DirecTV has come to terms on a new broadcast retransmission licensing deal with family-owned Lilly family-owned SJL Broadcasting, ending a blackout on six network affiliates in three markets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The blackout, which started April 1, affected stations in Elmira, N.Y.; Erie, Pa.; and Honolulu.
The Hawaii ABC affiliate KITV is being sold by Hearst Television to California-based SJL Broadcast Management. Hearst also owns KMAU and KHVO there.
Only a week after SJL Broadcasting purchased the ABC affiliate and station officials announced there would be no job losses among the station’s 100 or so employees, approximately two dozen positions have been eliminated.
FCC Greenlights Flint, Toledo ABC O&O Sale
The FCC last Friday approved SJL Holdings’ purchase of two small-market ABC O&Os, WJRT Flint, Mich., and WTVG Toledo, Ohio. Upon closing, ABC will get $16.8 million for WTVG and $13.2 million for WJRT. The deal had been announced last November.
Broadcast veteran George Lilly wants to grow his SJL Broadcasting into a group of six to eight stations following his just-announced deal to buy two ABC O&Os from Disney.
Disney Selling Its Flint And Toledo Stations
The Walt Disney Co. has made an agreement to sell the two smallest O&Os in its 10-station ABC Owned Television Stations Group — WJRT Flint, Mich., and WTVG Toledo, Ohio — to the stations’ former owner SJL Broadcasting.
