What will happen with PAX?

[toasthaven]

Just curious what will happen to PAX's slot (and local affils) when its impending demise happen?

[fluffybear]

Don't bury Pax just yet!

Just a few days ago, everyone was ready to pull plug on Voom and yet somehow or another Voom is still alive. Bud Paxson has been around the industry for a long time and I would bet has a few tricks up his sleeve.

[larrystotler]

Huh?

[jpurkey]

First I've heard about Pax going bye-bye. But even if it does, I would assume that the lcoal affliates would still be on DirecTV, just with different content. I actually liked the local PAX station better before they became PAX. They used to show some old-shows, similar to what is on TV Land.

[fluffybear]

Pax was never a real serious player and to be honest I am expecting Disney to make a play for them if there's a fire sale. Disney is the only major player out there who does not own 2 stations in the major markets.

Many Pax Stations had aligned themselves with Channel America prior to Bud Paxsons attempt at forming another network. I would not be surprised many of these statiosn return to 'Channel America' if Pax goes away.

[goober22]

Our PAX station switched over to UPN.

[TNGTony]

I thought NBC bought a major share in PAX Network. I remember hearing references to the NBC Blue Network when this happened about a year ago. (A reference to the old days when NBC had the Red Radio Network and the Blue Radio Network. The FCC made RCA sell one network (ended up being the Blue) and it became ABC). Am I mistaken?

CBS aquired UPN via merger, and NBC bought Pax.

Anyway, the difference to DirecTV would be negligible since most of the stations still qualify for must carry. To Dish, they would have to worry about Must Carry claims next year from all the local Pax stations they do not carry now due to contract with national Pax.

See ya
Tony

[Paul Secic]

Just curious what will happen to PAX's slot (and local affils) when its impending demise happen?
YAHOO!

[jegrant]

What I don't get is what Disney would put on these stations if they bought any of them? I suppose there *are* markets where they don't have an ABC O&O, but in many markets (IMO) the PAX affiliate is often a "rimshot" signal that wouldn't make a very good network O&O.
I guess they could stick "ABC News Now" on them, so that they could get "must carry". But surely ABC has enough clout with their other networks to just bundle ABC-NN into the next round of carriage deals.

I think NBC will exercise their option to buy first and grab stations to either initiate or improve Telemundo coverage in any market that can support it.

[fluffybear]

I thought NBC bought a major share in PAX Network. I remember hearing references to the NBC Blue Network when this happened about a year ago. (A reference to the old days when NBC had the Red Radio Network and the Blue Radio Network. The FCC made RCA sell one network (ended up being the Blue) and it became ABC). Am I mistaken?


See ya
Tony

NBC bought a share of PAX about 4 or 5 years ago with the understanding they had first dibs on purchasing them all if the FCC changed their ownership rules (which they did) but the relationship soured and NBC went out and purchased Telemundo instead and their station group. I do not know how much control NBC has over PAX today but I don't think it is very much.

NBC had the idea of bringing back the Red and Blue Network idea and had their hand in programming and show development but from looking at PAX's schedule today, I no longer think that is true.

NBC could become a bidder for several stations if PAX were to try and sell. NBC owns 2 stations in most major markets but there are a few which NBC does not have a Duopoly.

Due to the fact that PAX owns stations in many major markets as well, I doubt PAX could sell their entire portfolio to just one bidder..

[fluffybear]

What I don't get is what Disney would put on these stations if they bought any of them? I suppose there *are* markets where they don't have an ABC O&O, but in many markets (IMO) the PAX affiliate is often a "rimshot" signal that wouldn't make a very good network O&O.
I guess they could stick "ABC News Now" on them, so that they could get "must carry". But surely ABC has enough clout with their other networks to just bundle ABC-NN into the next round of carriage deals.

I think NBC will exercise their option to buy first and grab stations to either initiate or improve Telemundo coverage in any market that can support it.

The problem here is NBC already owns 2 stations in just about every market (few exceptions) which PAX is already in. NBC could purchase the entire group but would need to seek a waiver from the FCC in order to own Triopoly in most markets. I don't think the FCC would ever allow this even on a temporary basis.

Disney on the other hand does not own a Duopoly and could pick up the Pax station group without much regulatory problems. Disney may have to unload one or two stations in order to meet FCC requirements (do not have a station list in front of me to compare).

Disney is the only major player that does not own a Duopoly in the major markets and this why I think they would be a serious contender. Fox, Viacom, and NBC own 2 stations in the major markets and I do not believe the FCC would allow any of them to own a 3rd. You can bet if the FCC were to allow it that Fox, Viaco, and NBC all would be put there and trying to buy yet another station group to improve their portfolio.

I don't think anyone who purchases the PAX station group would try and salvage the network. They would program it with independent programming..

[Link]

The problem here is NBC already owns 2 stations in just about every market (few exceptions) which PAX is already in. NBC could purchase the entire group but would need to seek a waiver from the FCC in order to own Triopoly in most markets. I don't think the FCC would ever allow this even on a temporary basis.

Disney on the other hand does not own a Duopoly and could pick up the Pax station group without much regulatory problems. Disney may have to unload one or two stations in order to meet FCC requirements (do not have a station list in front of me to compare).

Disney is the only major player that does not own a Duopoly in the major markets and this why I think they would be a serious contender. Fox, Viacom, and NBC own 2 stations in the major markets and I do not believe the FCC would allow any of them to own a 3rd. You can bet if the FCC were to allow it that Fox, Viaco, and NBC all would be put there and trying to buy yet another station group to improve their portfolio.

I don't think anyone who purchases the PAX station group would try and salvage the network. They would program it with independent programming..


But aren't some of the Pax stations low power?? Doesn't that make a difference in the station ownership?? I know WCPX 38 in Chicago is low power.

[TNGTony]

Thanks for the info Fluffy.

See ya
Tony

[fluffybear]

But aren't some of the Pax stations low power?? Doesn't that make a difference in the station ownership?? I know WCPX 38 in Chicago is low power.

You are correct, Low Power stations are not taken into consideration into ownership requirements.

WCPX is a full power station (5000 KW). It is possible they are operating with a reduced power right now (for some reason) but as far as the FCC is concerned they are a full power station. LP stations are normally limited to no more then 100 KW output and must be clearly identified. Older LPTV stations were labeled with a call sign which included 3 alpha and 2 numeric digits (ex. K53DU) while more recent LPTV can use standard call signs provided they attach LP to the end (ex. KWDBS-LP).

Pax does hold a license for a LP station on 48 but I don't have any additional information other then that.

[pomeroy]

What I don't get is what Disney would put on these stations if they bought any of them? I suppose there *are* markets where they don't have an ABC O&O, but in many markets (IMO) the PAX affiliate is often a "rimshot" signal that wouldn't make a very good network O&O.
I guess they could stick "ABC News Now" on them, so that they could get "must carry". But surely ABC has enough clout with their other networks to just bundle ABC-NN into the next round of carriage deals.

I think NBC will exercise their option to buy first and grab stations to either initiate or improve Telemundo coverage in any market that can support it.


They would show Full House & Step by Step out the A^% and all those other TGIF shows from abc :lol:

It would be nice if somebody would start a channel that aired tv shows & cartoons from the 80's !! If I had a million dollars that what I would do
Screw that crap
Tv land & Nick & Nite have

Bring back the 80's screw the 90's :)

[KingLoop]

Seriously, What's up with some "Perfect Strangers", "ALF", "Webster", "Etc..." getting some national syndication?