Looks like Quincy is still trying to buy Granite.....even after 18 months of FCC holdups. So now they are trying a new way. I'll let northpine give the details
Quincy Newspapers intends to move the Duluth CBS affiliation to a subchannel of NBC affiliate KBJR/6 (Superior-Duluth) if the FCC approves Quincy's purchase of KBJR, according to a recent amendment to the proposed sale. KDLH/3 (Duluth), which has carried CBS since 1955 has been run by KBJR since 2005, would become a primary CW affiliate owned and operated by SagamoreHill Broadcasting.
The new plan is the second change to Quincy's efforts to buy KBJR from Granite Broadcasting, along with satellite KRII/11 (Chisholm) and stations in the Peoria, Fort Wayne, and Binghamton markets. A month after the original deal was filed last year, the FCC approved new rules on joint sales agreements (JSA's) that ban agreements like the current KBJR-KDLH setup. In light of the new rules, Quincy and Granite modified their original deal late last year to remove SagamoreHill as a buyer of KDLH and WPTA/21 (Fort Wayne), with plans for Malara Broadcast Group to retain ownership of the stations and have Quincy assume Granite's agreement to run them. But the FCC had still not acted on the license transfer applications, and Quincy withdrew an application associated with the second plan last week.
Under the new plan, which the parties say comes "after consultations with Media Bureau staff and in response to concerns raised by the staff," operations would continue as they currently exist for nine months after closing. After nine months, the Duluth CBS affiliation would move to a KBJR subchannel and SagamoreHill would assume day-to-day operations of CW affiliate KDLH with its own management, operations, and sales staffs. KBJR would retain its MyNetworkTV subchannel in addition to its NBC affiliation.
Elsewhere, Quincy would move Fort Wayne's NBC and MNT affiliations to subchannels of ABC affiliate WPTA, and the current Fort Wayne NBC affiliate (WISE-TV/27) would become a CW affiliate owned by SagamoreHill. The document does not specify whether Quincy will retain more than one affiliation in Peoria, where the Granite station currently operates two other stations that will establish their own sales forces. The Binghamton station has no JSA.
Even if the stations were not being sold, the new FCC rules would require the existing JSA's to be unwound by the end of next year, unless the rules are overturned by Congress or the courts.
Quincy Newspapers intends to move the Duluth CBS affiliation to a subchannel of NBC affiliate KBJR/6 (Superior-Duluth) if the FCC approves Quincy's purchase of KBJR, according to a recent amendment to the proposed sale. KDLH/3 (Duluth), which has carried CBS since 1955 has been run by KBJR since 2005, would become a primary CW affiliate owned and operated by SagamoreHill Broadcasting.
The new plan is the second change to Quincy's efforts to buy KBJR from Granite Broadcasting, along with satellite KRII/11 (Chisholm) and stations in the Peoria, Fort Wayne, and Binghamton markets. A month after the original deal was filed last year, the FCC approved new rules on joint sales agreements (JSA's) that ban agreements like the current KBJR-KDLH setup. In light of the new rules, Quincy and Granite modified their original deal late last year to remove SagamoreHill as a buyer of KDLH and WPTA/21 (Fort Wayne), with plans for Malara Broadcast Group to retain ownership of the stations and have Quincy assume Granite's agreement to run them. But the FCC had still not acted on the license transfer applications, and Quincy withdrew an application associated with the second plan last week.
Under the new plan, which the parties say comes "after consultations with Media Bureau staff and in response to concerns raised by the staff," operations would continue as they currently exist for nine months after closing. After nine months, the Duluth CBS affiliation would move to a KBJR subchannel and SagamoreHill would assume day-to-day operations of CW affiliate KDLH with its own management, operations, and sales staffs. KBJR would retain its MyNetworkTV subchannel in addition to its NBC affiliation.
Elsewhere, Quincy would move Fort Wayne's NBC and MNT affiliations to subchannels of ABC affiliate WPTA, and the current Fort Wayne NBC affiliate (WISE-TV/27) would become a CW affiliate owned by SagamoreHill. The document does not specify whether Quincy will retain more than one affiliation in Peoria, where the Granite station currently operates two other stations that will establish their own sales forces. The Binghamton station has no JSA.
Even if the stations were not being sold, the new FCC rules would require the existing JSA's to be unwound by the end of next year, unless the rules are overturned by Congress or the courts.
When KRII went digital they threw all 4 Granite/Malara nets on it. (previously CBS was on low powered translators in the area)
