I’m sure Gray (the owners of KSFY and soon to be owners of KDLT) will argue that having the two news teams in the same studios will make them better. Ah, I’m not so sure.
Not only do I expect layoffs of some of the top anchors and low rung videographers (rumor has it that Tom and Brian are going to have a cage match to determine who is top dog anchor person, or is it a hot dog eating contest? Can’t remember.) you will see some staff changes.
I think Gray should put up a public comment page on their website and let the public decide who to keep and who to let go. They should also let the public pick which personalities will do the NBC local news and who will do the ABC local news. I also think they should have their field reporters working for both stations.
But the bigger question I have is will both entities just do the same stories? I know what you are thinking, they already do. While I haven’t had television in my home for over 6 years, I do go to the websites and watch vids or livestream it sometimes. Both websites could use improvements.
Another question is how will this affect the real top dog in local TV news, Stormland-TV? Will they lose advertisers? Will Angela be forced to do real investigative stories instead chasing white trash skanks around stealing buffet cards?
It will be interesting to watch the transformation. And by the way, if you would like any suggestions on that possible termination list, shoot me an email Jim, I have some ideas.
i could see them dropping news on kdlt all together. if that happens then they may stick tom hanson on the 5pm news on ksfy, with brian allen doing the 6 and 10pm news. i could also see them adding a 9pm news on one of their substations as well that hanson may anchor. sioux city has 9pm news, why not sioux falls?
I can’t believe that the FCC allows this. I also can’t believe that affiliate agreements allow this too…
Gray has the same duopoly arrangement in Fargo and in Rapid City. It’s a CBS/NBC pairing in Fargo, and ABC/FOX in Rapid City. Both operations appear to be successful in attempting to maintain separate identities.
The efficiency of the operation does save money on staffing. Might there be some on-air folks let go? Possibly. But most of those moves will probably take place through attrition.
Most of the staff cuts and expense savings will be off camera – you only need one engineering team, one production staff, and one set of senior managers. KSFY has the better leadership team. I’m guessing their people are safe.
The sale of KDLT will NOT affect any of the anchors at either station. This will NOT be a merger, they will be run as two separate stations as they currently are. The only difference will be them being owned by the same company and being in the same building. NOTHING ELSE CHANGES.
One of my favorite books is A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. He wrote about tv station consoludation, newspapers consolidation, and the take over of radio by right wing talking heads. The biggest culprit for television consolidation is the telecommunications act of 1996. On that topic, he said:
The Telecommunications Act of 1996…enabled the handful of corporations dominating the airwaves to expand their power further. Mergers enabled tighter control of information…The Latin American writer Eduardo Galeano commented…”Never have so many been held incommunicado by so few.
Over 20 years ago I was a part-time weekend DJ on KWSN. I had to play Rush. It was my first experience with him, I hated him right away, that hate continues. I still tune into him once and awhile, just to let my blood boil at a certain level. What surprises me about him is that he doesn’t comment about logical conservative values, he is ridiculous. Just today he spoke about young Americans being ‘Godless’. He has been ‘Godless’ his entire life. His hypocrisy is unequaled by any other radio talking head. After he was done talking an advertisement for herbal boner pills came on. Hilarious.
they say there will be no change now, but what about a year from now?
I could see KSFY TV on 46.1 ABC and NBC on 46.2 and so on. KDLT TV 46.1 has more power and translators
But if they are going to be “in the same building,” then this sounds like collusion to me.
Earlier in the year, I had predicted that Cowboy Chicken and Slim Chickens were going to provoke a “chicken war” against Popeyes. Perhaps, I was right again, accept that I just got my businesses wrong….. I think it’s time for KELO to investigate………
Too bad KDLT TV and Red RIVER could not acquire KTTW FOX 7. I Wish KSFY/KDLT THE BEST of luck
Maybe NEXTSTAR and KELO TV 11 will accquire KTTW tv for another duopoly, If the FCC approves the KSFY/KDLT merger.
Sure ruined a good kdlt news and weather team! Do not appreciate NBC national news time and judge Judy time. Had my fill. Will go back to CNN.