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More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Discussion pertaining to the Tri-Cities, Flint, Mt. Pleasant, and Bad Axe
sinklair
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by sinklair » Sun Apr 02, 2023 9:53 pm

Thanks for clarifying MW.



sinklair
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by sinklair » Tue Apr 04, 2023 9:01 pm

Down to 6 now… tip of a hat to Dave Bondy for escaping.



SBaxley
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by SBaxley » Sat Apr 08, 2023 6:21 pm

[Hey sinklair:
Question for you ..
If things get really desperate for sinclair, could we see the elimination of some " underperforming "
Stations, and their affiliations going to a digital channel of one of their other more profitable stations or do an agreement with another TV station owned by another group?

Example: Sinclair gets rid of WNWO NBC24 and makes a deal with Grays WTVG to give them NBC24 to put on one of their digital channels, and 24 becomes an affiliate of one of Sinclair's digital networks

Just a thought



sinklair
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by sinklair » Sat Apr 08, 2023 9:47 pm

Steve, it’s an interesting option to ponder.

Not sure Sinclair wants to go back to the days where they paid competitors to produce news on their stations (like WNEM producing news for Fox 66).

Sinclair knows that the value is in the FCC license and the network affiliation that tees up an audience for its local newscasts and allows it to monetize it with commercial advertising, especially during political seasons. For that reason, I’m not sure it would go to a digital subchannel.

But I think Sinclair also has to worry about eliminating local news and having networks like NBC look for more reliable partners that are growing their affiliated stations… and possibly pulling their network agreement.

The networks have much more leverage these days and have been looking for ways to cut costs and move toward a streaming first approach.



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rugratsonline
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by rugratsonline » Sat Apr 08, 2023 10:48 pm

sinklair wrote:
Sat Apr 08, 2023 9:47 pm
...I think Sinclair also has to worry about eliminating local news and having networks like NBC look for more reliable partners that are growing their affiliated stations… and possibly pulling their network agreement.
Surprised NBC haven't done so already with WNWO, considering technical problems such as not having local breaks aligned properly (which makes watching shows such as SNL a challenge), and even its long 2014 contract dispute with Buckeye Cablesystem, which affected big sporting events including the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Winter Olympics in Sochi; thanks to being close by to Windsor and CBET, filling in the sporting blanks was no problem, and led to Cablesystem tooting its own horn for the Olympics.



sinklair
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by sinklair » Sun Apr 09, 2023 12:12 am

Sinclair doesn’t think they’re touchable.

However, all they need to consider are stations like WISH-TV 8 in Indianapolis. Lin-TV (pre-Nexstar) lost its CBS affiliation when it tried to stick it to the network… only to be surprised when CBS ended its affiliation agreement and gave it to another station group. WISH (which used to be one of the most profitable local CBS stations in America) hasn’t been the same since.

I don’t doubt Sinclair is on that same path as it tries to force greater retrans consent from cable and satellite companies… and more concessions from networks.



paul8539
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by paul8539 » Sun Apr 09, 2023 3:19 am

MW: When you said 'from sign on to sign off'. Do any of the stations sign off at night any more? Aren't they all 24 hour stations now?



Martin Stett
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by Martin Stett » Sun Apr 09, 2023 2:19 pm

paul8539 wrote:
Sun Apr 09, 2023 3:19 am
MW: When you said 'from sign on to sign off'. Do any of the stations sign off at night any more? Aren't they all 24 hour stations now?
I think after 1 a.m. it's nothing but infomercials until 6 a.m. at the earliest. Some of the network affiliates have an overnight news hour.



radioandtventhusiast
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by radioandtventhusiast » Mon Apr 10, 2023 7:36 pm

rugratsonline wrote:
Sat Apr 08, 2023 10:48 pm
sinklair wrote:
Sat Apr 08, 2023 9:47 pm
...I think Sinclair also has to worry about eliminating local news and having networks like NBC look for more reliable partners that are growing their affiliated stations… and possibly pulling their network agreement.
Surprised NBC haven't done so already with WNWO, considering technical problems such as not having local breaks aligned properly (which makes watching shows such as SNL a challenge), and even its long 2014 contract dispute with Buckeye Cablesystem, which affected big sporting events including the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Winter Olympics in Sochi; thanks to being close by to Windsor and CBET, filling in the sporting blanks was no problem, and led to Cablesystem tooting its own horn for the Olympics.
WNWO didn't even have the problem with local breaks not starting on time until they moved to South Bend. During syndicated shows a few years back, there was a period where Fox Michiana's bug (which also broadcasts and has their control room in SB) would show up instead of NBC 24's.

As stated here previously, NBC doesn't care about their affiliates in smaller markets like Toledo.



sinklair
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by sinklair » Thu Apr 13, 2023 7:47 am

It’s time for Sinclair to give up on broadcasting and to focus on its other more profitable business interests,,,

https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2023/ ... l-your-pet



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rugratsonline
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by rugratsonline » Sat Apr 15, 2023 11:06 pm

Quoting the article:
Apparently, Sinclair sees death (humans and animals) as bigger growth area than local television.
If Sinclair is giving up on broadcasting, why can't they sell the works instead of letting them go to rot?



I75frequenter
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by I75frequenter » Mon Apr 17, 2023 12:58 pm

hard to watch what happened to WEYI. So much optimism/new horizons around 2016/2017. Honestly makes you wonder what could happen to CBS62 if ratings don't pull through.



sinklair
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by sinklair » Mon Apr 17, 2023 7:49 pm

Different local managers in 2016/17. Once they left, everything went to crap. There were a couple of good years where everyone felt like the station could be competitive with WJRT and WNEM… especially at the start of the water crisis. Now that is ancient history as Sinclair readies for the estate sale.

There’s a big difference with CBS Detroit 62… namely the network financially backing the station/news operation. I think CBS was embarrassed that one of its O&O stations wasn’t producing news… and wanted to remedy that



MasterB
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by MasterB » Wed Apr 19, 2023 12:08 am

I thought you wanted to work for CBS Detroit Sinklair?


Go Pistons, Let's Go Redwings.

sinklair
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Re: More layoffs going down at Sinclair Stations including Flint

Post by sinklair » Wed Apr 19, 2023 4:05 am

Nope. You’ve got the wrong person.

But I am happy that CBS finally woke up and realized that they should have a news presence in Detroit.

Equally happy that they’ve picked up people like Ahmad, Rachelle, Ronnie, Drew, Alysia, Gino and others who all worked in Flint.



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