inmyopinion wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2019 11:46 am
JackAttack FM wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2019 10:53 am
I think the bigger get from that article is Scripps is getting WPIX New York. That's a big deal.
It would be interesting if Scripps could use its leverage as the largest ABC affiliate owner and change 17 into an ABC affiliate with full market coverage.
Never happen for several reasons. First off, as ZZM knows all too well, being an ABC affiliate in GR when you have to share with WOTV in the same market really stinks for $$. I see what you're getting at in having negotiating rights with a certain affiliate, but it would take a lot to steal that affiliate from zzm and otv, and more importantly, Fox is THE affiliate to own. No reason to give that up, Fox is clearly the national leader in sports and as we all know, live sports is the #1 thing in this industry that continues to draw live eyeballs.
MasterB wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2019 8:49 pm
Last month TEGNA & ABC agreed on a new deal so Scripps couldn't get ABC plus they would have to share with WOTV in this market not going to happen. Being sole Fox is better anyway as I thought that Scripps was my number 1 to buy WXMI Fox17 from the start I wonder if they wanted Fox17 the first time it was for sale in the failed Tribune & Sinclair merger.
I don't know where your info is from but, its almost completely off the mark.
Fox is not "THE" affiliate to own.
The Fox broadcasting network is 4th in total viewers and 4th in the demo (18-49).
NBC and CBS have been in the battle for first place.
In the year-to-year (September 2017 to September 2018) ABC was second in the demo. Fox was 4th in primetime viewers, 4th in the demo for the year.
ABC is #1 in daytime with 18-49 Females. The demo you absolutely want in daytime.
And sports... Fox Sports on the broadcast network can't hold viewers. The NFL had been losing viewers for the past few years.
While Thursday Night Football did help Fox's primetime last fall and last season's NFL ratings were also up a few percentage points, those are gains on previous loses. Ad rates still have not rebounded.
Even the Super Bowl had the lowest ratings in years. NBC's Sunday Night Football is the hot NFL property to own. Its consistantly at or near the top rated NFL games of the week.
Fox's other sports rights... MLB only does well regionally and Fox has been migrating most of its national broadcast games to Fox Sports 1.
Fox broadcasts 3 or 4 NASCAR races a year and its biggest race, Daytona, had its worst rating since 1979.
MLS ratings are insignificant and barely draw half a million viewers. Fortune magazine called Fox's World Cup ratings last year a "complete nightmare."
Golf's US Open sine 2012 has lost almost half of its viewers for the final round since.
And the ratings on the Big Ten's championship football game were down 30% this past year.
Whad'I miss UFC fighting???
The "national sports leader"??? Not even close. ESPN is the most lucrative network in television, estimated value of $51 billion. But, Fox's broadcast sports properties are either waning or showing no growth.
Fox gives you 2 hours of weekday programing ABC, NBC, CBS give you eight or more. And believe me Scripps has not shown much of a desire lately to buy expensive syndication to fill out the hours. They'd rather try to make their own.
Fox is also not that loyal with its affiliates. They would rather disaffiliate if they can't force a sale or trade in some markets and they keep some stations, even their former O&Os, on one year affiliation deals.
I've worked for affiliates and O&Os of NBC, ABC, CBS and two Fox affiliates and a Scripps owned station.
"Never happen," just isn't realistic anymore.
Affiliate changes happen every year in the U.S. In markets big and small. And in situations more complex than just 13 and 41 spliting the market with an affiliation. Networks and station owners put in all kinds of clauses in affiliations deals. A "multi-year" deal with Tegna could mean 2 years or ten.
And when I say "full market coverage" I mean full market, no affiliation split with 41.
If Scripps and ABC think there's a deal to save or make money respectively then a larger deal that would include stations like WXMI could be made. Its happened before in larger markets.
You guys have seen very little change in this TV market compared to alot of markets. New owners always bring change and with all the stations in the market now having mega owners they'll eventually be subject to change as a part of somebody's larger deal.
The whole idea was just an interesting theory, but I give it a 50/50 chance in the next 3-5 years.