{"id":448,"date":"2012-09-18T15:07:30","date_gmt":"2012-09-18T15:07:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bejone03.expressions.syr.edu\/trf594\/?p=448"},"modified":"2012-12-12T20:34:59","modified_gmt":"2012-12-12T20:34:59","slug":"fox-network-oos-and-affiliates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bejone03.expressions.syr.edu\/trf594\/2012\/09\/18\/fox-network-oos-and-affiliates\/","title":{"rendered":"Fox Network, O&Os and Affiliates"},"content":{"rendered":"
by Thomas Staudt<\/pre>\n
Fox Television, owned by News Corp, is one of the “Big Four” television broadcasters in the United States, and also owns a wide portfolio of cable properties domestically. Fall 2012 was a busy time for many areas of the business.<\/p>\n
Owned and Operated Stations<\/strong><\/h1>\n
Fox Sells WUTB in Baltimore<\/h3>\n
\"Fox<\/a>
FOX Agrees to Sell O&O WUTB in Baltimore [17]<\/a><\/p><\/div>In May 2012, Fox Television reached an agreement with Sinclair Broadcasting <\/a>to renew the Fox affiliations\u00a0on 19 Sinclair owned stations for five years. As part of the agreement, Sinclair paid $25 million for the Fox affiliation\u00a0on WBFF<\/a> in Baltimore, as well as an option to purchase the Fox owned and operated station in Baltimore, WUTB<\/a>, by March 31, 2013. The station had served as leverage for Fox when negotiating with Sinclair,\u00a0since Fox would threaten pulling the Baltimore Fox affiliation from Sinclair\u2019s flagship, WBFF, and switching to their own WUTB. WUTB is the MyNetwork<\/a> affiliate in Baltimore, and was unique as the only MyNetwork station owned in the Fox television portfolio. [1] <\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n
On November 29, 2012, Sinclair exercised the option to purchase WUTB, paying an additional $2.7 million. Because Sinclair owns WBFF in Baltimore, the sale is between Fox Television corporate, and a third party Deerfield Communications, controlled by sole shareholder Stephen Mumblow. Sinclair will control the station through operations contracts with Deerfield. Sinclair will also owe an additional $25 million to Fox,\u00a0unless Fox exercises an option to acquire certain stations from Sinclair\u2019s current portfolio. WUTB is the third Sinclair controlled station in Baltimore, as they also control the CW station, WNUV<\/a>, owned by Cunningham Broadcasting- which is owned by the children of Sinclair\u2019s shareholders. [2] <\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n
Fox Owned and Operated Stations Receive Uniform Graphics and Music Update<\/h3>\n
The Fox owned and operated stations (17 stations) rolled out a uniform graphics update for locally produced programming during the first week of November, 2012. The changes\u00a0are for\u00a0show and segment openings, as well as lower third graphics. The Fox rectangular logo has largely been replaced with the Fox name, and appears with 3D and circular elements. The standard music package has also been slightly adjusted. Finally, Fox owned stations have standardized the practice of showing reporter\u2019s Twitter handles, rather than email addresses under their name on air. [3]\u00a0<\/sup><\/a>
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