Hearst Buying WPXT Portland, Maine

Hearst Communications today announced it has agreed to acquire WPXT Portland-Auburn, Maine (DMA 79), from Ironwood Communications, subject to regulatory approval. The CW-affiliate also carries MeTV and MyNetworkTV programming on subchannels.

Hearst also owns the market’s ABC affiliate, WMTW. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition of WPXT expands Hearst’s significant presence in New England. In addition to WMTW, the company owns WCVB, the ABC affiliate in Boston; WMUR, the ABC affiliate serving Manchester, N.H.; and two stations in the Burlington, Vt./Plattsburgh, N.Y. market: WPTZ (NBC) and WNNE (CW).

“We are excited to strengthen our relationships with the CW, MyNetworkTV and MeTV networks and to increase our presence in Portland and New England,” said Jordan Wertlieb, president of Hearst Television Inc. “WMTW has shown strong commitment to serving the Portland-Auburn community and we believe it will make for an outstanding partner for WPXT as that station continues to grow.”

The acquisition would add a sixth CW affiliate to the Hearst station group, which, in addition to WNNE, includes CW-affiliates in Orlando, Fla.; Kansas City, Mo.; and Greensboro/Winston-Salem, N.C., as well a digital CW channel in Fort Smith/Fayetteville, Ark.