Nexstar Broadcasting

The Nexstar CEO tells securities analysts to expect more buying and selling of TV stations over the next 18 months as the industry continues to consolidate. Allbritton and Local LLC have declared they are on the block with $3 billion in assets, but many more stations are quietly being shopped, he says. He envisions that six mega-groups will ultimately emerge, with Nexstar being one of them.

The recent flurry of buying and selling TV stations is being fueled by an improving economy and more availiable credit. For many buyers, the focus is not on the large markets: “We believe there are many more opportunities to acquire quality assets and to unlock hidden value in both the middle and small markets,” says Sinclair CEO David Smith. And the activity shows no signs of slowing down.

The veteran station executive takes over Nexstar’s newly acquired ABC-CW duopoly in Salt Lake City.

Nexstar has been an active station buyer this year. The group owner is now in 38 markets with the closing of its deal to buy 10 stations in seven markets from Newport Television.

It’s buying KGPE Fresno and KGET/KKEY-LP Bakersfield, both California, from Newport for $35.4 million and, in a separate deal with Mission Broadcasting, is buying WFFF and WVNY Burlington, Vt.

Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc. said today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nexstar Broadcasting Inc., plans to offer up to $200 million in aggregate principal amount of new senior notes due 2020 […]

The group owned by Providence Equity has deals with Nexstar for 12 stations, Sinclair for six and Cox for four. It’s still looking for buyers for its remaining five stations.

Nexstar sued Time Warner in U.S. District Court, northern district of Texas, alleging copyright infringement and breach of contract for importing its TV stations without permission. Nexstar is seeking a temporary restraining order and other injunctive relief.

With four significant TV station group deals within the past year, there is a growing number of groups up for sale. But right now few buyers are willing to pay the multiples that the sellers are demanding. “Owners are either going to have to take lower prices and come out under water or hold stations for another two years,” says broker Larry Patrick.

A NATPE panel offered predictions on the future of retransmission consent at stations. Deb McDermott of Young Broadcasting said that she was not opposed to sharing the retrans revenue with the networks “as long as it is the right division of revenue — as long as they don’t get greedy.” And Nexstar’s Perry Sook suggested that even sending half of the revenue to the networks is not unreasonable.

A NATPE panel offered predictions on the future of retransmission consent at stations. Deb McDermott of Young Broadcasting said that she was not opposed to sharing the retrans revenue with the networks “as long as it is the right division of revenue — as long as they don’t get greedy.” And Nexstar’s Perry Sook suggested that even sending half of the revenue to the networks is not unreasonable.

The sale of seven stations to Sinclair results closed on Jan. 3.

The new multi-year deal gives the satellite provider rights to Nexstar and Mission Broadcasting’s 55 stations.

The upcoming consolidation of Evansville, Ind., ABC affiliate WEHT and now independent WTVW will include job losses. Multiple sources have confirmed that all of WEHT’s department heads were told last week that their positions will be terminated when Nexstar Broadcasting takes over ownership of the station from Gilmore Broadcasting Corp., which has owned WEHT since 1964.

Nexstar Broadcasting is planning to move operations of its Evansville, Ind., Fox affil WTVW into the building housing ABC affiliate WEHT, which Nexstar is buying from Gilmore Broadcasting, according to reliable sources close to the situation. It also appears that WEHT’s personnel will have to re-apply for their current positions. Layoffs are said to be likely, although it is unclear at this point how many positions will be consolidated.

On Sept. 1, Nexstar’s former Fox affiliate becomes KOZL “Ozarks Local” featuring expanded local news, as well as new local entertainment programming.

The American Cable Association is using the Fort Wayne, Ind., antitrust suit by Nexstar against Granite to bolster its contention that the FCC needs to change its rules to limit concentration of station ownership and control. Nexstar says that’s not so, that the situation in Fort Wayne is unique.

The group owner completes the $20-million purchase of CBS affiliates WFRV Green Bay, Wis., and WJMN Marquette, Mich., and names Joseph Denk their VP and general manager.

Nexstar’s former Fox affil WFXW Terre Haute, Ind., will join ABC and change its calls to WAWV on Sept. 1. In addition, the group owner signs a new agreement extending its affiliations for the nine ABC affiliates it owns or operates.

In granting Nexstar’s purchase of WFRV Green Bay, Wis., and WJMN Escanba, Mich., from Liberty Media, the FCC also extended a waiver of “main studio” rule for WJMN.

After Nexstar wouldn’t agree to its retrans sharing demands, Fox moved its affiliation in Springfield, Mo., from KSFX to Ted Koplar’s MNT affiliate. He plans to run both networks’ primetime programming — Fox at 7-9 p.m. and MNT at 9-11 p.m. — and is seriously considering adding local news to the mix.

The group broadcaster is moving Mike Vaughn, the GM of its Fayetteville, Ark., duopoly, to lead KARK, KARZ and Arkansasmatters.com.

Having reached an impasse with Nexstar Broadcasting on affiliate renewal, Fox has lined up Koplar Communications’ KRBK to replace Nexstar’s KSFX in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Granite Broadcasting’s WISE to replace Nexstar’s WFFT in Springfield, Mo.

Allowing original content to live entirely on other platforms has spread through online publishing with locomotive force. Some broadcasters are experimenting with it, but many worry it will erode traffic to their own websites and apps after spending years cultivating it.