WHDH looking for a new TV affiliation?

[alg2468]

From yesterday:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a...t-to-die-with-my-boots-on-e2-80-99/ar-BBYwX3G

 

[TVCOOL]

Either get Fox or move the CW affiation from sister station WLVI.

 

[alg2468]

Another possible outcome could be that WHDH 7 becomes a Fox affiliate, WLVI 56 stays with the CW, and Comcast buys WFXT 25 and moves NBC, Cozi, and Telemundo there, making it an O & O. As a result, WBTS 15 is shut down, thereby giving WGBX its spectrum back and possibly moving WGBH and WGBX in HD there (so WGBH's current frequency on RF5 is no longer needed), and WNEU could be sold to another broadcaster and its entire spectum used to broadcast subnets.

 

[mnw1890]

Bristol County

If WHDH becomes a Fox affiliate, Bristol County might lose WHDH on Comcast because Fox programming is blacked out on WFXT because Bristol County is considered part of Providence. We have WFXT only when non Fox programming such as local news is on however it is only in SD (no HD channel)

 

[davect]

At a staff meeting last year, Ansin did mention he had been talking with FOX and that the network was interested. If I recall correctly he said WFXT’s affiliation contract expires this year so if anything does happen we’ll know soon enough. I guess it will depend on which station has the deepest pockets and how badly Ansin wants FOX.

 

[Kbirdusa]

I don’t see what NBC would get by buying WFXT. They already have a station with good coverage. Spending millions for WFXT wouldn’t give them much more than what they have now.

 

[newsbot2]

Comcast buying WFXT would be a case of addition by subtraction. By taking a competitor off the board they by default would acquire a larger piece of the news revenue pie in the Boston/Manchester TV market. It wouldn't be cheap, but considering Comcast's already massive investments in the market including their state-of-the-art Needham studio facility it might be worth it for them to jumpstart their lackluster (so far) operation. But of course this is all speculation, and Cox/Apollo may end up engaging in a bidding war with Sunbeam to retain their Fox affiliation, as the alternative as an independent is pretty dire from a ratings and revenue standpoint.

 

[channel99]

Comcast buying WFXT would be a case of addition by subtraction. By taking a competitor off the board they by default would acquire a larger piece of the news revenue pie in the Boston/Manchester TV market. It wouldn't be cheap, but considering Comcast's already massive investments in the market including their state-of-the-art Needham studio facility it might be worth it for them to jumpstart their lackluster (so far) operation. But of course this is all speculation, and Cox/Apollo may end up engaging in a bidding war with Sunbeam to retain their Fox affiliation, as the alternative as an independent is pretty dire from a ratings and revenue standpoint.

Comcast buying WFXT would do nothing for them, except moving the NBC programming to yet another channel number. They have already shown they don't want to spend money on buying a station, by the long series of moves they made involving low power stations and the move of WNEU from NH to Needham.

The unknown factor in whether FOX would consider affiliating with WHDH is how good their relationship is with Ed Ansin in Miami, who certainly had pushed the limits of the WHDH relationship with NBC.

 

[TVCOOL]

Or maybe WLVI 56 gets My Network TV and WFXT gets the CW affiation which leaves WSBK to return as a independent station with quality syndication programming which they can fill ten hours a week.

 

[CTListener]

Or maybe WLVI 56 gets My Network TV and WFXT gets the CW affiation which leaves WSBK to return as a independent station with quality syndication programming which they can fill ten hours a week.

Pure nostalgia, I'm afraid. Dana Hersey and Willie Whistle -- not to mention the Red Sox and Bruins -- aren't walking through that door.

 

[sonicdoommario]

If WHDH becomes a Fox affiliate, Bristol County might lose WHDH on Comcast because Fox programming is blacked out on WFXT because Bristol County is considered part of Providence. We have WFXT only when non Fox programming such as local news is on however it is only in SD (no HD channel)

WHDH has significantly viewed status in Bristol County, so any FOX programming would be allowed through cable. When WHDH had its NBC affiliation it was allowed onto Bristol County cable systems because of this status.

 

[channel99]

In this incredibly complex reorganization filing with the FCC today by Terrier Media / Cox Communications there is an interesting tidbit - WFXT will become a separate entity under one of the many divisions. This does not appear to apply to their other owned stations. Possibly that could make it easier to later sell WFXT if desired (to Fox? - only a guess...).

3. Cox Media Group Northeast, LLC has formed WFXT (Boston), LLC, and will contribute
the assets used in the operation of WFXT(TV), including the FCC licenses and
authorizations to WFXT (Boston), LLC; 3
4. Cox Media Group Northeast, LLC will then distribute WFXT (Boston), LLC to Cox
Media Group NE, LLC, which will, in turn, distribute its interest in WFXT (Boston),
LLC to Camelot Media Buyer, Inc., which will, in turn, contribute its interest in WFXT
(Boston), LLC to Camelot Media Holdings, LLC, making WFXT(Boston), LLC a direct
subsidiary of Camelot Media Holdings, LLC;

I made no attempt to read in any detail the 31 pages in this filing - but the above is at the beginning.

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS...?appn=101814564&qnum=5110&copynum=1&exhcnum=1

 

[davect]

Fox has renewed its affiliation with WFXT. WHDH remains independent. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02...n-wont-change-boston-whdh-remain-independent/

 

[Kbirdusa]

Yeah, it makes sense for Fox to renew all the Cox stations, rather than pick off WFXT and replace it with WHDH. Less negotiating power in that instance.

I have to laugh at Ed Ansin’s comments about looking for a partner and about how Apple and Amazon will need a lot of content. Sorry, Mr. Ansin - I don’t see Apple or Amazon clamoring to stream your crappy 7News.

 

[KML0224]

So the only station in the market which hasn't changed primary affiliation since 1972 is WCVB-TV (ABC) channel 5? I wonder if this would be different if they didn't have their sister station in Manchester, NH?

 

[channel99]

Yeah, it makes sense for Fox to renew all the Cox stations, rather than pick off WFXT and replace it with WHDH. Less negotiating power in that instance.

I have to laugh at Ed Ansin’s comments about looking for a partner and about how Apple and Amazon will need a lot of content. Sorry, Mr. Ansin - I don’t see Apple or Amazon clamoring to stream your crappy 7News.

Ansin is a legend in his own mind, and one of his biggest admirers is Shirley Leung of the Globe. Fox also had to consider the risk of Ansin later playing games with them, as he had done with NBC, such as preempting prime time network programming.

 

[channel99]

So the only station in the market which hasn't changed primary affiliation since 1972 is WCVB-TV (ABC) channel 5? I wonder if this would be different if they didn't have their sister station in Manchester, NH?

If WCVB and WMUR were not co-owned, WMUR would have a problem affiliating with any other network, due to the overlap with whatever big Boston station was also an affiliate. They might be able to keep the ABC affiliation, which dates back to the mid-50's when WMUR was the only Boston ABC affiliate (before WHDH, Ch 5 signed on).

 

[Channel 83]

Ansin is a legend in his own mind, and one of his biggest admirers is Shirley Leung of the Globe. Fox also had to consider the risk of Ansin later playing games with them, as he had done with NBC, such as preempting prime time network programming.

I'm with you. If Ansin thought any other network with half a brain would do business with him after his marriage-from hell with NBC...then he truly is "a few fries short of a happy meal".