Gray To Acquire Schurz Communications, Inc.'s Television And Radio Stations

[Mr Tony]

Update to the Rapid City changeover for KOTA (courtesy of northpine)

TV viewers in Rapid City may not notice any change to their channel lineup when Gray TV divests a station in the market. Though it'll be "moving" the ABC affiliation to a different station from a regulatory perspective, viewers will still find ABC on the same virtual broadcast channel and with the same callsign, according to an asset purchase agreement recently filed with the FCC. Gray TV will retain the rights to the KOTA-TV callsign and virtual channel 3.1 as part of its sale of the current KOTA-TV license to Legacy Broadcasting. The divestiture is needed because FCC rules prohibit co-ownership of both KOTA-TV, which Gray is buying as part of its purchase of Schurz Communications, and existing Gray FOX affiliate KEVN/7. The new virtual channel 3.1 could originate from either the current KEVN or new low-power station KEVN-LD, one of which will presumably take the KOTA-TV callsign.

The filing also revealed that KOTA-TV satellite KHSD/11 (Lead) will be included in the sale to Legacy, which is a change from Gray's previous statement that it would retain KHSD. Besides the KOTA-TV and KHSD licenses, which will operate under new callsigns, Legacy's purchase also includes the current KOTA-TV and KHSD transmitter sites, KOTA-TV's translator on channel 18 in Rapid City, and the rights to the MeTV and ThisTV affiliations -- all for $1.

 

[Mr Tony]

and a change to one of the satellite stations (different than what was posted originally)

Gray will retain current KOTA-TV satellites KSGW/12 (Sheridan, WY) and KDUH/4 (Scottsbluff, NE), but switch them to relay other Gray stations. KSGW will relay NBC affiliate KCWY/13 (Casper, WY), while KDUH will relay NBC affiliate KNOP/2 (North Platte, NE). In a revision of its original September filing, Gray now says it will apply to change KDUH's community of license to Sidney, NE, legally removing it from the Cheyenne-Scottsbluff market, where Gray already owns KGWN/5 (Cheyenne, WY) and satellite KSTF/10 (Scottsbluff, NE). Sidney is in the Denver market. KDUH would not change its transmission facility as part of the community of license change

Currenly in Sheridan NBC is on a low powered analog translator (owned by Gray). The market has TWO ABC right now (the Casper ABC K2TV has a translator there and KSGW)

 

[Mr Tony]

The move to change city for KDUH is basically to get around the owning 2 stations in same market.

 

[Mr Tony]

when the change happens (and if Gray maps it completely) this will give Sheridan the unique distinction of going from two affiliates of same network (owned by 2 separate companies) to two affiliates of a DIFFERENT network

right now ABC is on a translator from Casper (KTWO) and KSGW to having 2 CW affiliates
They get CBS from KTVQ Billings, MT via translator., They have CW Plus on the -2.
KCWY (Gray's NBC) also has CW Plus as a sub

 

[Mr Tony]

updated purchase agreement (about KOTA and the satellites)

 

[Mr Tony]

• In the Springfield, Missouri, market (DMA 75), Schurz owns KYTV (known locally as KY3), the market's NBC affiliate, and KCZ, the market's CW affiliate. KY3 is the number-one ranked and highest grossing station in the market. Schurz provides sales and other services to Perkin Media's KSPR-TV, the market's ABC affiliate. Springfield will be Gray's first television market in Missouri.

Now it sounds like Schurz will buy KSPR outright and then sell it to Gray....putting ABC as a sub on KY3 (NBC) and selling KSPR at the auction
https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w...xt=25&appn=101713300&formid=314&fac_num=35630

 

[Mr Tony]

Well Trip posted what is probably the correct info for "KOTA Territory" stations in South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming

KOTA 2 Rapid City will drop ABC
MeTV and ThisTV move up one spot (MeTV being the -1). Trip posts that MeTV will be 720p but we dont know yet

KHSD 10 Lead (satellite of KOTA) will do the same as KOTA

KEVN 7 Rapid City & KIVV 5 Lead will have FOX and ABC on it. But it looks like they will do split PSIP
7-1 FOX
3-1 ABC

5-1 FOX
11-1 ABC

KDUH 4 Scottsbluff, NE is switching from ABC to a satellite of KNOP NBC North Platte (Gray owned)
KSGW 12 Sheridan, WY will switch to a satellite of KCWY Casper, WY (Gray owned)
Both apparently will drop the subs

Gray will retain current KOTA-TV satellites KSGW/12 (Sheridan, WY) and KDUH/4 (Scottsbluff, NE), but switch them to relay other Gray stations. KSGW will relay NBC affiliate KCWY/13 (Casper, WY), while KDUH will relay NBC affiliate KNOP/2 (North Platte, NE). In a revision of its original September filing, Gray now says it will apply to change KDUH's community of license to Sidney, NE, legally removing it from the Cheyenne-Scottsbluff market, where Gray already owns KGWN/5 (Cheyenne, WY) and satellite KSTF/10 (Scottsbluff, NE). Sidney is in the Denver market. KDUH would not change its transmission facility as part of the community of license change

 

[Mr Tony]

some additional info
KOTA will be renamed KHME and will have PSIP 2 (instead of 3)
KHSD will be renamed KQME and will have PSIP 10 (instead of 11)

 

[Trip]

I'm not actually 100% sure about the split PSIP either. There's a chance 3-x could be on KEVN-LD 23. But if that was the case, then I don't know why KHSD would be on 10-1 instead of 11-1.

- Trip

 

[Mr Tony]

I guess its a "wait and see"

 

[Mr Tony]

Gray changed callsigns (courtesy of northpine)

Gray TV has quietly swapped some longtime Rapid City callsigns as it awaits FCC approval of its Black Hills TV merger and spinoff. The deal will result in Gray running both the ABC and FOX affiliations but only having one full-power TV license. The KOTA-TV callsign has been moved to Gray's channel 7, which was formerly KEVN. The station formerly known as KOTA-TV (RF channel 2, virtual channel 3) is now KHME, possibly referring to the MeTV affiliation that Legacy Broadcasting will retain when it takes over the station. The KEVN callsign continues on new low-power TV station KEVN-LD, channel 23. The FCC database says changes were official on Feb. 1. The deal, if approved by the FCC, calls for Gray to continue using virtual channel 3.1 for ABC programming under the KOTA-TV name despite selling the KHME license. As previously reported, Gray is divesting KHME and KHSD/11 (Lead) to Legacy for $1 and plans to switch longtime KOTA-TV satellites KDUH/4 (Scottsbluff, NE) and KSGW/12 (Sheridan, WY) to feeds of in-state Gray NBC affiliates.

 

[mvcg66b3r]

Gray changed callsigns (courtesy of northpine)

Gray TV has quietly swapped some longtime Rapid City callsigns as it awaits FCC approval of its Black Hills TV merger and spinoff. The deal will result in Gray running both the ABC and FOX affiliations but only having one full-power TV license. The KOTA-TV callsign has been moved to Gray's channel 7, which was formerly KEVN. The station formerly known as KOTA-TV (RF channel 2, virtual channel 3) is now KHME, possibly referring to the MeTV affiliation that Legacy Broadcasting will retain when it takes over the station. The KEVN callsign continues on new low-power TV station KEVN-LD, channel 23. The FCC database says changes were official on Feb. 1. The deal, if approved by the FCC, calls for Gray to continue using virtual channel 3.1 for ABC programming under the KOTA-TV name despite selling the KHME license. As previously reported, Gray is divesting KHME and KHSD/11 (Lead) to Legacy for $1 and plans to switch longtime KOTA-TV satellites KDUH/4 (Scottsbluff, NE) and KSGW/12 (Sheridan, WY) to feeds of in-state Gray NBC affiliates.

This means KHME will move to virtual channel 2 (same as RF channel). That's what RabbitEars says.
http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=17688#station

 

[Mr Tony]

This means KHME will move to virtual channel 2 (same as RF channel). That's what RabbitEars says.
http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=17688#station

no sh*t
I posted the info 2 weeks ago (maybe if you would READ first)

KOTA will be renamed KHME and will have PSIP 2 (instead of 3)

 

[Mr Tony]

FCC to take public comments about KDUH moving its city of license (but not changing any parameters)

(from northpine)
The FCC has announced that it will take public comments on Gray TV's plan to change the community of license of KDUH/4 from Scottsbluff to Sidney. Gray is awaiting FCC approval to buy KDUH and wants to legally remove it from the Scottsbluff market because it already owns a pair of stations there; Sidney is in the Denver market. KDUH is a longtime satellite of ABC affiliate KOTA-TV/3 (Rapid City) and Gray has said it plans to convert it to a satellite of NBC affiliate KNOP/2 (North Platte), bringing more Nebraska news to the panhandle region. Though there has been a freeze on channel substitutions since 2011, the FCC says this proposal can be considered because KDUH would not change its technical parameters

 

[Mr Tony]

FCC approved it today

 

[Mr Tony]

here is the file

 

[Mr Tony]

some interesting info from it

Augusta, GA....Gray can own both the CBS & NBC for now. They said they are going to give up NBC in the auction (and assume move programming to its CBS). If it doesnt get bought, then they will sell it to a new owner (whether or not the NBC is part of it we dont know)

 

[Mr Tony]

otherwise everything else Gray wants to do has been noted previously above (mainly the Rapid City and Scottsbluff changeover)

 

[Trip]

some interesting info from it

Augusta, GA....Gray can own both the CBS & NBC for now. They said they are going to give up NBC in the auction (and assume move programming to its CBS). If it doesnt get bought, then they will sell it to a new owner (whether or not the NBC is part of it we dont know)

NBC is going onto the former WBEK-CD, now WDRW-CD. Interesting, though, that the FCC is asking Gray to keep WAGT on the air until then. Wonder how that's going to work given the STA to use WAGT's channel 30 facility or WDRW-CD.

I would also note that the document also says Gray cannot continue to operate KDCU in the market.

- Trip

 

[Mr Tony]

Northpine had a write up about KOTA (and KOTA territory)

"KOTA Territory" is about to get geographically smaller after FCC approval of Gray TV's purchase of Schurz Communications Friday. Gray will operate both the ABC and FOX affiliations in the Black Hills, but with fewer transmitters and less coverage of neighboring states. Though the FCC is requiring some concessions from Gray in other markets, the Rapid City portion of the sale was approved as Gray requested. The elements of the sale include:

-Gray will operate a full-power station on channel 7 and a low-power station on channel 20 in Rapid City with the ABC and FOX affiliations, the KOTA-TV and KEVN-LD callsigns, and the rights to virtual channel 3.1. Gray will also retain longtime KEVN satellite KIVV/5 (Lead).

-Legacy Broadcasting will buy the former KOTA-TV license on RF channel 2, which is now KHME, along with longtime KOTA-TV satellite KHSD/11 (Lead). Legacy will retain the MeTV and This TV affiliations.
Longtime KOTA-TV satellite KDUH/4 (Scottsbluff, NE) will instead become a satellite of Gray NBC affiliate

-KNOP/2 (North Platte, NE) and is petitioning to change its community of license to Sidney, NE, to remove a conflict with two stations Gray already owns in the Cheyenne-Scottsbluff market. The FCC approved a temporary waiver of the duopoly rule to allow co-ownership of the stations while the community of license change is pending.

-Longtime KOTA-TV satellite KSGW/12 (Sheridan, WY) will become a satellite of Gray NBC affiliate KCWY/13 (Casper, WY).