Great Falls Tribune from Great Falls, Montana • Page 210

90 Great Falls Tribune, Sunday, March 22, 1987 I KEBBIV NEWS I Media 14 to 679 An 1 Tribune Photo by Tim Chovanak Reporter Jackie Parks and anchorman Dick Pompa do the evening news for KFBB-TV. Chain ownership seen as mixed blessing By RICHARD ECKE Tribune Staff Writer More and more information that Montanans read in newspapers or watch on television is distributed by out-of-state media chains, a key trend in the Montana media over the last three decades. At the same time, television and newspapers are slugging it out for the attention of readers and viewers in a fast-paced world where husband and wife both work, and leisure time is scarce. Computers have also helped prompt changes in the print media, easing the manner in which newspapers and publishing houses put out their products. Media observers say the trend toward increasing chain ownership of the major media players in Montana has been a mixed blessing.

"I think chains can be either good or bad," says Dave Rye, anchorman for Billings' top-ranked KULR-TV, a chain-owned station. Rye and others contended television news in Montana took a turn for the worse here when the Montana Television Network consisting of stations in Butte, Great Falls, Billings and Missoula was sold to by its Montana owner to New York broadcasting executive George Lilly in 1984. The new MTN network, which moved its headquarters from Great Falls to Billings, drew criticism for a sometimes "happy-talk" approach and an anchorman, Dean Phillips, whom some viewed as arrogant. Rye, whose station competed with Phillips' news program, contended at the time that the new owners had misread Montanans by trying a bigcity approach. Last year, three of the MTN network stations were sold once again to a South Carolina newspaper chain for $21 million, typical of the often musical-chairs ownership of television and radio stations in Montana.

independent of the MTN network Despite various ownership changes, under the new owners, Friden added. however, news at chain-owned sta- Friden did not agree that Lilly's tions is still usually determined by MTN network lost touch with Monlocal people, Rye said. tanans, saying all four MTN general manager and news di- agers boasted strong Montana ties. rector are still local," he said. KULR Montana's universities do not turn was sold by one chain to another last out enough television reporters to year, and its new owner also owns sta- supply all of Montana's stations, he tion KFBB-TV in Great Falls.

said. Pete Friden, president and general "You find staff where you can find manager of MTN station KRTV in it," he said. And stations choose reGreat Falls, said chains can offer porters for their talent, rather than financial strength that can improve where they come from, Friden said. news quality. Chain ownership has also made a "Often a one-guy operation can't pronounced mark on newspapers in swing a half-million dollar deal to buy Montana, where primarily out-ofa new tape machine or translator or state chains own all of the 11 daily Friden said.

newspapers in the state. Friden also said he feels "more For decades, most of Montana's comfortable (being) owned by some- large daily newspapers were owned by body who knows media," such as the Anaconda a major force in KRTV's new owners, than by some- the state's economy until its deparone outside the field. KRTV's news operation probably will become more See CHAINS, 91.