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WLNY-55 Riverhead Has Been Sold

C

Cosmopolite

TV NewsCheck, December 12, 2011 1:20 PM EST

CBS Television Stations today announced that it has signed an agreement to purchase independent WLNY New York and operate it in a duopoly with flagship WCBS. Terms were not disclosed.
 
Wow! I remember when they first went on the air. I enjoyed watching them grow their news operation at the time. Now it looks like we're now going to have television satellators just the way public radio outfits are buying up all the underperforming AM stations to clutter the dial with more NPR propaganda.

A sad day for NYC television.
 
Don't forget, folks: There's another CBS duopoly on the left coast, with the network owning both affiliate KCBS Channel 2 and indie KCAL Channel 9 out in El Lay. So it's not like this is unique. It is, however, something to indeed be concerned about.
 
Many of the Comcast System in Central New Jersey don't carry WLNY I wider if that will change with CBS ownership. Would CBS put a simulcast of WLNY it on a WCBS-DT sub-channel.
 
I guess it only makes sense that CBS takes over Channel 55, what with the only entertaining programming on its air being syndicated by CBS Television Distribution. ::)
 
I've read one or two bits about this, and it isn't clear what CBS plan to run on this second station, or why they have done this rather than simply adding a sub-channel to WCBS
 
Hopefully the purchase by CBS will be a good thing for the station. There is really nothing great about WLNY in its current form. Most of the programming is older shows that are overplayed elsewhere (i.e. Law & Order), and the newscast is very low-budget. Hopefully CBS can spruce up the station.
 
Wow, this came out of nowhere.

First, the good:
e expect the news department will be beefed up. In that case, 55 will finally be on an equal playing field with Cablevision's News12/Newsday combo. As for the rest of the station's programming, hopefully CBS will make WLNY similar to KCAL and/or KTXA, their other two duopoly independents.

Now, the bad:

1) The last full-power station based on Long Island will soon physically be gone. Does anyone expect CBS to maintain WLNY's studios on the L.I.E. South Service Road in Melville? They'll maintain a minimal token presence, just like WLIW does a few miles west in Plainview.

2) Say goodbye to Richard Rose and the rest of the News 55 team. If WCBS-TV hires any of WLNY's news staff, I'll be surprised. On a side note, David Weiss could slide in easily on another city station, as channel 2 is probably maxed out on weather presenters.

3) No more God Squad, the Catholic Mass from the cathedral in Rockville Centre, and the Chabad telethon.

4) Infomercials will stay, and they'll probably be more of them.

What's really good is that awful anti-abortion program they run every Sunday night will disappear.
 
Rollo-Smokes said:
1) The last full-power station based on Long Island will soon physically be gone. Does anyone expect CBS to maintain WLNY's studios on the L.I.E. South Service Road in Melville? They'll maintain a minimal token presence, just like WLIW does a few miles west in Plainview.
Click to expand...

I wonder if they'll keep the transmitter in LI or move it to ESB? I'm sure CBS would want the better coverage from empire, but then would they have to change the COL from Riverhead?
 
As far as syndication goes, I guess Ellen might not stay, since it's not a show CBS O&Os/or duopoly stations tend to run.While it might help WLNY, giving the show more exposure helps NBC's daytime efforts in a way.

The Doctors (already on WCBS) might be repurposed on WLNY, and it's possible though less likely that The Insider/Entertainment Tonight could wind up on WLNY, maybe one hour before WCBS airs the hour.

Dr. Phil (already on WLNY), Judge Judy (already on WLNY) would stay. Jeopardy/Wheel might stay too since it's distributed by CBS Television Distribution. Most of what WLNY has already can stay.

If you look at how CBS operates WPSG 57 in Philly, they do run news in the AM, followed by The 700 Club at 9am (which could be added to WLNY), and then syndicated content, and a 10pm newscast.

As far as syndication additions - maybe some Frasier reruns, and more court shows, but likely nothing special.

They could also put WCBS on WLNY's subchannel.
 
You can count on CBS being on the WLNY subchannel. WCBS-TV's signal gets beat up pretty good by a co-channel in Hartford.
 
luperm said:
You can count on CBS being on the WLNY subchannel. WCBS-TV's signal gets beat up pretty good by a co-channel in Hartford.
Click to expand...

Do any of the NYC channels make it into eastern LI anyway? That area is very distant especially in the digital age.
 
$55 million for Channel 55 - unreal! Will it be payable through a 10-year period (Channel 55 is seen on Channel 10 on some cable systems and promotes itself as "10/55")? ;D
 
DToTheJ said:
$55 million for Channel 55 - unreal! Will it be payable through a 10-year period (Channel 55 is seen on Channel 10 on some cable systems and promotes itself as "10/55")? ;D
Click to expand...

I really hope CBS does away with the "TV 10 and 55" moniker.
 
wbhist said:
Don't forget, folks: There's another CBS duopoly on the left coast, with the network owning both affiliate KCBS Channel 2 and indie KCAL Channel 9 out in El Lay. So it's not like this is unique. It is, however, something to indeed be concerned about.
Click to expand...

Look at San Francisco theres a CBS Duoloply there KPIX5 and KBCW44

But in Some Markets where CBS own a Dual O&O its under the Flag Ship CBS Network and a CW affiliate. Will WLNY be permitted to air CBS primetime shows if WCBS decides to pre-empt CBS programming to air the NY-Giants or NY-Jets on Monday Night Football or Thursday night football.
Look at KPIX the CBS O&O in San Francisco they pre-empt CBS Primetime shows and move some of the shows to CBS's Other O&O KBCW San Francisco when the Oakland Raiders are playing or the San Francisco 49ers are playing on Mondays or Thursdays. Or in Some cases KPIX will air PR video from Sutter Hospitals. However Sutter owned Hospital in San Francisco always have Nursing Union and Hospital Management issues.

I was hoping that CBS would Move WINS and WCBS 880 AM to FM like KCBS-AM did they took over Campings 106.9 and had Free FM on 06 KFRC in 07 and 08 106.9 became KCBS-FM airing all news from KCBS 740AM.
 
Whatever CBS does with the station should be an improvement -- currently too many paid programs. Would like to see more local news at hours not covered by any broadcast station. Would also like to see CBSNY+... originally CBS stated by September... in the Fall... by the end of the year -- what's the current ETA, if it is still in the works at this point? Also, any possibility of making the WLNY signal reach the city? I am only able to pick up the station occasionally over the air in NYC.
 
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