The guys over at BTVN got the scoop first and now have confirmed that Sunbeam TV have indeed bought WLVI – CW56 in Boston, creating a duopoly, and will be moving 30 staffers over to the WHDH Newsplex.
More at the BTVN page
Miami Herald:
Sunbeam enters duopoly in Boston
Boston Herald:
End of a TV era – Ch. 7 owner buys Channel 56 for $114M
South Florida Business Journal:
Channel 7 owner buys third TV station
WCVB – ABC5 Boston:
Boston TV Station Sold
I HATE SUNBEAM!!!!
How could they do this?
We’ll finally have a “7News at 10” up here in Boston by years end!
I wish that Tribune had tried to keep ownership of WLVI, and not sell it to Sunbeam. The FCC approval process could last for approx. 2 months… it took 2 months for the sale of WATL to Gannett to be finalized.
It could take Sunbeam several months to un-Tribunize WLVI… it took nearly a year for CBS to un-Sinclairize KOVR.
“It could take Sunbeam several months to un-Tribunize WLVI… it took nearly a year for CBS to un-Sinclairize KOVR”
Sunbeam bought the assetts not the 100 employees. They will have to be hired separately. Now we know why.
Did they hire any on-air people?
I can’t imagine most on-air staff would have ‘it’ for WHDH’s style
One member of BTVN has posted that Karen Marinella (56 anchor), who is Jon Hall’s wive (7 News AM/Midday anchor) will be one of the 30 coming to 7. However, this is still unconfirmed.
Here’s a duopoly I would really love to see in the near future:
WPTV and Scripps Howard should buy this:
WTCN – My 15 away from Viacom and WFOR
I think MY TV is not going to be a good network based on the schedule I’ve seen.
I don’t think Viacom will sell WTCN unless it buys WPEC.
I hope the 7-News at 10 is going to have the same graphics/package at the WSVN 7@10.
According to Ansin, it’s going to be the most contemporary broadcast of any in the market. I’m curious to see what’s going to happen.
I know Ansin’s talking about content rather broadcasting, but until Ansin starts airing HD local content (like Orlando’s WFTV), he’s full of crap. Analog TV is _not_ contemporary.
Yeah would be nice to have 7 in HD.
Some of their graphics, even upconverted looks so nice I want to lick them lol 😀