Local broadcast stations are sticking together in the feud between Nexstar Broadcasting and cable companies Cox Communications and Cable One.
Ed Christian, CEO of Saga Communications, owner of KOAM-TV told TV Business Report, a national publication, "We are supporting KSNF/KODE and their endeavors." Christian said KOAM is not going after the Nexstar stations' advertisers, but will accept advertising if their clients need to reach customers who do not have antennas or dish systems.
Danny Thomas, KOAM general manager, told the publication there has not been much change as far as advertising, for his station, though national and regional advertisers are showing concern. Thomas is quoted as saying, "From the local side, we're hearing a lot of talk, but we're not seeing much in the way of any movement."
Both Thomas and Christian noted that a victory by Nexstar would be a victory for all broadcast stations since it will set a precedent for cable companies having to pay local stations to show their content.
The Joplin area, as well as areas in Texas where Nexstar has pulled its programming off local cable, has become a center of interest for the entire television industry.
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Newspaper industry reports are that no movement has been made in the auction for Liberty Group Publishing, owner of the Neosho Daily News, Carthage Press, Neosho Post, and The Big Nickel, as well as more than 300 other publications.
The last report on the proposed sale indicated that newspaper companies are out of the running and the remaining potential suitors are investment firms, similar to the Leonard Green company that now owns Liberty.
The first bids in the auction were collected by Oct. 25. The expected sale price is $500 million.
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A New Jersey man has been named to a major, newly-created position with La-Z-Boy Inc., according to the Business Journal in Raleigh, N. C.
Roger Miller has been named vice president of process improvement. He will report directly to CEO Kurt Darrow. His job will be to improve efficiency and make sure the company is using the best production practices, the article said. Before coming to La-Z-Boy, which is the major employer in Neosho, Miller was a partner in the management consulting firm Kepner-Tregoe, Inc., in Skillman, N. J. Previously, he was an engineer for Ford Motor Company and he later worked for Allied Signal, Inc.
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Business Wire reports that Fortune 500 company Leggett & Platt will announce its fourth quarter results 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1.
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The Neosho R-5 Board of Education meeting will be the center of attention tonight as the board discusses whether to allow a donated test for the Bible to be used as part of the district's Accelerated Reader program. The case brings up a number of First Amendment questions.