Michael Dell, founder of the online computer retailer that bears his name, has been cleared by the FCC to purchase KTLN San Francisco for $8 million. The seller, Christian Communications, will continue airing religious programming on the station under a two-year LMA.
DMA 6
Billionaire Michael Dell OK’d To Buy SF TV
Computer multi-billionaire Michael Dell has been granted FCC approval to purchase KTLN San Francisco for $8 million.
KTLN operates on ch. 47 and is licensed to Novato, about 30 miles north of downtown San Francisco.
Dell, founder of the online computer retailer that bears his name, is buying the station through OTA Broadcasting, a company owned by MSD Capital, Dell’s investment firm.
In June, OTA Broadcasting also won a two-party auction to acquire KFFV Seattle-Tacoma, Wash., for $5 million. That deal is still awaiting FCC approval.
The seller of KTLN is Christian Communications of Chicagoland, a Chicago-based religious broadcaster. Under a two-year local market agreement, which was attached to the FCC filing, Christian Communications will continue programming KTLN as a religious station. The agreement gives OTA the right to terminate the LMA if it sells the station.
Comments (3)
Colin MacCourtney says:
August 5, 2011 at 1:12 pm
The LMA grants the former owner the rights to program the Main Channel with only a Standard Definition signal with maximum of 6 mbs data rate. Hence, OTA, the buyer, could lease sub-channels on its own. In the ethnically diverse San Francisco market, this could produce $300,000/month from sub-channel time brokerage. This revenue will come to OTA, and not the LMA operator.
Linda Stewart says:
August 5, 2011 at 2:04 pm
That’s a good point. We need to speak with Dell or his people and find out what his real intentions are.
Matthew Castonguay says:
August 8, 2011 at 10:11 am
I suspect it may be mDTV-related.