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WSAH 43 Enters Trust, Sale To Follow

R

RadioMan203

Bridgeport's WSAH-TV 43 (RF channel 42) moves from the Arthur Liu's Multicultural Broadcasting LLC to Lee Shubert"s Multicultural Capital Trust. Radio Business Report states that the station is in default and is entering the trust for resale.

I suppose all those non-stop per-inquiry infomercials didn't do all that much for the bottom line after all! It's a shame to let spectrum go to waste with an all-infomercial format on a main HD signal. One can only hope that somebody with some chops will buy the station and put some decent programming on it.

Fairfield County could use a decent newscast considering the offerings we currently have on radio and television (the one notable exception would be CableVision's News 12 franchise). Put some knowledgable talent on the air instead of no talent eye candy and they would have a hit! Add some great programming and the cable systems would be happy to add it to their lineups and people may even be encouraged enough to actually point an antenna toward it, too.
 
The infomercials pay the bills just fine thank you. It's the rest of the loan that is due. Funny how the bank wants their money back.

But if you read the analysis in the trades, it will become evident as to what is going on. You can also read the forbearance documents at the FCC website.
 
Bill DeFelice said:
Fairfield County could use a decent newscast considering the offerings we currently have on radio and television (the one notable exception would be CableVision's News 12 franchise). Put some knowledgable talent on the air instead of no talent eye candy and they would have a hit! Add some great programming and the cable systems would be happy to add it to their lineups and people may even be encouraged enough to actually point an antenna toward it, too.
Click to expand...

I agree, I just think it's too expensive and too big of an endeavour to start up a new news operation, particularly in these tough economic times. Right now the infomercials, with little to no cost of overhead, and the station is still being sold is not a good sign.
The cable carriage is already there to some extent. Cablevision in Fairfield County carries WSAH, as well as Directv and Verizon Fios throughout the tri-state area.
 
Wbzfm2010 said:
yes but infomercials are such a waste of programming!!!
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At least I'm not the only one who views things like this. I remember growing up listening to TV station's sign-on and sign-off messages and part of the announcement mentioned being licensed "... in the public interest." What public interest is an infomercial jukebox?

ansky212 said:
Bill DeFelice said:
Fairfield County could use a decent newscast considering the offerings we currently have on radio and television (the one notable exception would be CableVision's News 12 franchise). Put some knowledgable talent on the air instead of no talent eye candy and they would have a hit! Add some great programming and the cable systems would be happy to add it to their lineups and people may even be encouraged enough to actually point an antenna toward it, too.
Click to expand...

I agree, I just think it's too expensive and too big of an endeavour to start up a new news operation, particularly in these tough economic times. Right now the infomercials, with little to no cost of overhead, and the station is still being sold is not a good sign.
The cable carriage is already there to some extent. Cablevision in Fairfield County carries WSAH, as well as Directv and Verizon Fios throughout the tri-state area.
Click to expand...

Understandable about the expense to produce a newscast, let alone a good one. While others have said in the past it may be unlikely an agreement would be able to be hatched, I could imagine a partnership with Cablevision's News 12, either as a simulcast for their prime time newscast or a specially produced version to air on 43. Paying Cablevision would not only be less expensive than building a news department from scratch, but it would give Cablevision penetration on cable systems they don't own and may very well allow both parties to earn some decent revenue - all that in addition to giving WTNH a significant run for the money!

I know 43 wasn't on DirecTV's New Haven service the last time I scanned it and while I'm close enough to pick it up the signal off the air there's nothing worth watching on it - almost as bad as WICC-TV was back in the 1950's.
 
Bill DeFelice said:
I could imagine a partnership with Cablevision's News 12, either as a simulcast for their prime time newscast or a specially produced version to air on 43. Paying Cablevision would not only be less expensive than building a news department from scratch, but it would give Cablevision penetration on cable systems they don't own and may very well allow both parties to earn some decent revenue - all that in addition to giving WTNH a significant run for the money!
Click to expand...

Why would Cablevision, even with an expanded audience via other cable systems, want to open up their 'walled garden' to over-the-air freeloaders?
 
newsbot said:
Why would Cablevision, even with an expanded audience via other cable systems, want to open up their 'walled garden' to over-the-air freeloaders?
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Why wouldn't they want to earn more money on a product which they already have a fixed production cost on? Their advertisements get additional airings which they, in turn, can charge more for. I'm sure with a larger audience they could even afford to do more "in-depth" journalism pieces which could garner more awards and recognition.

Is it that some people's money isn't as green as other people's money?
 
Bill DeFelice said:
Why wouldn't they want to earn more money on a product which they already have a fixed production cost on? Their advertisements get additional airings which they, in turn, can charge more for. I'm sure with a larger audience they could even afford to do more "in-depth" journalism pieces which could garner more awards and recognition.

Is it that some people's money isn't as green as other people's money?
Click to expand...

The thing is, News 12 is Cablevision's bread and butter. That's why they have all the "only on cable" slogans for News 12. If Cablevision gave up News 12 to the airwaves, they are essentially competing against their own cable service. Even though they might be able to charge a bit more for advertising, I doubt that would make up for the potential loss of cable subscribers. Cablevision does offer News 12 to Comcast and Time Warner systems because they don't compete in the same areas. But you'll never find News 12 on Verizon or Directv systems.
 
ansky212 said:
The thing is, News 12 is Cablevision's bread and butter. That's why they have all the "only on cable" slogans for News 12. If Cablevision gave up News 12 to the airwaves, they are essentially competing against their own cable service. Even though they might be able to charge a bit more for advertising, I doubt that would make up for the potential loss of cable subscribers. Cablevision does offer News 12 to Comcast and Time Warner systems because they don't compete in the same areas. But you'll never find News 12 on Verizon or Directv systems.
Click to expand...

I truly doubt News 12 is the shining star you believe it to be. I will admit it's a nice and notable addition to their systems but I would not call it it's "bread and butter" considering how resource-heavy a news organization can be. I may have agreed with you in the days of old when they had programming like The Exchange, but for a news broadcast I have reservations.

That being said, I think Cablevision could monitize News 12 on over-the-air if done correctly. Maybe a specially tailored newscast meant strictly for OTA would work and the extra ad dollars would be a feather in the bean counter's favor.

I still think there's potential. Even if Cablevision and 43 were unable to come to any agreement I still think a any well executed newscast on 43 would give WTNH, and maybe the other stations to some lesser degree, a run for the money. It may never happen but hopefully somebody will come along and do something better with 43 - maybe they're bring back the DuMont network ;D
 
Bill DeFelice said:
I truly doubt News 12 is the shining star you believe it to be. I will admit it's a nice and notable addition to their systems but I would not call it it's "bread and butter" considering how resource-heavy a news organization can be. I may have agreed with you in the days of old when they had programming like The Exchange, but for a news broadcast I have reservations.

That being said, I think Cablevision could monitize News 12 on over-the-air if done correctly. Maybe a specially tailored newscast meant strictly for OTA would work and the extra ad dollars would be a feather in the bean counter's favor.
Click to expand...

So then why do you think Cablevision does not offer News 12 to competing entities like Verizon Fios or Directv? Surely they could make a few bucks in subscription fees from these other television providers. Hint: they don't want to risk people leaving Cablevision ;) I know people that have worked for News 12...it's a much bigger deal than you may think. Still, I do like the idea of some type of newscast on 43, I just don't think Cablevision will be involved.
 
ansky212 said:
...News 12 is Cablevision's bread and butter. That's why they have all the "only on cable" slogans for News 12...
Click to expand...

Remember, it's not on "phone company TV"! ;D
 
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