NBCU Completes ZGS Stations Buy

Telemundo Station Group said today that it has completed its $75 million purchase of nine television stations, serving six markets, from ZGS Communications.

The transaction, which includes a full-power station in El Paso, Texas, and Class A and low-power stations serving five other markets, was completed on Jan.31. With this purchase, Telemundo Station Group will expand its market footprint from 18 markets to 24 markets in the U.S. and in Puerto Rico.

“As local broadcasters, we look forward to working with these new communities to deliver our best-in-class journalism to help keep viewers informed. Our Telemundo stations have experienced tremendous growth in the past few years thanks to the exceptional work and journalism delivered by our Telemundo station colleagues, which has resulted in revolutionizing the way Spanish-speaking audiences receive their local news. I’m pleased that we’ll have a chance to dedicate the same resources we devote to our Telemundo stations to these great stations we are welcoming to our NBCUniversal family today,” said Valari Staab, president, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations.

“The Telemundo Station Group had an outstanding 2017 and we’re excited to kick-start 2018 by welcoming new station teams to our station group family,” added Manuel Martinez, president, Telemundo Station Group. “Together, we will continue to do what we do best: inform, empower and entertain our audiences with the outstanding Telemundo local and national programming they already enjoy.”

The stations: full power KTDO El Paso, Texas (DMA 93), WZDC-CD Washington (DMA 6); WRDM-CA Hartford, Conn. (DMA 32); WMVJ-CA Orlando, Fla. (DMA 18); WRMD-CD Tampa, Fla. (DMA 13); WWDT-CD Ft. Myers, Fla. (DMA 56); WRIW-CA Providence, R.I. (DMA 52); and WZGS Raleigh, N.C. (DMA 25), as well as low-power stations serving Springfield, Mass., and Richmond, Va.

Applications to acquire the Texas, Washington, Hartford, Florida, Springfield and Richmond stations were filed in December and January. Applications to acquire the stations in Providence and Raleigh will be filed when the channel-sharing arrangements in those markets have been finalized.