Jump to content

Another day, another SSA


T.L. Hughes

Recommended Posts

American Spirit Media (which is essentially becoming to Raycom Media as Cunningham Broadcasting is to Sinclair Broadcast Group and Mission Broadcasting is to Nexstar Broadcasting Group) has announced its purchase of Fox affiliate WDBD/Jackson, Mississippi from Roundtable Broadcasting, LLC for $12 million and Me-TV affiliate WBMS-CA by its owner Vicksburg Broadcasting LLC for $500,000. In a separate deal, the license of WDBD's virtual duopoly partner MyNetworkTV affiliate WUFX/Vicksburg, Mississippi is being transferred to Historically Black liberal arts institution Tougaloo College by Vicksburg Broadcasting LLC for $1, through American Spirit, which is purchasing the operational agreement for WUFX from Roundtable for $500,000. American Spirit Media will operate WUFX under a joint sales agreement with Tougaloo College and operate WDBD under an shared services agreement with Raycom Media-owned NBC affiliate WLBT.

 

As a result of these purchases and WDBD involved in an SSA with WLBT, this means that another Fox station (which a lot of these SSAs seem to target/involve) might lose their news department and one that is only four years old, no less. In addition, this will result in another virtual triopoly since American Spirit does not own stations independently of Raycom and serves only as an SSA partner/front company rather than an independent station group. Though it is likely that WUFX will retain its autonomy as it's being purchased by a learning institution, there is a question as to whether WUFX will be run similarly to KOMU or WVUA.

 

Side note: Interestingly enough, I stumbled upon a study from the University of Delaware regarding shared services agreements and their effects: http://www.udel.edu/...port-102411.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using TVNewsTalk you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.