The Journal/KNIN hunch proves up
Don Day | July 9, 2008Yesterday I couldn’t track down the FCC application for Journal’s purchase of KNIN, so the post I wrote was an educated guess. Now that I have that application in hand – we have a better idea of what exactly JBG is pitching to the FCC.
Why KNIN is failing:
- KNIN had a 3.6% audience share in 2005, 3.675% in 2006 and 3.65% in 2007 (Nielsen ratings, average Feb/May/July/Nov books)
- KNIN is losing money. 2004: $469,278 – 2005: $396,950 – 2006: $5,341,435 – 2007: $63,455.
- The station doesn’t have the money to upgrade its master control to digital
- KNIN has no translator stations (unlike KTVB, KBCI, KIVI and KTRV) to help cover rural areas
JBG/Banks also has to prove there is no other acceptable buyer:
- An agent solicited offers for out-of-market bids for the station, and only got one offer – 56% lower than the station’s appraised value
- Banks turned to local buyers, which would presumably be Belo (KTVB), Journal (KIVI), Block (KTRV) and Fisher (KBCI). They received two offers – though it isn’t clear which organization tendered the other offer.
- The $8 million purchase price is less than investments put toward KNIN, which Banks says is more than $15 million
The deal must serve the local interest:
- KNIN will start a 30 minute daily newscast Monday-Friday
- KIVI is a “community leader,” involved in many events – which KNIN would become part of as well
- JBG is upgrading KIVI’s master control to digital, and KNIN would be combined into that facility
- KNIN would provide weather and traffic alerts
- JBG will revamp KNIN’s website to “improve communications between the station and local Boise residents”
- JBG will keep KIVI as an ABC station, and KNIN as an affiliate of The CW
And a few more details:
- JBG agrees to comply with the WARN Act. WARN requires employers to notify employees of sizable layoffs in advance under certain circumstances
- KNIN doesn’t own any property, and leases its downtown facility and its Deer Point site
“JBG agrees to comply with the WARN Act. WARN requires employers to notify employees of sizable layoffs in advance under certain circumstances”
Time to start an “office” pool? How many heads will roll and when? Who wants to make the first guess?
Let’s not try to make light of folks losing their jobs if it can be helped. KNIN has a staff of 25+ and I think we all have to be in the mode of helping them, not betting on when they may or may not lose employment.
Oh, I’m not making fun of them losing their jobs, Don, believe me. I was making gallows humor about the situation, but my sympathy is completely with them. It’s a difficult time financially for many Americans right now (even if Phil Gramm thinks it’s all in our minds) and adding more unemployed people to the pile helps none of us.
This makes me sad since, as I said in a previous post, I remember when Journal’s management thought of itself as the “white hats” to Clear Channel’s “black hats.” Broadcasting has turned into a land grab and Journal is just another one of the grabbers these days, I guess.
KNIN has come a long way technically since they first came on he air, especially in the last few years. Remember the fuzzy picture? And that was on a good day! There are still issues that some $$$ will fix.
Nothing like a “full power” TV station running home shopping channel 24/7.
“Broadcasting has turned into a land grab and Journal is just another one of the grabbers these days, I guess.”
Yet, Journal continues to lay people off while buying more stations… Both nationally and locally. Does that make sense?
Boise Engineer- Back in the day…. Channel nine was used in the Ontario-Nyssa-Vale area etc, as Oregon Public Broadcasting’s translater channel. It was occupied with permission from the license holder. When Channel nine decided to “build out” and use it for their purpose the transistion to HSN caused the phones to ring off the hook in Portland. OPB stated in the Local newspaper at the time that they had never had as many calls and complaints about lost service. Funny you should mention that about HSN, I had forgotten about that…it WAS funny to watch…were the call letter KHDT???
“Yet, Journal continues to lay people off while buying more stations… Both nationally and locally. Does that make sense?”
It makes perfect sense if all you’re about is making as much money you can, any way you can.
That didn’t used to be part of the Journal philosophy. Of course, that was back when the company was employee-owned.
Today, they’re not really any different from Clear Channel or any other operation–VERY different, however, from how they used to think of themselves.
Geez, I had forgotten about Channel 9 being an HSN affiliate.
All the world seems to care about anymore is money and heck with people. Businesses forget people bring in the money. Look for a revolution soon.
“Look for a revolution soon.”
If only. I love the concept, but I doubt it’ll happen, unfortunately.
If one did get off the ground, it would only last until the military’s pain weapon-equipped Humvees rolled down the streets.
Let the “tin foil hat” jokes commence…NOW.
The fact is OPB dropped the ball. They were informed by Ch 9 many months before about the possible on air date. Besides, the channel 9 Construction permit issues a year earlier should have been a clue to MOVE the translator.
That was no surprise regarding OPB and Channel 9. I tried several times to contact them several years later to attempt a broadacast project. I was amazed just how uninterested they were about many issues that affected them and this area. I was really disappointed with their management. The engineers I delt with were Grade A Class acts much to their credit. The other factor is, is that Portland could really care less about outlying ares like Eastern Oregon. Works that way in their legislature as well….
The revolution will take time to smolder. Eventually, as people remember Enron, see what is happening with energy, oil, and gas companies, and the financial crunch, we will see people begin to clammer for change in corporate operations. It is going to take a lot of time though, but it will happen slowly. I just hope I am around to see people caring for people, and not the almighty dollar, again.
I think if Enron didn’t enrage people when it happened, it’s unlikely that they will suddenly remember it and get mad.
Most people in this country say that they get most or all of their news from TV, which I think you’ll concede is the single worst source for factual information.
On the local stations I watched on Friday, I saw NO news stories about the second largest bank collapse in American history. Yes, SOME station may have covered it, but it should have been very near the top of even local news shows.
THE- I agree on your summary of the news coverage in this nation. Its a sad state. You can blame many factors like profit motive, ignorance on the part of media organizations , inbreeding of corporations and their desire for control of information, and on and on etc,
For those who use alternative media like the internet to satisfy their craving for meat and potatoes information its an eye opener for sure….
To summarize and bastardize a bibilical passage for modern media times… “The truth will set you free…but first it will make you mad as hell….”
In that line of thought, “its better to be pi$$ed off than continually pi$$ed on…”
OK, maybe I expect too much from people. I know I’m still angry about Enron, the oil companies and/or speculators inflating gas prices, and Congress for doing what they are so good at — nothing.
You’re right — None of the local stations covered the bank collapse. I’m sure there was a local connection somewhere. But, we don’t spend any time building a story anymore. We just cover the facts in a three minute package that might answer who, what, when, and where, but probably not why and or how.
Fox News Channel spent hours on the bank collapse examining it from as many angles as possible.
I better stop. My blood pressure is rising fast.
Content is just filler between commercials.
Then let us have small doses of quality content instead of vast quantities of sophomoric garbage. Maybe, just maybe, some logical thinking may result from inoculation of small doses of intelligence as opposed to heaps of trash.
Anyone remember the line from “Network”? “I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it any more!!”
Maybe we need a Howard Beal as our spokesman. Any takers?
I nominate Norma Rae or Erin Brockovich.
A great fire always takes time to smolder.
“Fox News Channel spent hours on the bank collapse examining it from as many angles as possible.”
How many of those “angles” involved blaming Bill Clinton/Democrats in general?
None that I heard, but I tuned in off and on through the day.
I know the subject was discussed extensively on Good Morning America and Today this morning as well as Rush Limbaugh & Sean Hannity.
Fox News = “Fixed News Network” a.k.a. “Faux News” Occasionaly you can get something out of the network, but usually it is about as yellow as they come for television. The Poynter Institute shows that of all the 24 hour cable operations, Faux News had less coverage on the war in Iraq than any other network! Then you have all the bimbo newsreaders there who wear short skirts. Go to Media Mattes and look for the link to You-Tube called, as I believe it was, “Fox Porn.” It is sickening that “conservatives” identify with a network that has so much fluff, lack of content and edgy anchors/video.
Heard Byl Karico on Kiss doing traffic. Is it so? I worked w/him at Journal. Hope he’s doing well.
Well the banking collapse…is getting its fair share of coverage right now… If any of you are so inclined to think “outside the cage” and are not affraid of some enlightenment…you might want to check out this financial site… http://www.financialsense.com A friend of mine just fowarded it to me and from what I can tell this site has been predicting a lot of what is going on right now…. Caution: it is RealityWeb and could be considered a doom and gloom site so any of you who only want to think in terms of “it cannot happen here” are encouraged to ignore the site and resume your normal thought process. PS- Dont shoot this messenger…
Actually, don’t blame Clinton, but you can blame Chuck Schumer… Go to CNBC and look at an article there that talks about IndyMac Bank. Schumer opens his trap, and they fail. I hate to lay it on the Dems, but guess who is unwilling to do anything to help anyone. They don’t want to drill, they don’t want to explore, they just want you to have a propeller on the roof of your car and that will solve everything.
Blame Schumer? Give me a break. He came out with a congressional report the last week of June showing that the bank was already insolvent. Sure, there was a 1.3 billion dollar run after the report, but blaming the Senator is like blaming a concerned neighbor who calls 9-1-1 upon seeing a fire.
If anyone wants to playe the blame game, go after Phil Gramm who claims all of the economic mess is “mental.” Yet he was one of the biggies who helped bail out the SNL’s 20 years ago and instead of having the courage to face allegations of his involvement with Enron, he cowardly decided to not run for another term. Yet he is the economic advisor to McCain?
Go figure!
I forgot that I live in a state that bleeds “red!”
For the record, I try to watch a sample of all the television news sources at some point during the week. Some are accused of being liberal, some conservative. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle for the most part.
It is irrelevant to me who is to blame for the financial and energy mess we find ourselves in. I am more interested in finding a solution to it so it never happens again. There is no reason for gas to be $4 per gallon and the country in a financial quandary. I have my ideas about which party would do more to solve the problem. I am sure you do as well. I favor combining ideas and solving problems instead of the bitter partisanship and childishness that has taken place lately.
That, Buster, is well put. And I agree with you as well, Chupa! You are right, it was Gramm that basically told the public to “stop Whining”. Isn’t it nice that we have no one worth a dang to vote for?
Thanks for the “Chupa!” However, it will not matter who is elected president. One person cannot solve the nation’s problems. Congress has to quit the immature, childish infighting and start working together to get things accomplished. One need only refer to the accomplishments of Michelle Rhee, Chancellor of District of Columbia Public Schools (see http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2008/07/14/1/a-conversation-
with-michelle-rhee-chancellor-of-the-district-of-columbia-public-
schools and http://www.k12.dc.us/chancellor.htm) and the Teaching For America program (http://www.teachforamerica.org/index.htm) to see what can happen when people put aside their childish ways and focus on solving the issue at hand.
“We have met the enemy….And he is us….”
“I hate to lay it on the Dems, but guess who is unwilling to do anything to help anyone. They don’t want to drill, they don’t want to explore, they just want you to have a propeller on the roof of your car and that will solve everything.”
I think the Democrats are a pack of Quislings, but they aren’t to blame for the energy problem.
As for drilling, if you started drilling today, you wouldn’t see a drop of that oil for five to seven years, assuming the oil companies didn’t sell it to China, that is.
On top of that, the big oil companies are sitting on THOUSANDS of leases for sites which could be drilled now. Why? Well, why work to get additional oil when they’re getting more for what they already have than ever before in history?
There is NO oil shortage. If there was, you’d see lines at the pumps like you did in the 70’s. The prices are being driven up by speculation in the international market.
Like many people, I am tired of the partisan bickering in Congress. I don’t care whether it is a Republican or Democratic idea. If it’s a valid idea, let’s at least examine it.
The following websites provide evidence of non-partisan progress that has been accomplished by people who placed students ahead of their own self-interests:
1) http://www.teachforamerica.org/careers/index.htm
2) http://www.k12.dc.us/chancellor.htm
3) http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/5222.html
There is some serious thread drift here. While I am sure we all are interested in what has caused the increase in oil prices, one thing that I am pretty sure DIDN’T cause it was the recent application by Journal to purchase KNIN. And, I don’t think this transaction caused a bank to fail, either. Some of the early comments, still on topic, were interesting, and related to radio. I’d like to hear more info on the original topic.
I visited KNIN’s Web site and was glad to see they still show some of that ‘old fashioned’ TV creativity. Unfortunately, I’m sure that will die with larger ownership…
So how long did they use the 9 Guy? Do they still? I liked the flair in those spots. They reminded me of old TV promos I’ve seen before everything became so ‘professional’ and perfect.
I also liked their staff photos that were on that fake bulletin board. Creative!
Damn Channel Nine and their refusal to drill in ANWR!
Joke.
I agree with ID Radio Buff, both in terms of the thread drift as well as the enjoyment I share with KNIN’s ‘quirkiness’, for lack of a better word.
Up until now, KNIN has really been the ‘un-channel’, not really hung up on itself. No on-air ‘personalities’ (except for the aforementioned KNIN guy and the KNIN dog they used at one point) It prided itself on being a “no-news” channel, which was even their tagline for awhile. I even get a kick out of their cheesy little 50s-esque weather spots they do now – “The weather of the FUTURE… today!”
As soon as I heard of the acquisition, I knew that was likely all going away. And sure enough, here comes the news!
Is it really necessary though? I tune into nine because I’d rather NOT watch the talking heads and the mind numbing banter for once. The big three local news stations each have a half-hour news broadcast every day that’s pretty much the same news broadcast rehashed again-and-again throughout a 24 hour period. Channel 6 KIVI broadcasts their news seven times throughout the day. Channel 7 KTVB nine times (Not counting 24/7). And KBCI 2 News airs ten half-hour news blocks throughout the day!
That’s not counting the mid-commercial news briefs, the cuts to the local stations during the national morning shows, and certainly not counting Fox 12’s news broadcasts (which I’m sure will be the new KNIN’s target competition). I mean, I understand local news is important, but really, is ANOTHER local news broadcast really necessary? Can’t a guy just kick back and watch a stupid sitcom at 5:30 for a change?
There are Lots of good folks their, at KNIN! And they try hard with what they have but it takes money. I don’t know what will happen! But I think it would be better for a few to go under then all! It needs to be upgraded!