Media transactions have been slowing a bit recently — but total media volume continues to climb. Berkery Noyes reports total volume sank 5% in the third quarter from the second quarter — to 381 transactions. Total transaction value, however, climbed 42%, from $16 billion to $23 billion.
The spectrum speculator has bought six other stations with the intention of selling the spectrum to wireless carriers through the FCC’s planned “incentive auction.”
John S. Viall Jr.’s Tamer Media is buying the CW and MNT affilis, plus a satellite, which comprise Acme’s final stations. LIN Media, which has a shared services agreement with Acme, will acquire certain non-license assets, which it will use to continue supporting the stations’ operations.
WTVF Nashville Sells For $215 Million
The sale of Journal Broadcast Group’s CBS affiliate to Landmark Media Enterprises is one of three TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval during the week ending Sept. 10, according to BIA Kelsey.
The price that News-Press & Gazette is paying for the ABC affiliate was revealed in an FCC filing seeking approval of the deal. NPG announced the acquisition last Friday without divulging price.
“This station will be a cornerstone asset within Journal Communications,” says Journal CEO Steven Smith. Landmark is the seller.
Exclusives
The sale of KAKZ-LD in Cathedral City, Calif., is one of 10 TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval during the week ending Aug. 20, according to BIA Kelsey.
New York-based Standard General has asked the FCC to approve its acqusition of a majority stake in the station group, which emerged from Chapter 11 in 2010. It operates 11 stations, including KRON San Francisco.
Bonten Creates Duopolies In 2 Calif. Markets
Through joint sales and shared services agreements, Bonten will operate two stations its partner Esteem Broadcasting is buying in Chico-Redding and Eureka.
Nexstar Seeks Sale Of Some Smaller Stations
CEO Perry Sook says that while it will continue to look for acquisitions that make sense, it is also “engaged in discussions to sell some of our smaller, non-strategic assets and believe that can be done at accretive multiples to the company as well.”
Columbia, Mo., Duo Sells For $16 Million
The sale of a full-power/LPTV combo in Columbia, Mo., is one of three TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval during the week ending July 30, according to BIA Kelsey.
Shield Media, owned by Sheldon Galloway, is buying Fox affiliate WXXA for $19.4 million from Newport Television with the intention of entering shared services and joint sales agreements with Young Broadcasting’s ABC affiliate, WTEN.
John Keuneke, head of the St. Joseph, Mo.-based News-Press & Gazette’s TV broadcasting unit, says over the next five years the company is looking to grow its cash flow through the acquistions of TV stations or possibly newpapers and data centers.
News-Press & Gazette has agreed to pay $16 million for KMIZ, an ABC affiliate that airs MNT and Me-TV on subchannels, and low-power, Fox affiliate KQFX. Seller is JW Broadcasting, one of several broadcast companies backed by Alta Communications.
Following yesterday’s purchase of TV duopolies in Jacksonville, Fla., and Tulsa, Okla., Cox Media Group is selling TV stations in El Paso, Texas; Johnstown, Pa.; Reno, Nev.; and Steubenville, Ohio. It’s also putting 28 radio stations on the block and reordering its executive leadership.
Providence Equity Partners LLC is close to a deal to sell the bulk of its portfolio of Newport Television stations to three broadcasting companies for a total of just over $1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal is reporting. Nexstar plans to buy the bulk of the 24 stations.
Orlando Noncom WMFE Sells For $3.3 Million
It is among the three TV station deals submitted to the FCC for its approval during the weeks ending July 3, according to BIA/Kelsey.
2011 Was Big Year In Media Ownership Shifts
In 2011, 53 TV stations changed hands, the highest number in four years. The year also saw the sale of 71 daily newspapers as part of 11 transactions, the busiest year for sales since 2007. Pew breaks out the top news companies in its media ownership dashboard.
Viacom Sells Interest In Caballero For $3M
A deal for seven low-power stations in California and two in Texas is the only TV station transaction submitted to the FCC for its approval during the week ending June 25, according to BIA Kelsey.
University Buying WMFE For $3.3 Million
The Orlando public broadcaster says it plans to sell the ch. 24 facility to the University of Central Florida.The deal must be approved by UCF’s Board of Trustees, which will vote on the sale Monday. WMFE announced in April 2011 that it planned to sell the station to a religious broadcaster for $3 million, but the FCC didn’t act on the sale.
Three NC LPTVs Sell For $86,000
The sale by DTV Enterprises to Tutt Media Group in Jacksonville and Kinston is the only TV station transaction submitted to the FCC for its approval during the week ending May 21, according to BIA Kelsey.
LIN-New Vision Tops A Week Of TV Sales
The $342 million sale of 16 stations is one of five TV station transactions submitted to the FCC for its approval during the week ending May 14, according to BIA Kelsey.
More Sellers Than Buyers In Station Market
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.
WMFE: There’s No Deal To Sell To Batchelor
Orlando businessman Dick Batchelor’s quest to buy the Orlando noncommercial station evidently has ended. José Fajardo, president-CEO of WMFE, said in an email Thursday evening: “There is no deal between WMFE and Independent Public Media.”
Independent Public Media Wants WMFE
Independent Public Media has made a bid for WMFE Orlando, Fla., the former PBS member station that has been on the market for more than a year.
WXVT Greenville, MS, Sells For $3 Million
The sale of that CBS affiliate by Saga Communications to H3 Communications was one of four submitted to the FCC for its approval during the week ending May 7, according to BIA/Kelsey.
LIN Buying New Vision Stations For $342M
LIN is acquiring network affiliates in eight markets: Portland, Ore. (DMA 22); Birmingham, Ala. (DMA 39); Wichita, Kan. (DMA 67); Honolulu (DMA 71); Savannah, Ga. (DMA 92); Youngstown, Ohio (DMA 110); Topeka, Kan. (DMA 136); and Mason City, Iowa (DMA 153). The price: $330.4 million and the assumption of $12 million of debt.
Charles Harker has guaranteed a loan that will enable his three sons to buy the CBS affiliate in the Greenwood-Greenville market. If the FCC approves the deal, he intends to run the station under contract along with his other stations in town, which hold the ABC, NBC and Fox affiliations.
Journal Hopes To Buy WACY For $2M
Journal Broadcast Group is seeking a “failed station” waiver at the FCC to get approval of the deal to buy the Ace TV-owned MNT affiliate that Journal has been operating under an LMA for 18 years with its NBC affil WGBA.
Delaware LPTV Sells For $150,000
That was one of four station sales involving low-power stations that were submitted to the FCC for its approval during the week ending April 23, according to BIA/Kelsey.
Plum TV Buys 5 LPTVs For $1.17 Million
That multi-station transaction, plus another as well as two other stand-alone TV station deals, were submitted to the FCC for its approval during the week ending April 16, according to BIA/Kelsey.
Denver LP, Cheyenne TV Go For $9 Million
That multi-station transaction, plus four other TV station deals, were submitted to the FCC for its approval during the week ending April 9, according to BIA/Kelsey.
NRJ Buys Three Stations for $45 Million
That multi-station transaction, plus two other TV station deals, were submitted to the FCC for its approval during the week ending April 2, according to BIA/Kelsey.
Sinclsir Broadcst Group completed its $385 million acquisition of eight Freedom Communications stations.
CBS Television Stations executive Betty Ellen Berlamino has been named VP and station manager following CBS’s purchase of the Long Island independent. The station will also add three hours of news each weekday beginning this summer and air all its programming in high def.
As previously reported, NRJ TV is purchasing KSCI Los Angeles using a credit bid it obtained by buying up the debt of the bankrupt station, which airs a variety of programming in Chinese, Korean and Tagalog. The amount was revealed Friday in an FCC filing seeking approval of the deal, which also includes KIKU Honolulu and KAUN-LP Los Angeles. The seller is International Media Group, which went into Chapter 11 in January.
FCC OKs WUPW Sale; Layoffs Look Likely
The $22 million sale of LIN’s Toledo, Ohio, Fox affiliate to American Spirit Media got FCC approval on Monday. A service-sharing agreement with Raycom CBS affiliate WTOL attached to the sale allows the stations to share news staff and broadcasts.
LM Media Buys Tucson LPTV For $810,000
The sale of KUDF-LP is one of two TV station deals submitted to the FCC for its approval during the weeks ending March 26, according to BIA/Kelsey.
NRJ TV To Acquire Asian-Language KSCI
The spectrum speculator adds to its growing portfolio of underperforming independent stations by buying the Los Angeles station, which airs programming in Chinese, Korean and Tagalog. NRJ TV is collecting stations, hoping to eventually sell their spectrum through the FCC’s planned incentive auction.
Providence Equity Partners is shopping Newport Television, the group of 56 television stations it acquired in 2008, to potential buyers, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
