station trading

The purchase of two stations by Community News Media from Sinclair Broadcast Group Holdings tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of four stations by Weigel Broadcasting from HC2 Holdings tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of five Texas stations by Gray Television from Ramar Communications tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of 26 former Ion Media stations by INYO Broadcast Holdings from E.W. Scripps tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

KJTV and a translator go to SagamoreHill Broadcasting, while KLCW, KMYL-LD and KXTQ go to Gray Television.

In addition to traditional programming, Sinclair plans to use channel capacity from one of the stations to provide advanced “Broadcast Internet” services. “We now have a prime showcase for the amazing features of NextGen TV that members of Congress and the Federal Communications Commission can witness first-hand,” said Chris Ripley, Sinclair’s president-CEO.

On Sept. 24, one of the biggest broadcast media mergers in recent memory was announced. The E.W. Scripps Co. is agreeing to buy Ion Media — the broadcast media network with roots in the Paxton family media operation — for $2.65 billion. The deal will not run afoul of FCC Top 4 regulations, as Scripps said it will divest of 23 Ion stations. On Oct. 14, details regarding those station spinoffs became known, thanks to an FCC filing by Ion.

The purchase of KTNC Concord, Calif., by Radiant Life Ministries tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of Ion Media Networks, by E.W. Scripps tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

One rarely hears about a station group deciding not to pursue lucrative retransmission consent fees but when E.W. Scripps agreed to acquire Ion Media for $2.65 billion, it said the Ion stations would stick to must-carry. Analysts initially said they were surprised by the unusual strategy and asked about it during a conference call in which Scripps executives went over details of the transaction.

It will combine it with Scripps’ Katz networks and Newsy “to create a full-scale national television networks business” and will spin off  23 of Ion’s 71 stations to comply with FCC ownership regulations. Scripps has agreed to a transaction with a buyer, who has agreed to maintain Ion affiliations for the stations. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway gets a warrant to purchase as many as 23.1 million Class A Scripps shares as part of the deal.

The purchase of WARZ-CD Raleigh-Durham, N.C., by Capitol Broadcasting tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

Monte Costes, a local market sales and marketing executive with nearly 30 years of broadcasting experience, will lead the Lexington, Ky., Fox affiliate.

The purchase of WJFB Lebanon, Tenn., by Weigel Broadcasting tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of WNAC Providence, R.I., by Mission Broadcasting tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

Liberman Media Group is buying WLII Caguas-San Juan, Puerto Rico, and two repeaters for an undisclosed price.

The FCC’s Media Bureau has approved the sale of KLJB Davenport, Iowa; KMSS Shreveport, La.; and KPEJ Odessa, Texas, from Marshall Broadcasting to Mission Broadcasting, saying the sale — out of bankruptcy — is in the public interest.

The purchase of KAIL Fresno, Calif. by Radiant Life Ministries tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of the Honolulu ABC affiliate from SJL Broadcasting is the 16th station purchase for Allen’s Allen Media Broadcasting division since 2019. He says the group plans “to invest approximately $10 billion to acquire more ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox television stations over the next two years with the goal of being the largest broadcast television group in America.”

The purchase of KAKZ-LD Cathedral City, Calif., by Broadcast Technical Associates tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of WDKY Lexington, Ky., by Nexstar tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of KUTA-LD Logan and KQTI-LD Ogden, both Utah, by Weigel Broadcasting tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of WPIX New York by Mission Broadcasting tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

Nexstar has transferred its option to purchase Scripps’ New York CW affiliate WPIX to Mission Broadcasting and Mission has exercised its option to purchase the station for $75 million plus accrued interest, to be calculated on the period between the Sept. 19, 2019, purchase date of WPIX by Scripps and the option sale closing date.

The purchase of KQTV St. Joseph, Mo., by USA TV Holdings tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of W26DT-D Myrtle Beach, S.C., by Marquee Broadcasting tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of WDMY-LP Toledo, Ohio, by VCY America Inc. tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of WWJX Jackson, Miss., by Radiant Life Ministries tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

GCI subsidiary Denali Media Holdings has announced the sale of its NBC affiliates in southeast Alaska — KATH-LD Juneau and KSCT-LP Sitka — to Gray Television. Denali Media Holdings was established in 2012 and also owns KTVA (CBS) in Anchorage along with three CBS stations in Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan.

The purchase of W21CQ by NYTV tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of WEYW-LP Key West, Fla., by Bleu 24 Communications tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of KTKO-LP Harrison, Ark., by Springfield TV tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of three stations in Iowa, Louisiana and Texas by Mission Broadcasting tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The purchase of two Mississippi translators by 5GTV tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The Najafi Companies and Trinity Broadcasting Network have joined the other companies attempting to acquire Tegna Inc. The two companies’ joint offer is $20 per share for the U.S. broadcast, digital media and marketing services of Tegna. The Najafi Companies is a private global investment firm, while TBN is a faith-and-family broadcaster that says it reaches more than 175 nations.

Gray Television has withdrawn its offer to acquire larger peer Tegna because of concerns about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on U.S. regional TV station operators, people familiar with the matter said. Gray had offered to buy Tegna for about $8.5 billion, including debt, Reuters reported earlier this month. After Gray’s stock tumbled on the news and concerns about the coronavirus pandemic’s financial impact became widespread, the Atlanta-based company decided this was not the time to pursue the transformative acquisition, one of the sources said.

The purchase of KGMC Clovis, Calif., by Comcast/NBC tops the latest list of TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval, according to BIA Advisory Services.

The race to acquire TV station owner Tegna Inc. hinges not just on the price suitors are willing to pay, but also on how much they may give up in terms of assets to win regulatory approval, people familiar with the matter said. All three bidders own TV stations that regulators would require to be divested because of the potential overlap, the sources added.

Media entrepreneur Byron Allen has made an all-cash bid for Tegna and is said to be one of three potential buyers circling the Tysons, Va.-based broadcaster, according to a source familiar with the situation. Allen’s Allen Media Group offered $20 a share, or about $8.5 billion, the source said. It is going up against Gray Television, which last week made a offer, also for $20 a share but in a combination of cash and stock. Private equity firm Apollo Global Management, which recently acquired stations from Cox, is also said to have made a bid.