Top 30: Broadcasting’s Ever-Changing Profile
The urge to merge remains strong among TV station groups as evidenced by the changes in our annual Top 30 ranking published on Wednesday. And you should expect more changes on next year’s chart, despite the FCC’s meddlesome ownership rules.
Nexstar Jumps To No. 3 In Annual Ranking
As a result of its merger with Media General, Nexstar Broadcasting moves up 10 spots and is now No. 3 on TVNewsCheck‘s 2016 station group ranking behind Fox and CBS. Gray’s acquisition of Schurz moved it up to No. 13, Nexstar’s old spot. Together, the two deals changed the rank of 21 groups and opened the door to two newcomers.
1. FOX TELEVISION STATIONS, New York 2015 Revenue: $1.646 billion Stations: 28 in 17 markets Coverage: 37.2% Ownership: 21st Century Fox (Nasdaq: FOXA) Key Executives: Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman, 21st Century Fox; Lachlan […]
2. CBS TELEVISION STATIONS, New York 2015 Spot Revenue: $1.570 billion Stations: 29 in 17 markets Coverage: 38.1% Ownership: CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) Key Executives: Leslie Moonves, chairman, president-CEO, CBS Corp.; Peter […]
3. NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP, Dallas 2015 Spot Revenue: $1.421 billion Stations: 171 in 100 markets Coverage: 39% Ownership: Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) Key Executives: Perry A. Sook, chairman-president-CEO; Timothy Busch, EVP/co-COO; Brian Jones, […]
4. SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, Baltimore 2015 Spot Revenue: $1.4 billion Stations: 169 in 83 markets Coverage: 38.6% Ownership: Sinclair Broadcasting Group Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) Key Executives: David Smith, president-CEO, Sinclair Broadcast Group; […]
Exclusives
5. NBCUNIVERSAL OWNED TELEVISION STATIONS, New York 2015 Spot Revenue: $1.289 billion Stations: 28 in 20 markets (includes Telemundo stations) Coverage: 36.7% Ownership: Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA) Key Executives: Brian Roberts, chairman-CEO, Comcast Corp.; Steve Burke, […]
6. TEGNA, McLean, Va. 2015 Revenue: $1.276 billion Stations: 48 in 36 markets Coverage: 32% Ownership: Tegna Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) Key Executives: Gracia Martore, president-CEO, Tegna Inc.; David Lougee, president, Tegna Media; John A. Williams, […]
7. TRIBUNE MEDIA, Chicago 2015 Spot Revenue: $1.209 billion Stations: 54 stations in 34 markets Coverage: 43.7% Ownership: Tribune Media Co. (NYSE:TRCO) Key Executives: Bruce Karsh, chairman, Tribune Media, and president/co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management; […]
8. ABC OWNED TELEVISION STATIONS, Los Angeles 2015 Spot Revenue: $1.064 billion Stations: 8 stations in 8 markets Coverage: 22.5% Ownership: The Walt Disney Co. (Public: NYSE: DIS) Key Executives: Robert Iger, chairman-CEO, Disney; Ben […]
9. HEARST TELEVISION, New York 2015 Spot Revenue: $747.1 million Stations: 34 in 27 markets Coverage: 18.6% Ownership: Hearst Corp. (private) Key Executives: Steven Swartz, president-CEO, Hearst Corp.; Jordan Wertlieb, president, Hearst Television; Frank Biancuzzo, […]
10. RAYCOM MEDIA, Montgomery, Ala. 2015 Spot Revenue: $746.4 million Stations: 62 in 42 markets Coverage: 14% Ownership: Employee owned Key Executives: Paul McTear, president-CEO; Pat LaPlatney, COO; Susana Schuler, EVP; Warren Spector, CFO; Jeff Rosser, group VP; Brad […]
11. UNIVISION COMMUNICATIONS, New York 2015 Spot Revenue: $714.5 million Stations: 59 in 25 markets Coverage: 44.1% Ownership: Univision Holdings Inc., an investor group including Madison Dearborn Partners, Providence Equity Partners, TPG Capital, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Saban […]
12. E.W. SCRIPPS, Cincinnati 2015 Spot Revenue: $617.4 million Stations: 36 in 24 markets Coverage: 18.1% Ownership: E.W. Scripps Co. (NYSE: SSP) Key Executives: Richard A. Boehne, chairman, president and CEO, E.W. Scripps Co.; Brian […]
13. GRAY TELEVISION, Atlanta 2015 Spot Revenue: $535.3 million Stations: 107 in 52 markets Coverage: 9.6% Ownership: Gray Television Inc. (NYSE: GTN) Key Executives: Hilton Howell, president-CEO/vice chairman; Kevin Latek, EVP/chief legal and development officer; […]
14. COX MEDIA GROUP, Atlanta 2015 Spot Revenue: $510.4 million Stations: 15 in 11 markets Coverage: 11.1% Ownership: Cox Enterprises (private) Key Executives: John M. Dyer, president-CEO, Cox Enterprises; Bill Hoffman, president, Cox Media Group; […]
15. MEREDITH CORP., Des Moines, Iowa 2015 Spot Revenue: $403.4 million Stations: 28 in 12 markets Coverage: 10.7% Ownership: Meredith Corp. (NYSE: MDP) Key Executives: Stephen M. Lacy, chairman-CEO; Paul Karpowicz, president, Meredith Local Media […]
16. GRAHAM MEDIA GROUP, Washington 2015 Revenue: $264.1 million Stations: 5 in 5 markets Coverage: 6.4% Ownership: Graham Holdings Co. (NYSE: GHC) Key Executives: Timothy J. O’Shaughnessy, president-CEO, Graham Holdings Co.; Emily L. Barr, president-CEO, […]
17. SUNBEAM TELEVISION, Miami 2015 Revenue: $207.1 million Stations: 3 in 2 markets Coverage: 3.5% Ownership: Ed Ansin Key Executives: Ed Ansin, president; Chris Wayland, EVP-GM What’s Up: At the beginning of this year, NBC […]
18. ENTRAVISION, Los Angeles 2015 Spot Revenue: $128.2 million Stations: 58 in 24 markets Coverage: 13.9% Ownership: Entravision Communications Corp. (NYSE: EVC) Key Executives: Walter F. Ulloa, chairman-CEO; Christopher T. Young, EVP-CFO-treasurer; Jeffery A. Liberman, […]
19. CORDILLERA COMMUNICATIONS, St. Paul, Minn. 2015 Spot Revenue: $119.5 million Stations: 22 in 12 markets Coverage: 2.1% Ownership: Evening Post Industries (private) Key Executives: John Barnwell, president-CEO, Evening Post Industries; Terry Hurley, president; Cordillera; […]
20. HUBBARD BROADCASTING, St. Paul, Minn. 2015 Spot Revenue: $112 million Stations: 13 in 6 markets Coverage: 3.3% Ownership: Hubbard family Key Executives: Stanley S. Hubbard, chairman; Rob Hubbard, president, Hubbard Television Group. What’s Up: […]
21. QUINCY MEDIA, Quincy, Ill. 2015 Spot Revenue: $107 million Stations: 18 in 14 markets Coverage: 2.6% Ownership: Private Key Executives: Ralph M. Oakley, president-CEO; Dennis Kendall, director of broadcast news; […]
22. ION MEDIA NETWORKS, West Palm Beach, Fla. 2015 Revenue: $91.3 million Stations: 60 stations in 55 markets Coverage: 65.2% Ownership: Private Key Executives: Brandon Burgess, chairman-CEO.
23. DISPATCH BROADCAST GROUP, Columbus, Ohio 2015 Revenue: $87.9 million Stations: 2 stations in 2 markets Coverage: 1.8% Ownership: Private Key Executives: Michael J. Fiorile, vice chairman-CEO; John Cardenas, VP of news and president-GM, […]
24. WEIGEL BROADCASTING, Chicago 2015 Spot Revenue: $83 million Stations: 11 in 4 markets Coverage: 3.8% Ownership: Private Key Executives: Norman Shapiro, chairman; Neal Sabin, vice chairman; Steven Farber, SVP of broadcast operations; Jim Hall, […]
25. GRIFFIN COMMUNICATIONS, Oklahoma City 2015 Spot Revenue: $73.2 million Stations: 4 in 2 markets Coverage: 1.1% Ownership: Private (David, Kristen and John Griffin) Key Executives: David Griffin, chairman-CEO; Ted Strickland, VP-CFO; Rob Krier, VP-COO; Trevor Wiseman, VP […]
26. BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY, Omaha, Neb. 2015 Revenue: $69.5 million Stations: 1 station Coverage: 1.4% Ownership: Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A) Key Executives: Warren Buffett, chairman-president-CEO; Charlie Munger, vice chairman.
27. CAPITOL BROADCASTING, Raleigh, N.C. 2015 Revenue: $67 million Stations: 3 in 2 markets Coverage: 1.2% Ownership: Private Key Executives: James F. Goodmon, president-CEO; Daniel P. McGrath, VP-treasurer; James F. Goodmon Jr., VP-GM of new […]
28. NEWS-PRESS & GAZETTE, St. Joseph, Mo. 2015 Spot Revenue: $66.7 million Stations: 39 in 11 markets Coverage: 1.6% Ownership: Private (Bradley family) Key Executives: David Bradley, chairman-CEO; Brian Bradley, president; Mike Meara, president, NPG Broadcast; […]
30. INTERMEDIA PARTNERS, New York 2015 Revenue: $51.9 million Stations: 1 in 1 market (WAPA San Juan) Ownership: Private equity investment fund Key Executives: Leo Hindery Jr., managing partner; Peter […]
