure Rhode Islanders wouldn't be interesed in Boston news with Rhode Island news sprinkled in) Or do you think they would do something similar to WMUR, completely local newscast and when something big happens in Rhode Island they share it with WCVB and vise versa?
 
beantownradio25 said:
..... if Hearst bought WLNE would they just turn it into a WCVB drone and add a Rhode Island news branch to NewsCenter 5? If so, whats so great about them picking up the station? .....
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Sometimes a Boston Chronicle story makes it onto New Hampshire Chronicle, and a big Boston story finds its way onto WMUR's newscasts, but otherwise Hearst's NH and Maine (8) outlets do their own thing. If they bought 6, they could make a run at 10 and 12 news, but they might be better off concentrating on Southeastern Mass. Forward, into the past, via New Bedford.
 
MarcB said:
beantownradio25 said:
When's the last time one of the 'Big Three' bought a station?
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I'm thinking it was '96 when NBC bought WVIT Channel 30 in Hartford from Viacom.
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That's the same year they got WVTM and KNSD from the surplus sale of New World, too.
 
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