Salt Lake NBC Affiliate Won't Air "Coupling"

[Karl Foster]

According to our local paper, KSL (Salt Lake City NBC affiliate) will not be airing "Coupling." My wife was p**sed until we found that Bravo will be re-broadcasting it on Tuesdays. I guess KSL can do what they want - they also don't broadcast "Saturday Night Live." It airs on another local independent station.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,515033143,00.html

This article was written by the television critic for the Deseret News, not a staff news reporter, which may explain for the tone of the article.

[joe]

Its also on bbc america

[jrjcd]

...er, joe-the coupling karl is talking about is the americanized version of the british hit sdhown on bbc america...

[joe]

The original is always better!!!

[Geronimo]

Until we see both I don't think we cn draw that conclusion. I think that all IN The Family is better than its British forebear and some think that Sanford and Son is superior to Steptoe and Son.

In ant event he wants tos ee the American version. But I really like the blonde in the British version.

[SamC]

Not to turn this into a religious discussion, but both KSL and the Deseret News belong to the Mormon Church.

IMHO, churches shouldn't own general entertainment and news ventures. It always puts them in the moral delima that is outlined above.

[sorahl]

can we name ONE tv show that us networks have copied from a british show that even comes close to being as good???????

[Geronimo]

I named two already.

I will admit that many others like "Three's Company" and "Fawlty Towers" were much better in their British incarnations but the first show I named stands on its own and the second has its devotees.

[sorahl]

while i was writing my message Sanford and Son was the only one that comes to mind that is an enduring example... i admit
more recently i think of changing rooms, faking it, Cracker as a glaring examples that just don't match up.
On stage even, Phantom and Les Miz have done well here but having seen both in both countries our's don't come close. Chess is another example of stage that was phenominal in London, lasted for many years, and died here in 6 months.
the main advantage we have here is a zillion channels that will eventually do a show right.. but when we copy we usually fall short because we are relying on the ingenuity of others.

[Mark Holtz]

If a television station pre-empts network programming on a basis like this, would this be a basis for the network declining to renew the contract with the station?

Another case where SHIVA sucks. And, in this case, the designated market is the entire state of Utah.

[Geronimo]

Again "All In The Family". Are you honestly going to tell me it does hold up well against its British ancestry?

There are lots of misses too. But then again I have seen some pretty bad British copies of American game shows etc.

But the real point is that this guy wants to see the American vesrion of Coupling and it is his right to decide. For his sake I am glad that bravo is doing this.


As for cancelling affiliations. The affiliates usually have the right to do this. When I grew up the stations in the Albany, NY area chose not to show several shows or aired them at odd times. These include---The Andy Griffith Show, Family Affair, Bob Newhart, The Monkees, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Instead we saw things likr Death Valley Days, a half hour varity show starring George Kirby, and Passport to Adventure---a travelogue.

That is why in many maklets the networks have secondary affiliates that carry such programming. That was not an option back then---at least not in that market.

[Brett]

Not to turn this into a religious discussion, but both KSL and the Deseret News belong to the Mormon Church.

IMHO, churches shouldn't own general entertainment and news ventures. It always puts them in the moral delima that is outlined above.

The only reason NBC keeps affiliation with them, is because the station is VHF. NBC would rather have a long established VHF station as an affiliate, even if it carries 97% of the NBC programming, rather than a newer UHF affiliate even if was willing to carry all 100%. The remaining programming like 'Saturday Night Live', NBC can offer to another station in the market.

After Fox made a big threat getting VHFs across the country with NFL rights, NBC, ABC and CBS wanted to keep VHF clearances wherever possible.

NBC used to own CH.2 in Salt Lake City (now CBS-owned), along with CH.4 in Denver (now CBS-owned), but sold them to CBS, in order to raise the money to buy NBC 10 in Philly from CBS. NBC wanted an O&O here. NBC felt they didnt lose to much with this because they could affiliate with KSL 5 and KUSA 9 in SLC and Denver, and still be on VHF-- although NBC wouldnt own or operate the station in those two markets.

NBC CBS also swapped signals in Miami, where CBS was given the better CH.4 signal. (NBC 6 is still strong in ratings, so I dont think NBC lossed too much from the deal).

CBS gave its affiliation to KYW 3/Westinghouse. Westinghouse later merged with CBS. But, NBC feared if they didnt buy CH.10, Fox would buy it, and NBC would be stuck in UHF in Philly.

[marko]

I think I read a station owned by Notre Dame is also not broadcasting this show...

WRAL (cbs station) in raleigh chooses not to air quite a few shows, mainly ones that send negative message towards marriage (Cupid), also the local fox station WRAZ did the same for such shows as temptation island, who wants to marry a millionaire. I know WRAL showed the Andy Griffith show instead.

I don't mind though. I think wral is probably the best broadcast station there is.... with their support for HDTV (all local broadcasts in hdtv, plus many wral produced shows), their airing of all ncaa tourney games on their digital stations. Heck, even the fox stations shows old hdnet programming during the day.

[Geronimo]

FWIW A list of American remakes of British series.

http://www.eskimo.com/~rkj/weekly/aa102500b.htm#As%20If

[sorahl]

G
thanks for that link
I was surprised about the Hope Island/Ballykissangel link.
I actually (hesitate to use this word but it's true) adored Hope Island. I thought it was an absolutely superb show. I was crushed when they cancelled it, even called up PAX about it. I have watched BallyK and I never saw the link...

[Karl Foster]

NBC would be crazy to cancel it's affiliation with KSL. KSL is by far the most watched station in the Salt Lake DMA. The Salt Lake DMA is HUGE, covering an area of almost 100,000 square miles - all of Utah and parts of Wyoming, Idaho, and Nevada. KSL has the most popular news programming as well. They also have a 50,000 watt radio station that is the most popular radio station in these parts as well.

I agree, though, that the LDS church should step back and let someone else run KSL. These kind of dilemas are going to become more and more common for them.

This causes a HUGE ruckus here and deepens the divide that exists between Mormons and non-Mormons, which is a big issue here.

[James Hill]

My better half works for the local ABC affiliate, so maybe I can add to this.

- NBC would drop KSL in a second if they could. The problem is that CBS and FOX here are O&O, while ABC (A Clear Channel Co.) doesn't want the fight. In short, there are no takers. Even the local rich guy has a station, but its UHF.

- NBC has to be VHF here because the SLC DMA has the lowest percentage of cable/satellite customers of any DMA in the nation. And as was previously noted, its huge from a square miles perspective.

- Leaving KSL's news content behind isn't an issue with NBC. They only win at 10 PM these days, and it's only because of the fossil (Dick Norse) behind the desk. KSL's going to win as long as he's alive, which can't be too much longer.

- Coupling is going to air either late at night on KSL (they've done this with Law & Order: SVU before) or on KUWB (where SNL airs now).

- The television critic from the DN stinks. He's less of a news source than Howard Stern.

- Internally at KSL the mormon owned debate hasn't been that hot of an issue for years. From the news side of things they don't get that much pressure from the church, so they don't care.

And one other thing. If Coupling actually looked like a winner KSL would air it. They're in the ratings business, regardless of who owns 'em.

I give Coupling until Thanksgiving, or maybe Christmas.

James Hill

[Karl Foster]

A fellow Utahn - I don't believe it! I hope your better half likes the job at ABC4. I think working in television could be a lot of fun.

I love your comment about Dick Norse! We personally watch KUTV (CBS affilitate) for news, and I totally agree with your comment about Scott Pearce. I have thought he was an idiot for years.

I don't care whether they air it or not, we'll just catch it on Bravo, albeit five days later.

Good to hear from you, James.

[dishrich]

I think I read a station owned by Notre Dame is also not broadcasting this show...

Yes, our local paper said it was the NBC affill out of South Bend, IN - WNDU. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

And, here's a report from their local paper:

http://www.southbendtribune.com/stories/2003/09/21/entertainment.20030921-sbt-MICH-E3-_Coupling_.sto

[rathergood]

FWIW A list of American remakes of British series.

http://www.eskimo.com/~rkj/weekly/aa102500b.htm#As%20If Thanks for the link, do you know of a list that shows the exact opposite (British remakes of American series)?

[Brett]

- NBC would drop KSL in a second if they could. The problem is that CBS and FOX here are O&O, while ABC (A Clear Channel Co.) doesn't want the fight. In short, there are no takers. Even the local rich guy has a station, but its UHF.



Couldnt NBC affiliate themselves with the Clear Channel KTVX 4? Or, do some swaps and buy it from Clear Channel? I dont believe there would be no takers, however, I do think NBC isnt too bothered with KSL pre-empting a few shows.

NBC badly wanted KRON 4 in San Francisco, and their problems there resulted from NBC having such a long time interest in needing an O&O there. NBC wanted KRON to stop pre-empting shows, and incorporate the NBC logo into the branding of the station.

However, in Salt Lake City, I think NBC is currently satisfied with KSL, even though KSL pre-empts some programming. But, I would say they could look into KTVX and signing a deal with Clear Channel.

KTVX would move to a slightly stronger network with the jump from ABC to NBC. However, NBC may charge the affiliate as most stations now have contracts where they will have to pay to carry the network programming.

[James Hill]

Couldnt NBC affiliate themselves with the Clear Channel KTVX 4? Or, do some swaps and buy it from Clear Channel? I dont believe there would be no takers, however, I do think NBC isnt too bothered with KSL pre-empting a few shows.

They could, but that would require getting 4 to drop ABC. To drop all of that Disney programming here in Utah is quite a big risk.

NBC is in a tough situation. They actually invested heavily in KSL before the Winter Olympics for their own needs during the events. That investment (made over a period of years) virtually blocked NBC from attempting to buy 4. Meanwhile, over the past three years, 4 has gone from Chris Craft to Fox to Clear Channel. Clear Channel owns the maximum number of stations allowed by law for a single market here in SLC, and manages a few others on the side. Selling 4, at this point, can't be in their game plan.

NBC badly wanted KRON 4 in San Francisco, and their problems there resulted from NBC having such a long time interest in needing an O&O there. NBC wanted KRON to stop pre-empting shows, and incorporate the NBC logo into the branding of the station.

However, in Salt Lake City, I think NBC is currently satisfied with KSL, even though KSL pre-empts some programming. But, I would say they could look into KTVX and signing a deal with Clear Channel.

NBC had the same pains in Salt Lake. They wanted an O&O in time for the Olympics, but it didn't happen. KSL doesn't cross brand with NBC at all, except when they're running their parental advisories about NBC's programming. KSL does pull this kind of stunt at least once per year. Forget not airing SNL, they do this kind of thing quite a bit more than NBC would tolerate in any other market.

KTVX would move to a slightly stronger network with the jump from ABC to NBC. However, NBC may charge the affiliate as most stations now have contracts where they will have to pay to carry the network programming.

If the offer was made 4 would have to balance what they'd get against what they'd spend. For their own programming, moving to NBC may improve their 10 PM rating, but they'd still be against Dick Norse, so they'd still have a big time fight on their hands.

Remember, there's a large segment of the population here (not just mormons) that stay up until 10 PM so Dick can put them to sleep.

Figure that one out.

James Hill

[jimisham]

I just read that KUWB, the WB affiliate in SLC has signed to carry 'Coupling'.
And the CBS (and UPN) affiliate in South Bend, WSBT has agreed to carry the show on WSBT-DT which "can be seen only on cable or HDTV sets" according to the article.
The shows will be on at 10 PM local time in both cities