NBC to delay Pax time-shift of 'News'
Affils fight programming changes
Affils had loudly balked over the plan, announced April 18, under which "Nightly News" would have aired on Pax at 7:30 p.m. — just one hour later than it appears on most NBC stations — beginning today.
NBC stations, led by affiliate board prexy Alan Frank, haven’t hidden their anger as the network starts to repurpose more of its programming on Pax, the family values network in which NBC owns a 32% stake.
"Frankly, I don’t think it does anything to help anyone," Frank said.So far that time-shifting has been contained to the gamer "Twenty One" and some movies. The network’s flagship newscast will be the most high-profile example of program sharing once it takes effect.
NBC said the "Nightly News" rebroadcast will be suspended until NBC affiliates have a chance to come to a joint sales agreement (JSA) with their local Pax stations.
"This postponement gives affiliates time to take advantage of the JSA opportunity with Pax, so that in the future we can jointly make a decision about Pax’s programming to everyone’s benefit," NBC TV Network Randy Falco said.
Peacock struck the agreement to delay "Nightly News" on Pax with major NBC affil groups Gannett, Hearst-Argyle, Belo and Post-Newsweek Stations (where Alan Frank serves as affiliate board president). The four groups are negotiating deals to implement JSAs with Pax stations in numerous markets.
NBC-owned stations have already struck JSAs with Pax stations in markets where they overlap.
"With the four station groups and our O&Os, we have the opportunity to put JSAs in place covering over 50 percent of the country," Falco said.
Despite the "Nightly News" delay, NBC will go ahead with plans to air portions of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials on Pax beginning June 3. Pax will also continue to run "Twenty One" and the PGA Senior Tour.
