Nexstar-Tribune TV Spinoffs Go To Scripps, TEGNA; Disney Closes On Fox Acquisition

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As the NEXSTAR acquisition of TRIBUNE MEDIA continues to wend its way through the regulatory process, the companies have announced the spinoff of 19 television stations to TEGNA and SCRIPPS for a total of $1.32 billion. 

SCRIPPS is acquiring CW affiliates WPIX (PIX 11)/NEW YORK, KASW-TV/PHOENIX, WSFL-TV/MIAMI, and WGNT-TV/NORFOLK, FOX affiliates KSTU-TV (FOX 13)/SALT LAKE CITY and WXMI-TV (FOX 17)/GRAND RAPIDS, and CBS affiliates WTKR-TV/NORFOLK and WTVR (CBS 6)/RICHMOND for $580 million.  TEGNA is paying $740 million to pick up FOX affiliates WTIC-TV (FOX 61)/HARTFORD, WPMT-TV (FOX 43)/HARRISBURG-YORK-LANCASTER, and WZDX-TV/HUNTSVILLE-DECATUR, AL, CW affiliates WCCT-TV (CW 20)/WATERBURY-HARTFORD, WLMT-TV (CW 30)/MEMPHIS, and KCWI-TV (THE CW IOWA)/AMES-DES MOINES, ABC affiliates WATN-TV (LOCAL 24)/MEMPHIS, WNEP-TV/SCRANTON-WILKES-BARRE, WOI-TV (LOCAL 5)/AMES-DES MOINES, and WQAD-TV/QUAD CITIES, and CBS affiliate KFSM-TV/FORT SMITH, AR.  One more spinoff of two stations in the INDIANAPOLIS market is pending. 

NEXSTAR has filed to acquire TRIBUNE's sole radio property, News-Talk WGN-A/CHICAGO, as part of the overall deal and has not disclosed its plans for the station.  SCRIPPS divested its radio properties last year but retained the STITCHER-MIDROLL-EARWOLF podcast business and TEGNA acquired its only radio properties, News-Talk KFMB-A and Rock KFMB-F/SAN DIEGO, last year as part of a deal to buy CBS affiliate KFMB-TV.

Also, the WALT DISNEY COMPANY has closed on its $71.3 billion acquisition of 21ST CENTURY FOX, the deal not including FOX's broadcast television stations or TV networks (FOX, FX, FXX, FOX NEWS CHANNEL, FOX BUSINESS NETWORK, and regional sports channels).  The deal did not affect DISNEY's radio properties, the ESPN RADIO stations and RADIO DISNEY COUNTRY outlet KRDC-A/PASADENA-LOS ANGELES.

In other filings with the FCC, SALEM's NEW INSPIRATION BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC. has applied for an STA to operate News-Talk KRLA-A (AM 870 THE ANSWER)/GLENDALE-LOS ANGELES using the night directional pattern with reduced power of 3 kw during the day or nondirectionally at 25% power due to vandalism damage to the daytime antenna system.

CENTRO CRISTIANO DE VIDA ETERNA has requested a Silent STA for W252AW/CHICAGO due to interference issues with tenants below the antenna.

MARANATHA ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH has filed for an extension of its Silent STA for W219DT/NORTH BRANCH, MN while it builds at its new site.

FIRST ASSEMBLY KING'S CATHEDRAL & CHAPELS has applied for an extension of its Silent STA for KHLO-A/HILO, HI because its antenna is not properly loading the transmitter.

And the estate of JOEL KINLOW has requested an extension of its Silent STA for KJJA-A/WHITE HALL, AR because the transmitter is inoperable and the station is being sold.

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