An anonymous group of broadcasters interested in selling their TV spectrum in the FCC’s incentive auction has founded the Expanding Opportunities for Broadcasters Coalition and has tapped former Fox and Disney lobbyist Preston Padden to lead its efforts before the FCC as the commission writes rules for the auction.
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.”
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.
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.
Auction Talk Draws TV Spectrum Speculators
The likelihood of federal spectrum auctions is having a two-pronged effect: leading some buyers to look for low-priced stations to buy in the hopes of cashing out from the auction proceeds; and causing some struggling smaller-market and public stations that could use money now to put themselves on the block.
An FCC filing reveals that the company buying the San Francisco and Boston stations, NJR TV, is owned equally by Ted Bartley and family; Titan Broadcast Management, headed by Bert Ellis and Dan Sullivan; and Larry Patrick and his wife, Susan.
