Posted on 04/03/2009 12:14:01 AM PDT by raccoonradio
NBC says it will strip WHDH-TV (Ch. 7) of its network affiliation if the Boston station goes ahead with its plan to add a 10 p.m. newscast to its lineup and bump Bay State native Jay Leno from his new prime-time slot.
“WHDH’s move is a flagrant violation of the terms of their contract with NBC,” said John Eck, president of the NBC TV Network. “If they persist, we will strip WHDH of its NBC affiliation. We have a number of other strong options in the Boston market, including using our existing broadcast license to launch an NBC-owned and operated station.”
Rick Cotton, NBC Universal’s general counsel, said “it is clear that WHDH is contractually required to air NBC programming as scheduled by the network.”
Channel 7 announced yesterday that it plans to add an hourlong 10 p.m. newscast in September. WHDH, an NBC affiliate owned by Sunbeam, plans to continue to broadcast its tanking 11 p.m. news, which has fallen to third place.
Owner Ed Ansin didn’t return a call last night and general manager Chris Wayland refused to answer questions.
NBC has a number of strong options in the Boston market, and owns and operates Telemundo, said a source close to the situation. NBC could move its programming to Telemundo or an independent station interested in becoming an NBC affiliate.
San Francisco station KRON-TV walked away from its NBC affiliation several years ago and its parent company recently filed for bankruptcy.
Channel 7 sister station, WLVI -TV (Ch.56), a CW affiliate, already has a 10 p.m. newscast but it has failed to come close to the number of viewers that tune into FOX 25’s powerhouse 10 p.m. news.
NBC should just file for bankruptcy. It sucks. Who, in their right mind, wants to be associated with NBC? LOL!! Even Boston is opting out!
more from Boston Globe
http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/04/channel_7_no_le.html
>>Ansin wants to air Leno’s new show at 11 p.m., but he said that NBC told him that “would not be feasible.” For now, Ansin doesn’t plan to air Leno at all, instead airing a local news show at 10 p.m., following it with the current news half-hour broadcast at 11; and airing Conan O’Brien’s show at 11:35 p.m. when it begins this summer.
>>”There are a lot more viewers available at 10 o’clock,’’ added Ansin who also owns Miami’s WSVN-TV (Channel 7) a Fox affiliate that reaps in strong ratings and revenue with its 10 o’clock newscast. Said Ansin, “It fundamentally is a better financial plan for us.” Of WHDH, he added, “We are already suffering from weak lead-ins.”
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