It sells three stations — WNBC New York and Telemundo WSNS Chicago and WWSI Philadelphia. Their signals will all channel share with other NBC-owned stations in the markets. Fox and CBS also sold spectrum.
NBC Makes Over $480 Million From Auction
NBC was among the broadcasters reaping hundreds of millions from selling spectrum in the FCC incentive auction, according to detailed auction results released by the FCC this afternoon.
Somewhat surprising, NBC sold the spectrum of its flagship WNBC New York for $214 million. In addition, it sold the spectrum of two Telemundo stations — WSNS Chicago and WWSI Philadelphia for $141.7 million and $125.9 million, respectively
That’s a total take of $481.6 million.
The sales do not mean the stations are going off the air. In each case, the stations will double up on another NBC owns in the markets.
WNBC will channel share with Telemundo’s WNJU, Telemundo’s WWSI will channel share with NBC’s WCAU, and Telemundo’s WSNS will channel share with NBC’s WMAQ.
In each case, Comcast/NBC said, the surviving stations will provide “superior coverage” to the stations that were sold.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
NBC was among 175 winners in the auction, which collectively made $10.8 billion.
Two of the three other network groups also sold spectrum.
Fox also sold its MyNetworkTV stations in three markets with plans to double up on their Fox O&Os in the markets. They are WPWR Chicago ($160.7 million), WDCA Washington ($118.8 million) and WMYT Charlotte, N.C. ($74.7 million). That’s a total of $354.2 million, a figure it had earlier announced.
CBS got just $9.9 million for selling its UHF spectrum for KCCO Minneapolis and agreeing to move the satellite of WCCO to a VHF channel.
Disney/ABC came up empty in the auction.
Comments (8)
Angie McClimon says:
April 13, 2017 at 4:32 pm
KCCO is licensed to Alexandria, MN and is a full-time satellite of WCCO Minneapolis
Shenee Howard says:
April 13, 2017 at 5:02 pm
So how will there be 3 hgih quality HD feeds (WNBC/WNJU/Cozi) on one signal?
Teri Keene says:
April 13, 2017 at 5:43 pm
In my area, an NBC O&O market, Cozi isn’t broadcast in HD.
David Siegler says:
April 13, 2017 at 5:58 pm
ATSC 1.0 encoder technology has made some serious improvements since the DTV conversion. There are a number of station currently carrying 2 HD and 1 or 2 SD feeds in their channel. They may change from 1080i to 720p to make the HD’s work.
CURT TRUMAN says:
April 14, 2017 at 10:06 am
I don’t understand why any station would broadcast their “premium” HD signal over-the air. By providing an SD signal they fulfill thier FCC obligation. By reserving their HD signal for MVPDs, stations drive viewers for their “premium” service and get paid $2 per subscriber. What am I missing?
r small says:
April 13, 2017 at 8:22 pm
You are right about that, Bill. And WNBC is on physical channel 28, WNJU is on physical channel 47, both on the ESB. This probably ain’t gonna hurt WNBC’s coverage much, particularly when you consider that WNBC is on some 170 cable systems in the Tri-State area, and life wasn’t that bad after 9/11 when their was no WNBC signal on the air.
Wagner Pereira says:
April 14, 2017 at 9:47 am
Revisionist History? http://variety.com/2001/tv/news/tv-beams-back-into-n-y-1117852904/
www.tcpwireless.Com says:
August 20, 2018 at 7:29 am
Thanks to the excellent guide