In addition to the license and other assets of former LPTV WEBR New York, OTA is also donating $12,500 to WNET.
DMA 1: NEW YORK
OTA Broadcasting Donates Zombie To WNET
Spectrum speculator OTA Broadcasting has donated the license and other assets of low-power WEBR-CD New York to noncommercial WNET New York, according to the transfer application filed with the FCC.
OTA has also agreed to donate $12,500 to WNET.
OTA may need the tax deduction. Earlier this year, it sold the WEBR’s UHF spectrum in the FCC incentive auction for $72.8 million, turning the station into a so-called zombie.
Because WEBR is a low power station, its spectrumless license carries no must carry rights. (Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story suggested that WEBR’s license did include must carry.)
Last month, another speculator NRJ sold full-power zombie WGCB Harrisburg-Lancaster, Pa., for $2.5 million after having sold its spectrum in the auction for $9 million.
Comments (3)
Patrick Burns says:
November 14, 2017 at 4:02 pm
I sure hope it did not hurt Michael Dell’s cash flow when he gave $ 12,500. disgusting really !
Our billionaire class makes me .sick. Small as my firm is from day one we always give to the less needy and change the recipients every year to keep it fresh & timely.
If Dell had stones he would take 10% of his killing on this LPTV & donate to NY city charities !!
Oh I forgot he is a suit !! Sorry I bothered the uber rich , go back to rape another industry.
Remember one word, KARMA.
Kristina Veltri says:
November 14, 2017 at 6:46 pm
They were literally carrying a Z-tier Christian network that can’t even bring itself to mention it’s a Christian network (United Affiliates Network, itself sounding like a ZZZZ-grade America One). New York will not miss this channel from their dials and will happily take Create or PBS Kids in HD, whatever they’re planning.
Veronica Serrano Padilla says:
November 14, 2017 at 6:15 pm
Not sure why the $12,500 donation to WNET was even added to this press release…uh, I mean story. It would have been much more interesting and helpful to know the value of the license/asset donation to WNET, as well as insight into how WNET will use the station. However, I’m sure these facts will be known as the story develops.