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Archive for the ‘WTVJ Sale’ Category

Breaking News: Post Newsweek Backs Out of WTVJ Deal

Published by Alex on 12/23/2008 in Local Media and WTVJ Sale.

Updated: 9:30 PM 12/23/2008

Breaking news: Announced late on the WTVJ 6PM news by Joel Connable. The sale of WTVJ, an NBC O&O station, has been called off by Post Newsweek.

In a joint statement issued today:

“The Washington Post company and NBC Local Media today announced that the intended sale of WTVJ to the Washington Post company will not move forward. Given the current economic environment, and the delay in receiving the necessary regulatory approval, the deal has been terminated. The purchase of WTVJ was scheduled to close by the end of 2008.”

This is great news for the folks against the sale of WTVJ, and it’s long history. There is no word yet if NBC will put WTVJ back up on the market, or retain it as an NBC O&O station. Tips have been coming in for about a week now, hinting that Post Newsweek would back out of the sale, thanks to a delayed FCC hearing… and today, it looks like they did. We’ll pass on the info as we receive it.

(Click Below For Updates! Last update: 9:30 PM 12/23/2008)

Continue reading ‘Breaking News: Post Newsweek Backs Out of WTVJ Deal’

63 Comments Tags: nbc6, post newsweek, WTVJ, WTVJ Sale.

DeMarco Morgan Leaving WTVJ; Tom Llamas Unconfirmed

Published by Alex on 10/30/2008 in Local Media and WTVJ Sale.

 

 

 

 

 

 WTVJ anchor DeMarco Morgan was just hired at WNBC. What a small fish for such a big pool. Come December, DeMarco will work weekends anchoring the 6 & 11 P.M. news. A few weeks ago we reported that DeMarco Morgan and Tom Llamas were up in NY interviewing at WNBC. No word on if he was (or will be) hired as well. DeMarco denied that he was hired, even to fellow co-workers up to just a few days ago. This may be a smart move for both stations. With DeMarco gone, that leaves a spot open for the unused star at WTVJ – Joel Connable. According to rumors, Joel is supposed to be in a full time anchor spot by the end of this year. Now that would be a nice thing to see. Some real talent in the anchor seat. So now, it’s just a wait and see situation.

Update: According to management insiders at WTVJ, Joel Connable will be the new 7P.M. anchor, and possibly the new 6P.M. anchor.

28 Comments Tags: demarco morgan, joel connable, nbc6, Tom Llamas, wnbc, WTVJ.

Group Against WTVJ Sale Responds to Herald TV Critic Comments

Published by admin on 10/21/2008 in Local Media and WTVJ Sale.

The Coalition of Concerned Citizens, which is trying to stop the WTVJ merger, has responded to what Herald TV Critic Glenn Garvin had to say about WTVJ merging with WPLG.

Garvin called those opposing the sale “a ragtag collection of WTVJ employees worried about layoffs, addled anti-corporate activists and cynical political opportunists”.

In the letter the coalition points to something interesting. When NBC was buying Telemundo in 2003 they argued to the FCC that the takeover should be approved because Telemundo competes in a separate market.

You can read the whole letter here

2 Comments Tags: WTVJ, WTVJ Sale.

FTC Says Yes to WPLG-WTVJ Merger

Published by admin on 10/6/2008 in Local Media and WTVJ Sale.

The Federal Trade Commission has given the all clear for Post Newsweek to complete the purchase of WTVJ and merge it with WPLG.

According to Broadcasting and Cable as per antitrust requirements the merger had to be submitted to the Department of Justice and FTC for review with a set waiting period. Parties in the deal can request an early termination.

Today the FTC issued an early termination notice which signals they nor DOJ will seek to block Post-Newsweek from buying WTVJ.

That leaves the FCC as the last hurdle to overcome before the merger becomes reality.

As noted by B&C, the reason DOJ and FTC chose not to not block the deal are Spanish stations.

When Spanish stations are included WTVJ ranks 6th overall allowing for the merger to be approved since they are not in the top 4 stations.

When Spanish stations are taken out, WTVJ ranks either 3rd or 4th overall which FCC rules do not permit for one owner to own and operate two stations in a market that are in the top 4.

Overall it’s what I kind of predicted. They picked the ratings that most suited them and included Spanish stations to push down WTVJ’s ranking.

Someone clue me in. If, supposedly/maybe/perhaps/indeed, in America (we are in America right?) the airwaves are public and are for serving my/our interests how exactly does a Spanish station serve those of us who don’t speak Spanish!?

Just wondering.

16 Comments Tags: ftc, WPLG, WTVJ, wtvj sales.

Post Newsweek Execs: You Are “Ground Clutter”

Published by admin on 9/29/2008 in Local Media and WTVJ Sale.

Yes people. Post-Newsweek executives think you and your standing in the way of them buying WTVJ is the usual “ground clutter”.

This from an article today in the local Daily Business Review (reg. required):

Post-Newsweek executives say the petition filed this month with the FCC against its purchase of WTVJ, Channel 6, by the Coalition of Concerned Citizens for Competition and Fairness in Broadcast Journalism is nothing but the usual “ground clutter” found in such acquisitions. The executives say the sale is best for WTVJ and its viewers in what has become a saturated and rapidly changing news market.

The article also says a lot of the people involved in the opposition are WTVJ staffers! Hm, so much for yelling and threatening people with firing for talking to this blog then.

/via Save WTVJ/

9 Comments Tags: WTVJ, WTVJ Sale.