I was actually surprised to hear this, I didn’t think the sale would be approved;
The FCC ruled Tuesday that Gray Television could buy KDLT-TV from Red River Broadcasting Co. Gray announced the $32.5 million deal in May 2018 and with approval from the FCC and Justice Department was able to complete the deal today, according to a KSFY report.
I thought for how long this was taking they may have been some hiccups, but it looks like Gray convinced the FCC they are going to provide us MORE news by acquiring KDLT, even though I think this is about advertising dollars and NOT providing us more news;
The FCC noted that the No. 1 station in the Sioux Falls market, KELO-TV, “has consistently earned a majority of advertising revenue, making it harder for the other stations in the market to effectively compete against it. The applicants note that KDLT-TV is already struggling to maintain a profitable local news operation and that, without relief, ‘it is only a matter of time before KDLT-TV is forced to eliminate its local news.’ â€
So in order for KSFY to compete with Stormland TV they need to buy up more stations? How about better programming and news instead of the latest food truck or dog race story? Oh, Oh, Oh, but wait . . .
Gray has committed to add at least 28 hours per week of local news programming across the two stations, more local news programming than either station currently airs in an average week, according to the FCC. The company also plans to open a news bureau in Pierre, the capital, to provide better coverage of state government and install a state-of-the-art weather radar that will enable it to provide more accurate information about severe weather in the Sioux Falls market, the order states.
So they will have a reporter in Pierre for 40 days? That’s nice. Where do I sign up for that miserable job? And I guess I was a little surprised to hear that neither station was providing state-of-the-art weather reporting. So what? Were they just winging it all these years? I actually get my forecasts from KDLT, because I think they lay it out better.
According to a statement from Gray, there will be no changes at either station for awhile.
LOL. And we won’t be holding our breath either. Bring on the Weiner Dog fashion show!