The Wall Street Journal reports that as momentum tilts toward the Internet, airwaves go on the block for billions in a boon to tiny TV stations like those in Lima, Ohio. In giant media markets like New York City and Los Angeles, the bidding will start out high. One station broadcasting in Manhattan, an affiliate of Telemundo, has an opening bid of $900 million. But smaller cities may hit the jackpot, too. In Lima, the first — and maximum — offer for its most-watched station is about $110 million. Journal subscribers can read the full story here.
DMA 188: LIMA, OH
Comments (6)
Mike Barras says:
January 6, 2016 at 1:15 pm
I thought the airwaves belonged to the public, current license holders paid nothing for these frequencies. Is all of this money going to current license holders? Is any going to US Treasury?
Wagner Pereira says:
January 6, 2016 at 1:47 pm
Virtually every current license holder has paid dearly for their license. Those who paid nothing took their profits long ago.
Veronica Serrano Padilla says:
January 6, 2016 at 2:27 pm
Always follow the money.. of course, the U.S. Treasury will get a significant part of the money, otherwise the Congress wouldn’t have dreamed up such a seriously convoluted mess…
Wagner Pereira says:
January 7, 2016 at 7:29 am
The Government is not in the business to make money. That essentially goes against what it is set up for in the Constitution. It is supposed supply services to the Public. If the Government was in business to make money, that is a different form of Government. The Government should be in the service of breaking even, which they hope to do with this and the other Auctions. Both Democrats and Republicans need to grasp that.
Veronica Serrano Padilla says:
January 7, 2016 at 11:23 am
Yeah, I agree with everything you say (imagine that), but the reality is Congress went along with all this because of the lure of money. They might have wrapped it all up in the idea that more broadband would help people, but money for the treasurer sealed the deal.
Bobbi Proctor says:
January 6, 2016 at 11:38 pm
I read that “the airwaves belong to the public.” How can the government sell them enticing television stations to shut down hurting those of us who rely on antenna reception. Station owners should not get rich “selling” what all of us used to own. We have a local station that has not been on the air five years yet. They have not made any attempt to attract viewers and I understand the only reason they exist is to sell it to the government for millions of dollars. This is wrong.