ThisIsRochester.com: Media

WHAM-TV, DirecTV fee dispute escalates

May 30, 2019 -- DirecTV has discontinued carriage of WHAM-TV in an escalation of a fees dispute with Channel 13's parent company. The blackout began about half an hour before Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors.

A WHAM-TV Facebook post cited a "dispute between the owners of our station and DirecTV. ... We are working to try to have our parent company resolve this issue as soon as possible, but it is beyond the control of 13WHAM in Rochester. ... We apologize for the inconvenience."

The station is owned by Deerfield Media. DirecTV blames the impasse on Deerfield's demand for a "substantial fee increase."

D&C parent company reportedly in new merger talks

May 30, 2019 -- Democrat and Chronicle publisher Gannett Co. has held merger talks with GateHouse Media, according to people familiar with the matter.

Gannett, which two weeks ago fought off Digital First Media in a proxy fight, has also been speaking recently with Tribune Publishing Co. and McClatchy Co., the sources said, but a Gannett-GateHouse deal would bring together the nation's two largest newspaper groups/

A merger would give Gannett a far wider geographic presence in digital advertising through its USA Today network.

WXXI takes control of weekly paper

May 1, 2019 -- WXXI Public Broadcasting has completed its acquisition of City Newspaper, the Rochester alternative weekly publication.

Publishers Mary Anna and Bill Towler approached WXXI to make sure that the spaper continues after their retirement. WXXI President Norm Silverstein said the deal helps both entities expand their journalism.

Silverstein said that staffing will not be affected by the acquisition.

Fired meteorologist sues WHEC

April 15, 2019 --Former WHEC-TV meteorologist Jeremy Kappell has filed a lawsuit against Channel 10 over his dismissal in January.

The suit also names station general manager Richard Reingold and WHEC parent company Hubbard Broadcasting.

Kappell's firing came after an on-air gaffe in which he appeared to utter a racial slur while trying to reference "Martin Luther King Jr. Park" during a live broadcast. The mistake was recorded and posted online by a viewer who felt Kappell had used the slur on purpose.

Kappell was fired two days later after a meeting with management and after Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren called for his termination.

Kappell's attorneys claim WHEC failed to properly investigate the incident and fired the weatherman unjustly. They also claim that a statement released by Reingold implied Kappell had purposely used the slur.

Gannett rejects overture from Digital First

Feb. 4, 2019 -- Gannett Co., the publisher of the Democrat and Chronicle, announced that its board unanimously rejected an unsolicited proposal to be acquired by MNG Enterprises Inc., also known as Digital First Media, saying the bid undervalues the company and the offer does not apper credible.

MNG offered $12 a share in cash in mid-January, which at the time was a 23 percent premium to Gannett's most recent closing price.

"After careful review and consideration, conducted in consultation with its financial and legal advisers, the Gannett board concluded that MNG's unsolicited proposal undervalues Gannett and is not in the best interests of Gannett and its shareholders," the company said in statement. Wall Street analysts had anticipated Gannett's response. At the time, Huber Research analysts Douglas Arthur and Craig Huber said any offer for Gannett should be at least $14 a share. Digital First, majority owned by Alden Global Capital, operates daily and weekly publications including the Denver Post and the Boston Herald.

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	More from early 2019 WHAM-TV, DirecTV fee dispute escalates May 30, 2019 -- DirecTV has discontinued carriage of WHAM-TV in an escalation of a fees dispute with Channel 13's parent company. The blackout began about half an hour before Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors. A WHAM-TV Facebook post cited a "dispute between the owners of our station and DirecTV. ... We are working to try to have our parent company resolve this issue as soon as possible, but it is beyond the control of 13WHAM in Rochester. ... We apologize for the inconvenience." The station is owned by Deerfield Media. DirecTV blames the impasse on Deerfield's demand for a "substantial fee increase." D&C parent company reportedly in new merger talks May 30, 2019 -- Democrat and Chronicle publisher Gannett Co. has held merger talks with GateHouse Media, according to people familiar with the matter. Gannett, which two weeks ago fought off Digital First Media in a proxy fight, has also been speaking recently with Tribune Publishing Co. and McClatchy Co., the sources said, but a Gannett-GateHouse deal would bring together the nation's two largest newspaper groups/ A merger would give Gannett a far wider geographic presence in digital advertising through its USA Today network. WXXI takes control of weekly paper May 1, 2019 -- WXXI Public Broadcasting has completed its acquisition of City Newspaper, the Rochester alternative weekly publication. Publishers Mary Anna and Bill Towler approached WXXI to make sure that the spaper continues after their retirement. WXXI President Norm Silverstein said the deal helps both entities expand their journalism. Silverstein said that staffing will not be affected by the acquisition. Fired meteorologist sues WHEC April 15, 2019 --Former WHEC-TV meteorologist Jeremy Kappell has filed a lawsuit against Channel 10 over his dismissal in January. The suit also names station general manager Richard Reingold and WHEC parent company Hubbard Broadcasting. Kappell's firing came after an on-air gaffe in which he appeared to utter a racial slur while trying to reference "Martin Luther King Jr. Park" during a live broadcast. The mistake was recorded and posted online by a viewer who felt Kappell had used the slur on purpose. Kappell was fired two days later after a meeting with management and after Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren called for his termination. Kappell's attorneys claim WHEC failed to properly investigate the incident and fired the weatherman unjustly. They also claim that a statement released by Reingold implied Kappell had purposely used the slur. Gannett rejects overture from Digital First Feb. 4, 2019 -- Gannett Co., the publisher of the Democrat and Chronicle, announced that its board unanimously rejected an unsolicited proposal to be acquired by MNG Enterprises Inc., also known as Digital First Media, saying the bid undervalues the company and the offer does not apper credible. MNG offered $12 a share in cash in mid-January, which at the time was a 23 percent premium to Gannett's most recent closing price. "After careful review and consideration, conducted in consultation with its financial and legal advisers, the Gannett board concluded that MNG's unsolicited proposal undervalues Gannett and is not in the best interests of Gannett and its shareholders," the company said in statement. Wall Street analysts had anticipated Gannett's response. At the time, Huber Research analysts Douglas Arthur and Craig Huber said any offer for Gannett should be at least $14 a share. Digital First, majority owned by Alden Global Capital, operates daily and weekly publications including the Denver Post and the Boston Herald. [ LOOK BACK AT OLDER STORIES ]