NBCU looks to sell more stations
Don Day March 19th, 2008
NBC Universal continues to refocus its Local Media division — announcing its intent to unload WTVJ/Miami and WVIT/Hartford, CT. NBCU says it will primarily focus on the top ten markets - though it will hold on to KNSD/San Diego out in market 27. Miami is market 16 and Hartford is 28. Even though NBCU will unload WTVJ, it plans to hang on to its Telemundo station in the market. “We’re in the process of re-engineering the way we think, shifting our focus from a traditional stations business to becoming full-service local-media-production centers,” NBC Local Media president John Wallace said in an internal memo obtained by Broadcasting & Cable.
13 Comments Add your own
1. tdc | March 19th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
ya’ gotta wonder how long it’ll take them to figure out that the “top ten” markets in tv will have nothing to do with the top ten online.
as one astute commenter stated the other day: internet users are hunters and gatherers.
2. Sobo | March 19th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Large market stations being dumped? Somebody call Young Broadcasting!
3. bester | March 19th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Fools
They don’t get it. There will be no stations left except maybe la and ny in a few years.
wallace’s job is to dismantle the stations,
4. Nick | March 19th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
The margins are huge in top 10 markets. So - they can afford to experiment there, and not in smaller markets (although Miami isn’t exacly Glendive) where the margins are smaller and you can’t re-engineer as efficiently or as quickly. These are tough times - and I expect you will see ALOT more of this.
If you dominate in a market — you’ll be okay for awhile television wise. You can set rates and set the table for the market.
If you’re in a competitve situation — all bets are off. You are fighting for the same old TV dollars and ratings you’ve always been fighting for. The advertisers know it so they will beat you down and demand “value added” on the online side, and you’ll likely put up with it to keep share. All this while Google/Yahoo, etc. comes into the market and eats your (our) lunch.
5. DWilliams | March 19th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
NBC was able to experiment with a lot of things in Miami when they purchased WTVJ. How come?
1) Non-union environment
2) Non-union environment
3) Non-union environment
WTVJ was one of the biggest contractors for the Yoh outsourcing company that NBC used some years back.
Now NBC has really only have the core stations which are heavily represented, and KNTV San Jose/SF or KXAS Fort Worth to try those non-union experiments, like the graphics hub, etc.
WVIT was a thorn in the side to NBC for years. Always underperforming, it is the tiny station pinched in between the NY dinosaur WNBC and Rhode Island’s WJAR … that thanks the Lord daily for cable and satellite tv distribution, and used to thank the GE gods for being in their backyard. No more.
Bottom line:
NBC is streamlining the stations division to make the company attractive to buyers.
6. nick | March 19th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
KEEP WTVJ TOP 50 NOT TOP 10 OWN 8 STATIONS BAD FOR NBC
7. nick | March 19th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
FIRST TV STATION IN FIORIDA FIRST MIAMI TV NEWSCAST NBC MOVED FROM WSVN TO WTVJ AND WSVN BECAME A FOX AFFILIATE IN 1995 SWAPPING DIAL WCIX BECAME WFOR PLACING CBS BACK ON THE SAME CHANNEL IT HAD HELD FOR 40 YEARS NBC 6 WAS BORN JUST 2 WEEKS AGO FIRST HD NEWSCAST IN MIAMI IS GOOD TV STATON NO WAY NBC IS SELL BIG TOWN NOT GOOD FOR MIAIMI
8. nick | March 19th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
SELL SAN DIEGO STATION KEEP WTVJ LIN BUY 75% FROM NBC WILL 100% OF NBC5 GOOD DEAL
9. Z | March 20th, 2008 at 3:23 am
Caps lock, please.
10. Unhappy | March 20th, 2008 at 9:24 am
It is sad to see WTVJ sold. It has been cutting edge in comparison to the top 10 stations NBC owns. Now they are purging staff to make the bottom line more attractive. Not to mention its a slap in the face to the professionals at ‘TVJ that NBC will be keeping T51. What a joke!!
11. Rocker | March 20th, 2008 at 10:21 am
I must say, I’m surprised to see them selling Miami.
12. Rich | March 20th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
by selling stations, and easing out of the local TV business, does this imply that NBC is moving away from the affiliate model? hmmmm…?
13. teeveetwopointoh | March 21st, 2008 at 8:44 pm
well, the corporate overlords like wallace are idiots anyway, so the slash and burn policies will definitely make nbcu an attractive property for any prospective buyers while ruining hundreds of lives. and it’s not anyone’s business to care.
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