Gotta wonder if this is an attempt to take some of the heat off of CMG owner Apollo Global Management due to their involvement in the Standard General/TEGNA deal?
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Cox Media Group selling stations in 12 markets
- Thread starter Mediafrog+
- Start date
Gotta wonder if this is an attempt to take some of the heat off of CMG owner Apollo Global Management due to their involvement in the Standard General/TEGNA deal?
Except KMSB/KTTU is more managed by Gray Television. It would make more sense if Cox sold KYMA to Gray Television to create a KTVK/KPHO-KOLD/KMSB/KTTU-KYMA stylized network.
So for clarification, CMG is keeping these markets:
Atlanta WSB
Jacksonville WFOX WJAX
Orlando WFTV WRDQ
Charlotte WSOC WAXN
Dayton WHIO
Pittsburgh WPXI
Seattle KIRO
Spokane KAYU
As part of the Standard General/TEGNA deal involving CMG, Cox will add these markets:
Dallas-Fort Worth WFAA KMPX
Houston KHOU KTBU
Austin KVUE
CMG is also spinning off Boston WFXT to a yet to be named entity under Standard General.
So it looks like CMG is clearing out small market inventory.
The INSP cable channel that is buying the CMG stations was formerly The Inspiration Network, which in turn was originally the PTL Television Network—yes, Jim Bakker’s creation.
Atlanta WSB
Jacksonville WFOX WJAX
Orlando WFTV WRDQ
Charlotte WSOC WAXN
Dayton WHIO
Pittsburgh WPXI
Seattle KIRO
Spokane KAYU
As part of the Standard General/TEGNA deal involving CMG, Cox will add these markets:
Dallas-Fort Worth WFAA KMPX
Houston KHOU KTBU
Austin KVUE
CMG is also spinning off Boston WFXT to a yet to be named entity under Standard General.
So it looks like CMG is clearing out small market inventory.
The INSP cable channel that is buying the CMG stations was formerly The Inspiration Network, which in turn was originally the PTL Television Network—yes, Jim Bakker’s creation.
There are also four small market stations Cox is supposed to acquire directly from Standard General, but I strongly suspect those will be quickly flipped to new owners.
Ditto with KREM/KAYU
What would make better sense would be instead of doing all this wheeling & dealing, Cox should only sell ONE station to Disney/ABC --WFTV 9 as you know they'd LOVE to have them as as an O&O
just my opinion though
I think it is more likely ABC divests some O&Os than buys one. Disney currently only holds 9 full-power broadcast licenses (1 AM, 8 TV) in the US, a number that has been steadily shrinking over the last several years.
Disney could swap with Cox KFSN & WTVD to get WFTV & (Maybe) WJXX
I say MAYBE when it comes to WJXX in Jacksonville because they have an option there (Providing Graham Media is willing to entertain it)
That would be to sign an affiliation agreement with WJXT
But no matter what Cox does, they're not going to be able to hang on to the WTLV/WJXX duuo AND the FOX 30/CBS 47 duo as that would be a monopoly no matter how you cut it
MY bet is they KEEP the former & SELL the latter
But if Disney snaps up WJXX (Thus splitting it from WTLV beyond a short term news partnership with WTLV), well then, Cox could either sell WTLV as a standalone NBC affiliate (Conceivable) & keep FOX 30/CBS 47 or do the opposite (KEEP WTLV as a standalone NBC affiliate & SELL FOX 30/CBS 47)
Thoughts??
Considering what's going on in Florida with Disney right now, probably a good thing they don't currently own or have any ambitions to own stations in the Sunshine State.
FCC sets deadlines for oppositions to the Tegna/Standard General in the talks.
If they ever let go of Dayton, I might need smelling salts to revive me from the shock.
You know you just CONTRADICTED yourself, right?? 🤣😂
That said, you're right. I don't think I know of ANYONE who would want to invest in a media outlet in Florida now
But then again, that's EXACTLY what certain people want
WHIO 7 (CBS) would be A GREAT compliment for Scripps since they're on a buying spree & they own ABC affiliate WCPO 9 in Cincinnati
But since there's no conflict, it's doubtful WHIO will be sold anyway
I’m not sure if Scripps wants to enter Dayton, plus WHIO is one of CBS’ strongest affiliates. Then there’s Sinclair and they’ll want something out of this, like a affiliation swap or something.
Here is more on Cox Deal.
Update Tegna inc deal with standard media continues. Note this will be completed in the 2nd half of 2022 if approved.
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