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WGHP-TV may make switch to FoxBy EVAN JONES Times-NewsHigh Point-based WGHP-TV Channel 8 could hop from ABC to the Fox network if the Federal Communications Commission — FCC — approves.The station has been an ABC affiliate since it went on air 31 years ago.WGHP is one of a dozen stations that may move, according to an announcement made Monday by News Corp., which owns Fox.News Corp. has agreed to invest $500 million in New World Communications Inc. in a deal that may lead to network affiliation switches for up to a dozen VHF stations to the Foxtelevision network.If the switch is approved, current Fox affiliate WNRW / WGGT — channels 45 and 48 — would lose their Fox affiliation and would have to find another or go independent. The station could bid on the open ABC affiliation.“This is a giant step toward leveling the playing field and toward the longstanding public policy goal of achieving a fully competitive, fourth broadcasting network for America,” Rupert Murdoch, Fox chairman and chief executive officer said.Cablevision of Alamance subscribers have two ABC affiliates, WGHP and WTVD Channel 11. Tele-Media subscribers have only WGHP.Spokesmen for Cablevision and Tele-Media were out of town and unavailable for comment as to what impact the switch could have on local cable service.Scott Libin, vice president for news at WGHP-TV. said the station learned of the change late Monday morning.“We’ve never been through this before. (The changeover) depends on network affiliation agreements and the purchase of our station by New World Communications,” Libin said. “That could take anywhere from a couple of months to approaching a year. I tend to think it would be perhaps by the end of this year, at least the purchase part of it.”The current Fox affiliate. WNRWr Channel 45, was waiting to see what the changes could mean for them.“Quite frankly, it’s too early to tell.” said Donita Todd, vice president and genera! manager of WNRW in Winston-Salem. Details still must be worked out as far as the station affilia tion deal goes, she said, and there is a possibility that the two stations would keep their affiliations the same.If WGHP were to become a FOX affiliate, there would be no point in fighting it. she said, adding that WNRW would seek a new network and could go to ABC The companies involved in the deal said in a news release that the switches represent the largest netw'ork affiliation realignment m the 60-year history of American broadcasting and will make Fox more competitive with the Big Three networks “This agreement will forever change the competitive landscape of network television.” Murdoch said In December. Fox outbid CBS for rights to broadcast the National Football League's NFC games New World owns five VHF stations —- all CBS affiliates — that it said will be switched to Fox affiliations. The company also intends to switch four stations to Fox it is acquiringThe Associated Press contributed to this story.
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Burlington Times News
Burlington, North Carolina, US
Tue, May 24, 1994
Page 1
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Vulcan S.
NA, 12 Oct 2024
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