PEORIA — Barrington Broadcasting, owner of 24 television stations including local channel WHOI (19, ABC), may be bought out by Nexstar Broadcasting Group or Sinclair Broadcast Group, according to TVNewsCheck.com. Nexstar owns or manages 55 television stations including local channel WMBD (31, CBS), and Sinclair owns or manages 74 television stations including local channel WYZZ (43, FOX).
Under FCC ownership rules, one company cannot own two of the television stations in a market Peoria’s size, so if the sale of Barrington goes through to either Nexstar or Sinclair, it appears they would have to divest themselves of one of Peoria’s channels.
“Under FCC ownership rules, one company cannot own two of the television stations in a market Peoria’s size.”
…yet. It’s worth noting that the FCC is considering relaxing ownership rules in the top 20 markets. Obviously Peoria is not a top 20 market, but still, a little loosening at the top could trickle down relatively soon.
http://www.broadcastingcable.c....._Again.php
[...] Peoria Chronicle operator C.J. Summers made the following point: Under FCC ownership rules, one company cannot own two of the television stations in a market Peoria’s size, so if the sale of Barrington goes through to either Nexstar or Sinclair, it appears they would have to divest themselves of one of Peoria’s channels. [...]
I wish someone WOULD buy WHOI and get it out from under that damned LMA with WEEK’s owner.
Keep in mind that when Barrington made this agreement with Granite to manage WHOI in same building as WEEK-TV, Barrington also agreed to manage one of Granite’s TV stations inside one of Barrington’s. It was sort of a swap deal. So if Nexstar or Sinclair buys WHOI, what happens to that part of the deal. And if WHOI is bought by Nexstar, then WMBD would have to be sold.
I don’t think Peoria is a top 20 market so maybe the FCC rule will not apply?
Ds anyone know when the last Peoria station was sold out of local control?
Answered my own question. 2 out the 3 original locals were born under local ownership (abiut the time I was born) but sold out to out of town media companies within just a few years in the early 60′s. I just seem to remember them being so much more “local”. Think Bids from the Kids and The Capt Jinks show. sad.
Houli is turning over in his grave.
Has anyone heard any more information on this? I am a Nexstar employee working in a market that could be greatly affected by this merger (I’m assuming in the Nexstar employee’s favor). Is there a potential favorite in the bidding? I can’t find any information other than Sinclair and Nexstar are the final two.