Starbucks is closing 600 stores nationwide, but thankfully, my faves are still in play. Otherwise, where would I have meetings?
Meanwhile, my old haunt, WTVJ Channel 6, has been sold to the Washington Post Company.
The Post Co. already owns WPLG-ABC 10, so the two stations will operate as a so-called duopoly, merging most of their business functions and possibly some part of their news production, though nothing's been announced on that score yet. If the deal is approved by the FCC, WTVJ -- now owned by NBC, which put the station up for sale in March -- could change hands by the end of the year. The story confirms an earlier Miami Herald report.
Terms have not been disclosed. Previous reports said NBC 6 could fetch between $350 million and $400 million.NBC Universal put WTVJ up for sale in March -- to raise cash for other ventures. NBC recently said it will partner with two private equity firms to buy The Weather Channel -- for a reported $3.5 billion. And last year, the network bought Oxygen Media for $925 million. NBC, which also owns Telemundo, has said it plans to keep that network's flagship station, WSCV-Channel 51. WPLG vice president Dave Boylan did a walk-through of NBC 6 in late May. WSVN-Fox 7's executive VP/general manager, Bob Leider, did a walk-through, too. WSVN is owned by Ed Ansin's Sunbeam Television. Other broadcast and private-equity groups did site inspections, sources say. Assuming the deal goes through: NBC 6 remains an NBC affiliate. It will eventually move from its Miramar studio-headquarters into WPLG's new headquarters, under construction on six acres along Hallandale Beach Boulevard in Pembroke Park. That $30 million-plus facility should be ready by March or April. (WPLG is now in a three-story building at 3900 Biscayne Blvd. Post-Newsweek sold the 1.6-acre property last year, although WPLG has a lease through June '09.) No word yet on how Post-Newsweek will run the two newsrooms. Up in the air is what happens to NBC 6's on-air talent. Morning anchor Bob Mayer has 39 years on the job. Other long-timers: Patricia Andreu, Nick Bogert, Kelly Craig, Pam Giganti, Diana Gonzalez, Jackie Nespral, Ari Odzer, Trina Robinson, Joe Rose, Tony Segreto, Willard Shepard, Hank Tester and Julia Yarbough. ''Every duopoly means some form of staff consolidation,'' says one local TV executive. ''Stations are looking for ways to gain efficiency of operation.'' Cost savings may also come through elimination of duplicated jobs, from producers and photographers to technical and sales staff. In a duopoly, there is usually one general manager. WPLG's is Boylan. NBC 6's president/GM is Ardyth ''Ardy'' Diercks. Stay positive, crew! The WTVJ reporting team are first rate, and if WaPo has any brains, they'll hang on to them all, especially Nick, Trina, Ari, Julia, Hank and the big man, Joe Rose (hope I didn't leave anybody out. Hey, I'm tired...) And they're crazy to give up the Miramar studio, which is only about eight years old, and gorgeous. Damn this Bush recession! And what's so great about the Weather Channel, anyway?
Anyhoo, the move could also affect Weather Plus, NBC's weather play in NYC. We'll see how it shakes out.
Here's the take from Local 10 online, where my former boss jumped ship once the sale was announced. The story's up at TVSPY, but not yet on the watercooler...
| Labels: local television, mergers, NBC News, the economy, WTVJ |
