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Future of WGN America uncertain after Tribune Media agrees to sale to Nexstar.

S

Syfy

This is not good. Ive noticed less original programming from WGNAmerica schedule lately and more old TV show replays and occasional movies. I really think that this network is in danger of being either sold off or shut down. Advertisers aren’t going to want to spend money on commercials when their ratings are probably way down compared to when they had sports other original programming on the network.
 
I doubt WGN will try to get a national sport deal as how TBS did when the Braves left they went after a MLB package for Sunday during the day and post season games. As for WGN its hard TNT has NBA so its hard to say what sport they would get.
Now that all four major network ownership groups have dedicated cable sports networks (although CBS Sports Network is a pretty half-assed attempt at one), it's hard to imagine WGN America coming up with rights to anything compelling to great numbers of viewers. Can't imagine MLB or NFL wanting to add outlets -- and chances are, the price the NFL would ask is too rich for WGN's blood. The NHL seems happy with its NBC/NBCSN deal, and the NBA has ESPN and Turner. I suppose they could find a boxing or MMA promotion to hook up with, or some second- or third-tier college conference that has no appeal to the big boys, but what's the point? They could just draw on their library of old sitcoms and dramas and grind out an unexciting, uninspiring profit, as there are plenty of non-sports fans out there, as well as plenty of people who could watch their favorite old shows ever night until the end of time.
 
kidrauhl said:
I doubt WGN will try to get a national sport deal as how TBS did when the Braves left they went after a MLB package for Sunday during the day and post season games. As for WGN its hard TNT has NBA so its hard to say what sport they would get.
Now that all four major network ownership groups have dedicated cable sports networks (although CBS Sports Network is a pretty half-assed attempt at one), it's hard to imagine WGN America coming up with rights to anything compelling to great numbers of viewers. Can't imagine MLB or NFL wanting to add outlets -- and chances are, the price the NFL would ask is too rich for WGN's blood. The NHL seems happy with its NBC/NBCSN deal, and the NBA has ESPN and Turner. I suppose they could find a boxing or MMA promotion to hook up with, or some second- or third-tier college conference that has no appeal to the big boys, but what's the point? They could just draw on their library of old sitcoms and dramas and grind out an unexciting, uninspiring profit, as there are plenty of non-sports fans out there, as well as plenty of people who could watch their favorite old shows ever night until the end of time.
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WGN America was doing "Original Series" for some time when they aired "Underground" but that got cancelled because of the then pending Sinclair/Tribune talks back in 2017 and when there was rumors of WGN America getting flipped to Sinclair talk shows. I don't know how Nexstar will handle WGN America specifically though and what kind of format flip will they get given that Nexstar's original content is local news though.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...s-why-it-got-canceled/?utm_term=.7ae208b23be1

https://deadline.com/2017/09/john-l...-broadcasting-tribune-wgn-america-1202177723/
 
Tribune was in the business of creating programs. Nexstar isn't. So it'll be interesting to see what Nexstar does with the entire Tribune program production business that fed channels like WGN America.
 
WNBA? MLS? WNHL if Women's Hockey League comes back? Women's Fast Pitch Softball? Golf? Tennis? Racing? Minor or Independent League? Local News back? Game Show? Reality Show?
 
Mgomrjsurf said:
WNBA? MLS? WNHL if Women's Hockey League comes back? Women's Fast Pitch Softball? Golf? Tennis? Racing? Minor or Independent League? Local News back? Game Show? Reality Show?
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Im thinking that wgn america should air that new alliance football league next year they would actually get decent ratings for a change probably.
 
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