Lots of paperwork this morning.
First, some closings. Three names have now gone away in the broadcast TV world.
Calkins have completed its sale its three stations on Sunday (4/30) (even though it was announced in a press release Monday (5/1), the 4/30 date was stated in the FCC closing papers). WTXL & WWSB went to Raycom, while WAAY went to Heartland Media.
Withers completed its sale of WDTV/WVFX to Gray on Monday. Gray has operated the duo since last June. Withers owned WDTV since 1973.
And Diversified has completed its sale of its two stations to Gray. The WCJB one was closed Monday, while the WABI one was closed on Tuesday (5/2), ending 64 years of family ownership of the TV outlet (and 68 years in broacasting altogether; it founded WABI-AM in 1949).
Here's a little tidbit, this was the same firm that gave Perry Sook his first television station in 1996. And look how his company have ballooned since........
Diversified, Withers & Calkins. RIP to Horace Hildreth & Russell Withers.
Now even though they're no longer in the TV world, they're involved in other businesses.
Withers is not out of the broadcasting biz entirely, as it continues to own several radio stations in the Jackson Purchase region (southern IL, Paducah-Cape Girardeau). Calkins owns newspapers in Pennsylvania & New Jersey, and has recently launched some digital services, including OTT. And Diversified has a thriving convention/trade show business in the U.S., Canada & overseas.
Second, the transaction of Laughlin, NV station KMCC by Cranston TV to Entravision was greenlighted yesterday (5/3).
Finally, last month someone asked if the stations owned by Alaska Telecom, GCI (through subsidiary Denali Media Holdings) are included in the transaction to Liberty Media. Here's the paperwork for KTVA (that and the other Alaska stations are included in this sale). When the deal closes, the parent company General Communication Inc. will become GCI Liberty, Inc. but the Denali subsidiary and the licensee names will stay a status quo.
This will be the first time in six years Liberty is involved in a television station. They previously owned the former CBS O&O WFRV from 2007 to 2011.