Monday, March 9, 2015

Word On The Street: ABC Looking To Buy KRON; Disney Big Suits Coming To SF To 'Assess The Market'; Monday First Start

No one is talking on the record because they won't or can't but the big rumor is that ABC is actively interested in buying KRON. In fact, one of my sources told me that an offer was already on the table for around $200 million--I would assume that would include the mound of corporate debt too --in any event, the offer, supposedly, was turned down

But the idea makes too much sense. Which doesn't necessarily mean it will happen because of the load of issues ahead. But KRON is already inside the ABC Broadcast Center at 900 Front and has a SSA (shared-services agreement) with KGO-TV. One day soon you're going to see both station's air talent on each others screen. Privately, I'm told that ABC is sending a few of it major industry execs to SF to "assess the market." I doubt they're coming here just to eat at a few restaurants and walk the Embarcadero.

Yes, of course the unions are nervous.

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22 comments:

  1. Okay, game time what Disney character can we name each KRON newsperson after? Gary Radnich or Stanley Roberts would have to be Lion King. From comments posted earlier I guess Darya Folsom can't be Snow White.

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    1. Hire Liz Cook, and make her Snow White. Create a new ogre character for Radnich.

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  2. Didn't Young Broadcasting pay something like $800M for KRON a decade or two ago??

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  3. We can only hope for a bidding war that results in an NBC affiliation getting back to KRON so those of us that would be content with rabbit ear content would be able to get away from satellite and cable for NBC content. Of course since Comcast owns NBC it probably wouldn't happen for that reason but there could be others. How often does a station like KRON become available in a major market? What will the bean-counters say?

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    1. > How often does a station like KRON become available in a major market?

      KRON is not what KRON used to be. It's a notch up from Community Access television now. And no one cares about "major market." There are no more major markets. It's all internet now. TV is dying/dead. Thirty seconds of commercial time goes on KRON for $1500 now, which is why you see the mom-and-pop businesses advertising now.

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    2. "We can only hope"? Puhleeze. NBC is not coming back to KRON. That ship sailed a long time ago. Get over it and consider getting a decent antenna. On my TV (nowhere near San Francisco) I can get over 100 channels, and NBC is one of the stronger signals.

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    3. This is true. I, too, get over 100 channels on my roof antenna, all in bright, sparking digital high quality picture, better than cable provides. It's all free.

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  4. I predicted this logical outcome in your comments area when this talk first arose a few weeks ago. What I now hear is that ABC Television Group will most likely end up with an LSA instead of an SSA with Media General. It's nearly the same, but essentially gives ABC the majority control and revenue they need, and still be protected under national market group ownership rules.

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  5. So do reasonable people think the KRON staff would generally favor a purchase by ABC? It would seem to me that it would solidify the future of the station but there would be staffing cuts since you don't need duplicate news, engineering, and a host of administration depts staffs. Would Radnich go for it or would he be on the chopping block as an expendable "too much personality" talent? Radnich would be ready to retire with a nice package anyway, he could still do radio.

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  6. Wake up folks. NBC on KRON & the old KGO 810 are gone for good and will never return. Stop living in the 1990's

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  7. I remember that guy who predicted this. And I give him a nice thumbs up. Then you have the guy who said he was an idiot and new nothing about the business.
    He must be a republican.

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    1. FWIW- We all know that your a warped little liberal tool (that can't spell). There's no need to remind us each and every day.

      Fox should buy KRON and make it a "full strength" Fox news source!

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    2. "new nothing". Must be a Democrat.

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  8. how come KSFO had a Melanie Moore and Sussman promo on this morning?some sort of glitch?

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  9. The rich get richer.

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    1. They always have and they always will. Talk to your parents and grandparents. They'll tell you all about it.

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  10. How about they kill KRON and let the channel spectrum be auctioned off...

    The NBC affil in Atlantic City NJ just went dark with those intentions....

    More wi-fi spectrum in the BA? Don't laugh!

    Highest bidder for that channel would probably be..............
    GOOGLE

    How well does 810kc's do for wi-fi???

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    Replies
    1. "How well does 810kc's do for wi-fi???"

      It's completely unworkable.

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  11. Are the Disney "big suits" to which you refer looking like Grumpy, Sneezy, Dastardly and Greedy?

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  12. Why would ABC send a few of it major industry execs to SF to "assess the market." KRON or Media Generals Corp office is in the Empire State building any negations would take place there. Other than a nice vacation that would make sense to visit SF.

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  13. @4:27 please let us know what time that was I need to find it and hear it for myself

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