KUSA has Dropped Weather Nation TV.

9NEWS Dropped Weather Nation TV on December 29th, 2018 it is now carrying COZI TV from NBC Universal on digital 9.2  Cozi is a classic TV Network showing old sitcoms and movies from the NBC Universal library. There's no word on why Weather Nation was dropped.  There is also no word on if this was a Tegna decision or a 9NEWS decision.    Cozi TV is also available on KDEN-TV Telemundo Denver channel 25.3 an NBC Owned & Operated Station as an  O&O KDEN has carried Cozi TV since it's launch.















 

KDVR & KWGN to get new owners as Tribune Broadcasting to be aquired by Nexstar Media Group.

Tribune Broadcasting has entered into an agreement with Nexstar to be taken over by Nexstar Media Group, if it happens Nexstar would become the largest broadcaster in the U.S. by station count.

•  http://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar_agrees_to_acquire_tribune/  (Nexstar press release)

•  http://www.tribunemedia.com/nexstar-media-group-enters-into-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-tribune-media-company/ (Tribune Broadcasting press release)

They already own KREX-TV (CBS5), KGJT-TV (My Network GJ) in Grand Junction as well as KXRM (FOX21) & KXTU-LD (SoCO CW) in Colorado Springs/Pueblo.
They operate KFQX-TV (FOX4) in Grand Junction through a shared services agreement--KFQX is owned outright by Mission Broadcasting Inc.

This deal with Tribune was announced December 3rd, some stations will have to be spun off to get the agreement to go through.  It is expected that KDVR/KFCT (FOX 31) will be one of the stations spun off.   However they haven't as of now reveled what stations are being sold.   We should know sometime in early January what happens with what stations.   This deal with Nexstar is expected to pass the regulatory process easily, because there are no "Shell" companies involved as their were with Sinclair.


Below are logos of current Nexstar stations,  plus one Mission Broadcasting Inc station in Colorado... 

 

 

 

 

KWGN & KDVR are in a re-trans fight with Charter-Spectrum.

 

If you have Spectrum from Charter Communications as your cable provider (CATV) you could loose access to KWGN-Colorado's Own Channel 2 & KDVR-FOX31 *KFCT-Ft. Collins*.  Because Tribune broadcasting is in negotiations with Charter over the re transmission of their stations nationwide. More specifically how much charter is willing to pay tribune to continue to carry their stations.    If no agreement is made before January 1, 2019 KWGN & KDVR/KFCT will be removed from their systems in Colorado.     This isn't the first time Tribune has had re-trans disputes recently the last major one for Tribune was last June with Dish Network, Tribune stations were off for 2 weeks after both parties were unable to reach an agreement.    We'll have to see if they can come to an agreement by the end of  2018 or if we have a blackout to begin the new year.  

UPDATE: Tribune Broadcasting & Spectrum have agreed to a short term extension while they continue to negotiate, if no deal is made by January 2, 2019 at 3PM MST then KWGN/KDVR & KFCT will be pulled from Spectrum.  

   

 

 

Mike Landess has retired from Colorado's Own Channel 2.

Mike Landess has retired from KWGN--Colorado's Own Channel 2.  The station had a nice tribute to him on his last broadcast last week.  (Channel 2 & FOX31 are going to potentially have new ownership sometime in January as Tribune is getting pressured to sell it's self).  

Here is the video tribute & article: kwgn.com tribute to Mike Landess  

Mike Enjoy your retirement..  





 

9NEWS/Channel 20 GM Steve Carter is leaving for a simmilar possition at KGW in Portland, OR.

9NEWS & Channel 20 GM Steve Carter is leaving the duopoly for a similar position at sister station KGW8 in Portland, OR also a Tegna station beginning December 3rd.  

Mark Cornetta currently executive VP at Tegna Media will come back to his former role as President & GM at 9NEWS & Channel 20-he will continue to oversee the operations at KING/KONG in Seattle, KPNX in Phoenix, & KARE in Minneapolis.    “No one is more committed to Denver and 9News than Mark. He is an outstanding leader who is smart, innovative and drives results. While he is intimately familiar with 9News, he will work more closely with the team on a day-to-day basis to serve the community while continuing to excel in his other responsibilities,”  said Lynn Beall, executive vice president and COO of Media Operations at McLean, Virginia-based TEGNA.

H/T: Denver Business Journal. 
More Information here: Denver Business Journal 9NEWS GM Steve Carter leaving for similar role



 
Steve Carter    (9NEWS/Channel 20 Photo)

Mark Cornetta  (9NEWS/Channel 20 Photo)




 
 

KOAA News 5 has a buyer.

I meant to post this yesterday but didn't get around to it.  KOAA NEWS5 has a buyer, it's Scripps broadcasting owners of KMGH in Denver.  Scripps is buying all of Cordillera Communications stations for $521 Million, (Cordillera is the broadcasting division of Evening Post Industries).Scripps will acquire 15 of 16 Cordillera stations including KOAA in Pueblo/Colorado Springs-making NEWS5 a sister station to Denver's 7.

Here is the Press release from Scripps: Scripps Press Release.

The only station not being acquired is KVOA in Tucson,AZ because Scrips already owns a station in that market , so KVOA is going to Quincy Media.

Mike Landess is leaving Channel 2 at the end of November sweeps

Anchor Mike Landess is leaving Colorado's Own Channel 2 at the end of the November sweeps period.  He described his departure at KWGN as bitter sweet  That’s due in part to the general tumult of the TV-news industry, which has seen local news ratings plummet across the board in recent years. But Landess had hoped that bumpiness wouldn’t extend to his job at KWGN.

More from The Denver Post here:  https://theknow.denverpost.com/2018/10/16/mike-landess-leaving-channel-2-remembers-40-years-of-colorado-news/198413/






 

No one knows who FOX31 & Colorado's Own Channel 2 personalities are, according to station research.

Our friends over at FTVLive report that on October 15th KDVR/KWGN GM Joan Barrett sent out a station wide e-mail informing on-air tallent to wear station gear so folks ask who they are.  Because research shows that most people don't know who the on-air tallent is at the two stations.

I Got to thinking about that and to be honest I could only name 4 of the on-air folks, primarily FOX31 people. 

Here is the link to the article from FTV Live:  FTVLive Article on station gear mandate.

 

Colorado's own Channel 2 has updated elements of it's 2017 set and refreshed it's studio.

Colorado's own Channel 2, has a new background for there set according to a picture posted on twitter this morning. 
It kind of reminds me of the "Headline News / CNN Headline News set" from the late 1990s, it looks to have a very open feel.  It looks great, however I'll miss the different pictures of Colorado from John Fielder that channel 2 used  on it's background.  (the other background was put into place in May 2017).