Hearst Completes Acquisition Of WBBH Ft. Myers

Having received all regulatory approvals, today Hearst announced it has completed its previously announced acquisition of WBBH-TV from Waterman Broadcasting for $220.54 million. The NBC-affiliate also broadcasts the Heroes & Icons network on a subchannel.

Under the transaction, Hearst assumes Waterman Broadcasting’s programming relationship with Montclair Communications, owner of WZVN, the market’s ABC affiliate. WZVN also broadcasts the MeTV and Dabl networks on subchannels.

Jordan Wertlieb, Hearst EVP-COO, said: “The Waterman family has served southwest Florida with unparalleled community service and outstanding journalism. We at Hearst are steadfast in this commitment to local broadcasting as we have been throughout Florida for over 25 years.”

Longtime Waterman Broadcasting executive and WBBH Vice President and Station Manager Darrel Lieze-Adams will continue in this role and succeed Steve Pontius, who recently announced his retirement, with market oversight.

“Darrel has a passion for WBBH and has served the station and southwest Florida for 26 years as news director and station manager,” Hayes said. “We are eager to join him to continue the outstanding work being done.”

In addition to WBBH, Hearst Television’s Florida stations include WESH and WKCF, the NBC and CW affiliates in Orlando; WPBF, the ABC affiliate serving West Palm Beach; and WMOR, an independent station in Tampa-St. Petersburg.
WBBH-TV and WZVN-TV have earned multiple awards for compelling and in-depth journalism and for service to the Fort Myers and Naples communities. Collectively, the stations earned three national Edward R. Murrow Awards in 2022 from the Radio Television Digital News Association.
Fort Myers/Naples is the 55th largest TV market in the United States. The acquisition adds a 12th NBC affiliate to the Hearst station group. Hearst will now operate two NBC and two ABC stations in the state of Florida.

WBBH went on the air in December 1968 as the market’s NBC affiliate. Waterman Broadcasting Corporation was founded by Bernard Waterman in 1956 when he purchased WAAB-AM Worcester, Mass. WBBH and what is now WZVN began a programming relationship in 1994.