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The local media market is taking on an infusion of new content from WXYZ-Channel 7, and media watchers say it is expected to stir up the competitive landscape for audience and advertising - and pique interest in bundled TV ad buys.
The $110 million cash purchase that added WMYD-Channel 20 to E.W. Scripps Co.'s TV station portfolio last week was the first step in Scripps' plans for the MyNetwork TV affiliate.
Cincinnati-based Scripps, which has owned WXYZ in Southfield since 1986, closed Monday on the deal to acquire Channel 20 and ABC affiliate WKBW in Buffalo, N.Y., from New York City-based Granite Broadcasting Corp.
Scripps marked the occasion, and signaled its strategy, by launching a new 10 p.m. newscast, "7 Action News at 10 on TV20 Detroit," that very night. But WXYZ also plans to keep at least 20 of the 30 Granite employees in the region, add a new 7 a.m. news hour on WMYD this summer, put two more news programs into rotation this fall and add at least 40 new local media jobs this year.
Channel 7 will continue to have its early morning news show that leads into the station's broadcast of "Good Morning America."
"We think we do very well in the early mornings, and this is a good opportunity to retain the viewers who were already enjoying us or just add those who want to stay with local updates, after the (program change) to 'Good Morning America,'" said Ed Fernandez, Scripps divisional general manager and vice president and general manager of WXYZ.
Also in the offing is a new 4 p.m. newscast, "The Now," starting Sept. 8 on WXYZ (moving "The Dr. Oz Show" to 10 a.m. for its sixth season), and "The...