WGGB Sale Would Reduce Competition States Avocate 'Free Press'

The purchase of WGGB-DT, ABC40 and FOX 6, by Meredith Corp., owner of WSHM-LD, CBS3, would narrow the spectrum of news and opinions in the Springfield market, according to a non-profit media rights group.

 

Gormally Broadcasting LLC of Springfield plans to sell WGGB to Meredith Corp. of Des Moines, Iowa, for an undisclosed amount. Gormally purchased the station from Sinclair Broadcast Group in 2007 for $21.2 million.

 

If approved by the FCC, Meredith Corp. would own the ABC, CBS and Fox affiliates in Greater Springfield. The NBC affiliate, WWLP-DT, 22News, is owned by LIN Media of Providence, which is being acquired by Media General of Richmond, Virginia.

 

"The FCC central mandate for decades has been to promote competition, diversity and localism," said Timothy Karr, senior director of strategy for Free Press of Washington and Northampton. "When you look at deals like this, it looks to accomplish none of the above."

 

The decade-old non-profit, non-partisan Free Press believes free speech is rooted in allowing contrary views, he said.

 

"You need a diversity of owners in order to have a diversity of perspective in the news," Karr said.

 

It is quite possible the purchase will mean a combination of local news staffs, he said. "Synergy is often cited, but it means pink slips and a reduced workforce."

 

Calls to Gormally Broadcasting and CBS3 were not immediately returned. CBS 3, sister station to WFSB-DT in Hartford, is the media partner of MassLive.com and The Republican.

 

WGGB owner John Gormally told MassLive on Wednesday that he anticipated no changes to take place "other than the continued pursuit of excellence in local broadcasting under new ownership."

 

He added that he expected the FCC to OK the deal this summer.

 

Brenda Garton-Sjoberg, long time evening news anchor at WWLP and current faculty member in the Department of Communication at Western New England University, said the sale of the locally-owned WGGB to the Meredith Corp. which operates 14 broadcast TV stations coast to coast reflects changes in the industry.

 

"This comes as no surprise as independent and privately-owned television stations are becoming more scarce across the media landscape," Garton-Sjoberg said. "National companies, such as Meredith, with combined affiliates and shared service resources are becoming the new normal in broadcasting, not unlike many other industries."

 

See more at: http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/06/media_advocate_free_press_abc.html