The guys over at BTVN got the scoop first and now have confirmed that Sunbeam TV have indeed bought WLVI – CW56 in Boston, creating a duopoly, and will be moving 30 staffers over to the WHDH Newsplex.
More at the BTVN page
Miami Herald:
Sunbeam enters duopoly in Boston
Boston Herald:
End of a TV era – Ch. 7 owner buys Channel 56 for $114M
South Florida Business Journal:
Channel 7 owner buys third TV station
WCVB – ABC5 Boston:
Boston TV Station Sold
I HATE SUNBEAM!!!!
How could they do this?
We’ll finally have a “7News at 10” up here in Boston by years end!
I wish that Tribune had tried to keep ownership of WLVI, and not sell it to Sunbeam. The FCC approval process could last for approx. 2 months… it took 2 months for the sale of WATL to Gannett to be finalized.
It could take Sunbeam several months to un-Tribunize WLVI… it took nearly a year for CBS to un-Sinclairize KOVR.
“It could take Sunbeam several months to un-Tribunize WLVI… it took nearly a year for CBS to un-Sinclairize KOVR”
Sunbeam bought the assetts not the 100 employees. They will have to be hired separately. Now we know why.
Is Sunbeam going to sell WSVN to ABC? No, The ABC affiliate is not owned and operated by ABC, Sunbeam now has 3 stations including an ABC affiliate in Miami, an NBC and CW affiliate in Boston.
Did they hire any on-air people?
I can’t imagine most on-air staff would have ‘it’ for WHDH’s style
One member of BTVN has posted that Karen Marinella (56 anchor), who is Jon Hall’s wive (7 News AM/Midday anchor) will be one of the 30 coming to 7. However, this is still unconfirmed.
Here’s a duopoly I would really love to see in the near future:
WPTV and Scripps Howard should buy this:
WTCN – My 15 away from Viacom and WFOR
I think MY TV is not going to be a good network based on the schedule I’ve seen.
I don’t think Viacom will sell WTCN unless it buys WPEC.
I hope the 7-News at 10 is going to have the same graphics/package at the WSVN 7@10.
According to Ansin, it’s going to be the most contemporary broadcast of any in the market. I’m curious to see what’s going to happen.
I know Ansin’s talking about content rather broadcasting, but until Ansin starts airing HD local content (like Orlando’s WFTV), he’s full of crap. Analog TV is _not_ contemporary.
Yeah would be nice to have 7 in HD.
Some of their graphics, even upconverted looks so nice I want to lick them lol 😀