Jodi wrote a good article about how the acquisition is going so far. There was interesting statements made about KSFY and KDLT being owned by the same media company;
“The proposed transaction, if consummated, clearly would allow Gray to operate KSFY-TV and KDLT-TV together to increase efficiencies, reinvest capital resources to improve the stations’ service to their viewers and improve the stations’ abilities to compete with the dominant in-market station – KELO-TV,†Gray said in its federal filing.
“Gray Television has expressed that the merger will increase local news coverage and programming,†Rounds wrote.
Would it? I would think there would be a lot repetition between the two stations (there already is). If a KSFY reporter is getting an exclusive on a ‘BIG’ story, wouldn’t they share that with KDLT? I would think so. So how would we get MORE news? I will admit adding a Pierre office and expanding weather would be good, I’m just not sure eliminating a competing station would give us a different perspective in local news. I have a feeling the FCC has been delaying this merger for a reason.
no merger has ever improved anything for consumers. the only increased coverage i see happening is a 9pm newscast on one of their sub channels.
The idea that a merger will increase local news and programming is beyond ludicrous. How they can say such a thing without laughing is beyond me. There’s a reason we used to have rules about media ownership, and I so wish we could go back to them. Didn’t we learn anything from the 90’s Telecom Bill that allowed these awful radio conglomerates? What does having 8 stations accomplish besides allowing “DJ’s” to prerecord fake shows for multiple stations? It killed creativity in that industry.
I am shocked that the Trump Administration cares about anti-trust issues.
Speaking of anti-trust issues, shouldn’t Sanford and Billions be put under a similar looking glass?
Networks are struggling. There’s internet options taking away viewers and ad revenue. AT&T now offers 30 channels with cellular transmission. It’s becoming necessary to merge in order to survive.
Yeah, KSFY had a great cutting edge story this morning, “How to make a Blizzard.”
DirectTVland had a similar story, but it was actually about winter storms and not ice cream.
To get an idea of what could happen, just look at KEVN and KOTA in Rapid City, both also owned by Gray. They both now share the same building and from what I can tell, they share news assets. I follow both on Facebook and they both have the exact same stories. I think they both technically have separate news shows, but sources seem the same. The only major difference between the two are their network programming.
I’m surprised KTTW Fox 7 is still independently owned and operated. Sure, they are a very low budget operation and they don’t have a news team, but they have so far haven’t been bought out by a corporate owner. I don’t watch KTTW or Fox since I don’t find many of their programs interesting enough.
Personally, I’d rather see KSFY and KDLT remain separately owned. As noted by Travis, KEVN/KOTA’s news content became homogenized since they were merged together by Gray, and I feel the same is going to happen to KSFY/KDLT if the acquisition is approved. KDLT is the most low budget operation out of the three newscasts, but to me, they aren’t as full of corporate fluff-pieces like KSFY or KELO.
Here’s an interesting tidbit, KDLT also did a “Making a Blizzard” live spot, though it was from Madison rather than Sioux Falls.
It is a miracle KDLT TV has news. At one time both were NBC affiliates operating as one in the 1960’s. Now in the 21st century, with cable, internet, and facebook and other sources, Television stations are struggling.