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JPMorgan is bullish on the upcoming “Broadcast Incentive Auction,” which will free up prime, low-frequency airwaves owned by local TV broadcasters for wireless data services. Naysayers continue to contend that the Federal Communications Commission faces many challenges in pulling off a successful auction, which for now is scheduled to start late next month. One risk is that broadcasters might drop out of the auction if they determine that bidding prices are disappointing. The auction is key for T-Mobile US ( TMUS ), which needs spectrum. AT&T ( T ) and Verizon Communications ( VZ ) own most of the available low-frequency spectrum, in which waves travel longer distances, among other advantages over higher-frequency spectrum. JPMorgan expects at least 70 MHz of airwaves, and possibly more, to be auctioned. The key is that broadcasters that own two local TV stations will sell off airwaves from one and keep spectrum from the other, says JPMorgan. “We estimate that 70-100 MHz will be auctioned, for $25 billion to $35 billion,” said JPMorgan in a research report. Twenty-First Century Fox ( FOXA ) and CBS ( CBS ) are expected to sell airwaves in some markets. While Comcast ’s ( CMCSA ) cable company is a potential bidder , it also owns media firm NBCUniversal, a likely seller of airwaves. Smaller local TV station owners include Sinclair Broadcast Group ( SBGI ) and Gray Television ( GTNA ). “We view FOX and CBS as best positioned to monetize duopoly affiliates in large markets, followed by Comcast and Sinclair,” said JPMorgan. Walt Disney ( DIS ), which owns ABC, is not expected to sell airwaves. Private investment firms such as Columbia Capital are eyeing the auction, says a Washington Post report . JPMorgan predicts cable TV firms will show up, but it doubts that Internet giants will bid. “We expect that AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile will be the biggest bidders ($21 billion-$30 billion cumulative spend), that Sprint ( S )/ SoftBank ( SFTBY ) will not register, and Dish Network ( DISH ) will at most be an opportunistic buyer,” said the JPMorgan report. “We estimate Comcast, potentially in partnership with other cable companies, could spend $3 billion-$5 billion, and private equity funds in aggregate could spend $1 billion-$2 billion. “We do not expect digital economy players like Alphabet -Google ( GOOGL ) or Amazon.com ( AMZN ) to bid, though they can never be ruled out.” Scalper1 News
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