WPTV In Expanded SSA Deal With WFLX

Under a new shared services agreement, Scripps’ NBC affiliate WPTV West Palm Beach, Fla., will take on technical, promotional and online operations and produce certain local programming for Raycom’s Fox affiliate, WFLX.

In an earlier agreement that went into effect Jan. 1, 2011, WPTV started producing 17 hours of news for the Raycom station.

To effect the agreement, Scripps will invest in additional equipment and facility improvements and hire additional employees, including some that now work for WTPV.

This spring, WFLX, which will continue to handle its own ad sales, will lease space within WPTV’s offices.

“This is a mutually beneficial arrangement because the enhanced relationship allows WFLX to operate more efficiently while giving WPTV the opportunity to generate more revenue from its staff and infrastructure,” said Brian Lawlor, SVP of television for Scripps in a statement. “We’re excited to work with Raycom in a way that makes both stations stronger and preserves the options enjoyed by the market’s viewers and advertisers.”

“This agreement will help us to maintain WFLX’s long-standing commitment to West Palm Beach,” said Paul McTear, CEO of Raycom Media.

“By sharing back-office and other expenses with WPTV, we will be able to use our resources to increase the diversity of our news and local programming and continue to serve West Palm with the high-quality local and national programming that our community deserves.”