[opendtv] Largest operator of TV stations in U.S. buying three Gainesville stations
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2013 07:11:59 -0400
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20131007/ARTICLES/131009664/1183?Title=Largest-operator-of-TV-stations-in-U-S-buying-three-Gainesville-stations
Largest operator of TV stations in U.S. buying three Gainesville stations
Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group owns more TV stations than any company
in the nation after a 50-station buying binge over the past three years -- and
now has its sights on three Gainesville stations owned or operated by New Age
Media.
Sinclair, which trades on Nasdaq, recently announced a definitive agreement to
buy eight New Age stations for $90 million, including WGFL CBS4, WNBW NBC9 and
WMYG-LP MY11. The deal also includes two Tallahassee stations -- WOLF FOX and
WTLF CW -- and two in Wilkes-Barre-Scranton, Pa.
The company expects to close the deal in late 2013 or early 2014 pending
antitrust and Federal Communications Commission approval, although the FCC is
now closed as part of the federal shutdown.
Sinclair would further sell one of the stations in each of the three markets to
comply with FCC rules that prohibit companies from buying more than one
top-four station per market, although it would provide sales and other
non-programming services to the stations under shared services and joint sales
agreements. WNBW NBC9 would be sold to Cunningham Broadcasting Corp., which is
controlled by family trusts of the family that founded Sinclair, according to a
Sept. 20 USA Today article about the company’s rapid expansion.
WNBW is now owned by MPS Media and operated by New Age Media. Both companies
share a Pennsylvania address and telephone number.
If the deal and other recent acquisition announcements close, Sinclair will own
and/or operate 162 stations in 77 markets, reaching 38.7 percent of U.S.
households.
Sinclair and New Age officials did not return calls seeking comment, and local
General Manager Todd Senter said he was under a gag order.
USA Today reported that the bright outlook for TV advertising, particularly
political ads in swing states, and skyrocketing retransmission fees paid by
cable and satellite providers have spurred the station buying binge.
Regards
Craig
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