Comcast Likely to Purchase NBCU; Then Spin-Off NBC Network and O&Os

[bostonmediaguy]

According to this article on bNet (http://industry.bnet.com/media/10004939/comcast-nbcu-could-lead-to-sale-of-nbc-tv-network-stations/), Comcast is likely to purchase NBC Universal and then spin off the NBC Television Network and owned-and-operated stations to a television station group owner (Hearst, Gannett, Belo, or Scripps).

This would have quite an impact on station affiliations throughout the country. I would imagine the new owners would want all of their stations to be O&O affiliates. Only Gannett and Belo have stations in NBC O&O markets; WUSA/Washington and WFAA/Dallas, respectively.

[kenrayc]

This will be interesting in The Bay Area being that KNTV 11 the O&O station was owned by Gannett. It can also give KRON 4 a chance to get their network affiation back with NBC.

[mleach]

This would have quite an impact on station affiliations throughout the country. I would imagine the new owners would want all of their stations to be O&O affiliates. Only Gannett and Belo have stations in NBC O&O markets; WUSA/Washington and WFAA/Dallas, respectively.

About Washington DC, last I heard NBC wanted to get rid of WRC-TV and had the station up for sale so maybe when its all said and done I guess we really could see a "CBS 4" and "NBC 9" in Washington, DC.

[JayR]

If this does go through expect Versus to be back on DirecTV in the future.

[mescutia]

Hearst has the largest group of ABC affiliates, many of which (WCVB, WISN, KMBC, and, arguably, WMUR) are among the network's top affiliates... something that I don't think can be said about its NBC-affiliated stations.  I'm probably the layman of laymen around here, but I don't see Hearst risking those stations' ratings here.

[Tim-In-Houston]

I honestly don't see any of these station groups attempting to take on both NBC-TV and the NBC stations.  All, or nearly all, of these companies are already highly leveraged, especially on the newspaper side, and some are nearing bankruptcy day by day.

If anything, I could see the groups buying one or two individual stations, depending on their market, but not the entire NBC group whole.  The days of buying, trading and leveraging entire groups is over.  Additionally, of the ten-station group, two are partially owned by Lin Broadcasting: KXAS-Dallas and KNSD-San Diego (Lin was not listed in the article).  I would surmise NBC's controlling interest in the two stations be sold, or optioned to them, to them first with the rest of the group divided up among other suitors, possibly one or all of the groups noted in the article.   

The network...I couldn't even imagine who would be interested in that.  One of the studios, perhaps...though Sony Pictures is the only one that comes to mind that is not alligned with any specific network (Time-Warner would be a long shot, because of their relationship with CBS for CW-TV, but not completely out of the picture perhaps.  Though that would most assuredly spell the end for MSNBC.).

[jal41]

While this arrangement probably would meet regulatory muster...I must ask why buy NBC Universal for everything but one of the two core assets (NBC).

One option could be Comcast buying everything but NBC (and possibly CNBC and MSNBC), and GE taking over 100% control of the NBC assets. In other words...going back to the late-80's/early-90's when that was how things were. Of course...it sounds like GE is just wanting to wash their hands of the whole thing.

This could become very complicated.

[Nate Wesley]

Would Time Warner get involved if NBC Television is sold?  NBC's still a bigger deal than the CW. 

[Garrett]

According to this article on bNet (http://industry.bnet.com/media/10004939/comcast-nbcu-could-lead-to-sale-of-nbc-tv-network-stations/), Comcast is likely to purchase NBC Universal and then spin off the NBC Television Network and owned-and-operated stations to a television station group owner (Hearst, Gannett, Belo, or Scripps).

This would have quite an impact on station affiliations throughout the country. I would imagine the new owners would want all of their stations to be O&O affiliates. Only Gannett and Belo have stations in NBC O&O markets; WUSA/Washington and WFAA/Dallas, respectively.

This is all very nice speculation, except for one problem: This article is someone's opinion, and not based on any kind of actual news.
It's like me saying "I think CBS could sell WCBS in New York. Okay, lets talk about potential buyers."

Yet another attempt to manufacture a discussion topic when there's nothing to talk about. And given the time it's taken for this so-called merger to take place, convince me that the merger will still even happen.

[powergate92]

According to this article on bNet (http://industry.bnet.com/media/10004939/comcast-nbcu-could-lead-to-sale-of-nbc-tv-network-stations/), Comcast is likely to purchase NBC Universal and then spin off the NBC Television Network and owned-and-operated stations to a television station group owner (Hearst, Gannett, Belo, or Scripps).

This would have quite an impact on station affiliations throughout the country. I would imagine the new owners would want all of their stations to be O&O affiliates. Only Gannett and Belo have stations in NBC O&O markets; WUSA/Washington and WFAA/Dallas, respectively.

This is all very nice speculation, except for one problem: This article is someone's opinion, and not based on any kind of actual news.
It's like me saying "I think CBS could sell WCBS in New York. Okay, lets talk about potential buyers."

Yet another attempt to manufacture a discussion topic when there's nothing to talk about. And given the time it's taken for this so-called merger to take place, convince me that the merger will still even happen.

That article is based on actual news: it's based on this news article: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/367017-Buying_Into_Big_Media_s_Recovery.php?rssid=20068&q=nbc+comcast from Broadcasting & Cable, that says "One Wall Street player confirmed market rumors that bankers have already descended on the MSO's Philadelphia headquarters to work with management on selling the NBC Network and stations to a third party."