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LIN Media

LIN Media was an American holding company founded in 1994[1] that operated 43 television stations. All except one were affiliates of the six major U.S. television networks. One of the remaining stations was a low powered weather station in Indiana.

LIN Media, LLC
Company typePublic
NYSE: LIN
Industry
Predecessor
Founded1994; 30 years ago (1994)[1]
DefunctDecember 19, 2014; 9 years ago (2014-12-19)
FateMerged with Media General
Successor
HeadquartersProvidence, Rhode Island
Austin, Texas
Area served
United States (Nationwide)
Key people
Vincent L. Sadusky (CEO)
ProductsBroadcast television
Revenue $443.5 million USD
$247.44 million USD
$274.5 million USD
OwnerHM Capital Partners (70%)[2]
Number of employees
2,414 (full-time)
Subsidiaries
The former LIN TV logo.

LIN Media's chief executive officer was Vincent L. Sadusky. Sadusky had been LIN's chief financial officer, Vice President and treasurer since 2004, and had been CFO for Telemundo, working closely on its sale to GE/NBC. Sadusky had been interim CEO since former chairman Gary R. Chapman announced his impending retirement in June 2006, and through the company's search for a permanent replacement. He was installed as CEO upon Chapman's retirement on July 10, 2006.[3]

History edit

LIN TV's roots trace back to the founding of its former parent, LIN Broadcasting Corporation, in 1961. LIN Broadcasting was engaged in radio, television, direct marketing, information and learning, music publishing, and record labels. LIN takes its initials from three major cities. Louisville, Indianapolis and Nashville (all located on Interstate 65). The company was based in Nashville where it owned WMAK. It purchased WAKY in Louisville. Although planned, it was never able to purchase a station in Indianapolis. The company purchased its first television station, WTVP (now WAND) in Decatur, Illinois, at the end of 1965. It also briefly owned the catalogues of King Records and Starday Records in the early 1970s.

LIN Broadcasting made acquisitions in broadcasting, expanded into paging, and in the early 1980s the company entered the fledgling cellular telephone business. By 1983 the company owned seven television stations and by 1985 it owned and managed cellular telephone licenses serving Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and Philadelphia. LIN Broadcasting sold its paging operations and six of its radio stations in 1986 to help finance the development of its cellular business.

In March 1990, McCaw Cellular Communications purchased a 52% interest in LIN Broadcasting. McCaw was acquired by AT&T in 1994, after which LIN Broadcasting's television operations were spun off as a public company traded on the NASDAQ stock market and 45%-owned by AT&T. The new company, LIN Television Corporation, owned and/or operated 12 stations and its stock price increased at a compounded annual growth rate of 31% between 1994 and 1998. During this period LIN acquired WIVB-TV in Buffalo, New York and WTNH in New Haven, Connecticut.[4]

In March 1998, LIN TV was acquired by Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst, a leading private investment firm based in Dallas, Texas. At the time of the HMTF acquisition, LIN contributed its Dallas NBC affiliate, KXAS-TV, to a joint venture with the network that also held the San Diego affiliate (KNSD).[5] Under HMTFs ownership, LIN Television has grown considerably through a wide range of transactions:

In June 1999, LIN TV acquired WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Former parent LIN Broadcasting had owned the station from 1983 to 1994, when it merged with AT&T. However, LIN TV had continued to operate it.

In August, LIN TV helped finance the establishment of the now-defunct Banks Broadcasting, a minority-owned television broadcast company in which it held a 50% interest. Banks owned two stations – both of which became CW network affiliates under Banks: KWCV (now KSCW-DT) in Wichita, Kansas and KNIN-TV in Boise, Idaho (the latter has since switched its network affiliation to Fox).

LIN TV purchased WAPA-TV in San Juan, Puerto Rico in October. In April 2000, LIN TV acquired WLFI-TV, serving West Lafayette, Indiana as well as Lafayette, Indiana in exchange for 66% of WAND. LIN continued to provide management oversight for WAND for several years after the swap was completed.

LIN TV purchased WWLP in Springfield, Massachusetts in 2000. In 2001, LIN TV acquired WJPX and two satellite facilities in Puerto Rico, and the secondary commercial license of PBS member station WNEQ in Buffalo from the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association, re-launching it as commercial station WNLO.

The company exercised and closed on options to purchase WOTV in Battle Creek, Michigan and WVBT in Norfolk, Virginia, both stations that it had already managed, in January 2002.

In February, LIN TV agreed to acquire seven stations in six markets from Sunrise Television. The transaction of the stations was completed in May. Also in May, LIN TV completed the issuance of 19.55 million shares of Class A Common Stock through its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.

In December 2002, LIN TV announced the sale of two television stations in Abilene and San Angelo, Texas. This was followed in January 2004 by the sale of a station in Flint, Michigan.

In 2004, LIN TV announced that they signed a deal with NBC to convert its Dayton station WDTN, along with the station LIN is operating WAND, both ABC affiliates to the network.[6] As a response to the deal, Sinclair Broadcast Group signed two ex-NBC outlets with ABC.[7]

In February 2005, LIN TV announced purchase of two UPN stations WWHO in Columbus and WNDY in Indianapolis from Viacom.[8] In late August 2005, LIN TV purchased several stations from Emmis Communications: the stations purchased were WALA-TV and WBPG (now WFNA) in Mobile, Alabama, WTHI-TV in Terre Haute, Indiana, KRQE in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and WLUK-TV in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In July 2006, LIN announced the planned purchase a second station in New Mexico, KASA-TV, from Raycom Media.

In May 2006, LIN TV announced the sale of Puerto Rico stations WAPA-TV and WJPX to InterMedia Partners for $130 million.[9]

In November 2007, LIN TV completed the sale of its share of WAND to Block Communications. With this sale, LIN TV no longer manages the station.

On October 3, 2008, LIN TV's stations were dropped from Time Warner Cable, due to a dispute over "retransmission fees."[10] LIN's stations returned to Time Warner on October 29, 2008.[11]

Also during Fall 2008, LIN TV and Fox Interactive Media developed a new Web CMS platform which would initially host the Web sites of all of the stations owned by LIN TV and those owned by Fox Television Stations. This division would be spun off in 2009 as the independent company Canvas Technology, which would change its name to EndPlay in 2010. With Fox Television Stations abandoning the EndPlay platform in favor of WorldNow during 2012, LIN TV will become EndPlay's largest client, followed by the E. W. Scripps Company (which adopted the EndPlay platform during 2010).

On August 7, 2009, LIN TV introduced mobile TV BlackBerry service on six of its stations, with plans for 27 more stations to be added. The strategy accompanies a 20 percent second-quarter revenue decline at the same time digital revenue has risen 52 percent.[12]

On October 6, 2009, LIN TV acquired RM Media, an online advertising and media services startup based in Austin. RM Media connects targeted audiences with advertisers and publishers based on demographic, psychographic and consumer behaviors to enhance branding and maximize client return on investment. RM Media developed extensive proprietary technology including a consumer- and advertiser-friendly video player, a top 35 comScore display ad network, a highly effective Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing process, and acquired and integrated two companies that specialize in web development and lead generation, launched two top 100 comScore proprietary websites and services several Fortune 500 clients.[13]

A rebranding to LIN Media was announced on April 13, 2010; although the corporate name remained LIN TV Corporation, the new name emphasized the company's Internet and mobile interests.[14]

On June 4, 2010, LIN TV reached a deal with ACME Communications on a shared services agreement involving ACME and LIN-owned stations in the Green Bay, Dayton, and Albuquerque markets. LIN TV would then provide technical, engineering, promotional, administrative and other operational support services for ACME's CW stations, as well as provide advertising sales services under a related but separate joint sales agreement.[15] This was followed on September 2 by the announcement that LIN would be acquiring two of the ACME stations, WBDT in Dayton, Ohio and WIWB in Green Bay, Wisconsin. WIWB, which has since taken the new calls WCWF, would become owned by LIN outright while WBDT would be technically owned by Vaughan Media but controlled by LIN who would hold an ownership stake in that company. The FCC approved the sales of WBDT and WCWF in April 2011.[16]

On March 4, 2011, LIN TV's contract with Dish Network expired, and all 31 LIN TV affiliated stations were pulled from local Dish Network broadcasts. LIN TV initially demanded a price increase of 140% from Dish Network, a number that skyrocketed to 175% after the contract expired. The channels returned to Dish Network on March 13, 2011.[17] In 2011, LIN sold WWHO to Manhan Media, who entered into an SSA with Sinclair Broadcast Group, owners of WSYX and operators of WTTE, the deal was finalized in February 2012.[18]

2012: New Vision acquisition, NBC sale edit

On May 7, 2012, LIN TV announced that it will acquire the 13 television stations owned by New Vision Television for $330.4 million and the assumption of $12 million in debt. The agreement includes operational control of three stations currently owned by PBC Broadcasting involved in shared service agreements with New Vision-owned stations in three markets. The three PBC-owned stations (KTKA-TV in Topeka, Kansas,[19] WTGS in Savannah, Georgia[20] and WYTV in Youngstown, Ohio[21]) were sold to Vaughan Media, but are operated by LIN TV under shared service agreements.[22] The transaction was finalized on October 12.[23][24]

On February 13, 2013, LIN TV announced that it would be re-organized into a new company, LIN Media, LLC. Also on that date, LIN pulled out of its Station Venture Operations joint venture with NBCUniversal, giving NBC 100% ownership of KNSD and KXAS-TV. LIN paid NBC around $100 million to allow for the transaction.[25] The re-organization was completed on July 30.[26]

2014: Media General merger edit

On March 21, 2014, LIN announced that it would sell itself to Media General, in a transaction described as a "merger". The deal, worth an estimated $1.6 billion, would create an entity of 71 stations (adjusted for side deals and divestitures) that would reach approximately 24% of U.S. television households. In order to comply with FCC ownership rules as well as planned changes to rules regarding same-market television stations which would prohibit future joint sales agreements, Media General and LIN will divest and swap stations that both companies own in Birmingham, Green Bay, Mobile, Providence and Savannah.[27][28][29] The companies swapped WTGS, WJAR, WLUK, and WCWF to Sinclair Broadcast Group in exchange for KXRM, KXTU, and WTTA. Hearst Television acquired WJCL and WVTM, and Meredith Corporation acquired WALA (Meredith later merged with Gray Television).[30]

The deal was approved by shareholders on October 6, 2014,[31] and by the FCC on December 12, 2014.[32] The merger was completed on December 19.[33] Although the combined company adopted the Media General name, the company was taken over by the principal staff of LIN, including CEO Vincent Sadusky, who replaced Media General's CEO George Mahoney post-merger. In total, 45 Media General staff members were laid off as part of the merger.[34]

On January 11, 2017, the FCC approved the sale of Media General to Nexstar Broadcasting Group;[35] the sale was completed on January 17.[36]

Former stations edit

Stations are arranged alphabetically by state and by city of license.

  • (**) – Indicates station was built and signed on by LIN.
City of license / Market Station Channel Years owned Current status
BirminghamTuscaloosaAnniston, AL WIAT 42 2012–2014[a] CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
MobileGulf Shores, AL WALA-TV 10 2005–2014[b] Fox affiliate owned by Gray Television
WBPG/WFNA 55 2006–2014[b] The CW affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
San Diego, CA KNSD 39 1997–1998[c] NBC owned-and-operated (O&O)
New HavenHartford, CT WTNH 8 1994–2014 ABC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
WTVU/
WBNE/
WCTX
59 1995–2014 MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Savannah, GAHardeeville, SC WJCL 22 2012–2014[a] ABC affiliate owned by Hearst Television
WTGS 28 2012–2014[d] Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Honolulu, HI KHON-TV 2 2012–2014[a] Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Hilo, HI KHAW-TV[A] 11 2012–2014[a] Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Wailuku, HI KAII-TV[A] 7 2012–2014[a] Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
DecaturSpringfieldChampaign, IL WTVP/WAND 17 1965–2000[e] NBC affiliate owned by Block Communications
Fort Wayne, IN WANE-TV 15 1984–2014 CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
IndianapolisMarion, IN WISH-TV 8 1984–2014 The CW affiliate owned by Circle City Broadcasting
WNDY-TV 23 2005–2014 MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Circle City Broadcasting
WIIH-CD[B] 17 1992–2014 GetTV affiliate owned by Circle City Broadcasting
West Lafayette, IN WLFI-TV 18 2000–2014 CBS affiliate owned by Allen Media Broadcasting
Terre Haute, IN WTHI-TV 10 2005–2014[b] CBS affiliate owned by Allen Media Broadcasting
Mason City, IARochester, MN KIMT 3 2012–2014[a] CBS affiliate owned by Allen Media Broadcasting
Topeka, KS KSNT 27 2012–2014[a] NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
KTMJ-CD 43 2012–2014[a] Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
KTKA-TV 49 2012–2014[d] ABC affiliate owned by Vaughan Media[f]
Wichita, KS KAKE-TV 10 1999–2000 ABC affiliate owned by Lockwood Broadcast Group
KSNW 3 2012–2014[a] NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Colby, KS KLBY[C] 4 1999–2000 ABC affiliate owned by Lockwood Broadcast Group
Dodge City, KS KUPK-TV[C] 13 1999–2000 ABC affiliate owned by Lockwood Broadcast Group
Garden City, KS KSNG[D] 11 2012–2014[a] NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Great Bend, KS KSNC[D] 2 2012–2014[a] NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Salina, KS KSNL-LD[D] 47 2012–2014[a] NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
McCook, NE KSNK[D] 8 2012–2014[a] NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Springfield, MA WWLP 22 2000–2014 NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
WFXQ-CD[E] 28 2006–2014 NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Bay CityFlintSaginaw, MI WEYI-TV 25 2002–2004[g] NBC affiliate owned by Howard Stirk Holdings[h]
Grand Rapids, MI WOTV/
WOOD-TV
8 1983–1994;
1999–2014
NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
WXSP-CD 15 2002–2014 MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Battle Creek, MI WOTV 41 2001–2014 ABC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Omaha, NE WOWT 6 1999–2000 NBC affiliate owned by Gray Television
AlbuquerqueSanta Fe, NM KRQE 13 2005–2014[b] CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
KASA-TV 2 2007–2014 Telemundo owned-and-operated (O&O)
KWBQ 29 2010–2014[i] The CW affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting[f]
KASY-TV 50 2010–2014[i] MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting[f]
Roswell, NM KBIM-TV[F] 10 2005–2014[b] CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
KRWB-TV[G] 21 2010–2014[i] The CW affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting[f]
Durango, CO KREZ-TV[F] 6 2005–2014[b] CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Buffalo, NY WIVB-TV 4 1995–2014 CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
WNLO 23 2001–2014 The CW affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Columbus, OH WWHO 53 2005–2012 The CW affiliate owned by Manhan Media, Inc.[h]
DaytonSpringfield, OH WDTN 2 2002–2014[g] NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
WBDT 26 2010–2014[d] The CW affiliate owned by Vaughan Media[f]
Toledo, OH WUPW 36 2002–2012[g] Fox affiliate owned by American Spirit Media[j]
Youngstown, OH WYFX-LD 19 2012–2014[a] Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
WKBN-TV 27 2012–2014[a] CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
WYTV 33 2012–2014[d] ABC affiliate owned by Vaughan Media[f]
Portland, OR KOIN 6 2012–2014[a] CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Providence, RI WPRI-TV 12 2002–2014[g] CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
WNAC-TV 64 2001–2014[k] Fox affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting[l]
Abilene, TX KRBC-TV 9 2002–2003[g] NBC affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting[f]
Austin, TX KTVV/KXAN-TV 36 1979–2014 NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
KNVA 54 1994–2014[d] The CW affiliate owned by Vaughan Media[l]
KBVO-CD[H] 51 2001–2014 MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Llano, TX KLNO/
KXAM-TV/
KBVO **
14 1991–2014 MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Fort WorthDallas, TX KXAS-TV 5 1974–1998[c] NBC owned-and-operated (O&O)
San Angelo, TX KACB-TV 3 2002–2003[g] NBC affiliate KSAN-TV, owned by Mission Broadcasting[f]
NorfolkPortsmouthNewport News, VA WAVY-TV 10 1968–2014 NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
WVBT 43 1995–2014 Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Green BaySuring, WI WLUK-TV 11 2005–2014[b] Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
WCWF 14 2010–2014 The CW affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
San Juan, PR WAPA-TV 4 1998–2007 Independent owned by Hemisphere Media Group[m]
WJPX 24 2001–2007 America Teve affiliate, owned by América CV Network

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Satellite of KHON-TV.
  2. ^ Translator of WISH-TV.
  3. ^ a b Satellite of KAKE.
  4. ^ a b c d Satellite of KSNW.
  5. ^ Translator of WWLP.
  6. ^ a b Satellite of KRQE.
  7. ^ Satellite of KWBQ.
  8. ^ Translator of KBVO.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Acquired from New Vision Television.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Acquired from Emmis Communications.
  3. ^ a b Through Station Venture Operations, LIN kept 24% ownership of these stations from 1998 to 2013.[37] LIN did not manage these stations, and for all intents and purposes they were NBC owned-and-operated stations. Both stations are now wholly owned by NBCUniversal outright.[25]
  4. ^ a b c d e Owned by Vaughan Media and operated by LIN through a local marketing agreement.
  5. ^ LIN kept 33% ownership of WAND from 2000 to 2007.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Operated through an SSA by Nexstar Media Group.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Acquired from Sunrise Television.
  8. ^ a b Operated through an SSA by Sinclair Broadcast Group.
  9. ^ a b c Owned by Tamer Media, LLC and operated by LIN through a SSA.
  10. ^ Operated through an SSA by Tegna Inc.
  11. ^ Owned by Super Towers and operated by LIN through an LMA.
  12. ^ a b Operated through an LMA by Nexstar Media Group.
  13. ^ A joint venture between InterMedia Partners (73 percent) and Azteca Acquisition Corporation (27 percent).

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Lin Television in Deal". The New York Times. December 30, 1994. Retrieved February 17, 2013. The newly formed Lin Television Corporation…part of the previously announced transfer of ownership of Lin Television by the Lin Broadcasting Corporation to its shareholders.
  2. ^ "LIN TV 2012 Annual Report- SEC Filings". LIN TV. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  3. ^ Romano, Allison (July 13, 2006). "LIN Taps Sandusky as CEO". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  4. ^ "TV: The next generation – Head of LIN TV in Providence looks ahead". Providence Journal. September 3, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  5. ^ Myerson, Allen R. (October 23, 1997). "Hicks, Muse, Aided by NBC, Sweetens Lin Television Bid". The New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  6. ^ www.bizjournals.com https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2004/03/01/daily25.html. Retrieved November 24, 2023. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ www.bizjournals.com https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2004/08/16/story7.html. Retrieved November 24, 2023. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ^ Learmonth, Michael (February 10, 2005). "LIN wins bid for two Viacom UPN affils". Variety. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  9. ^ "LIN TV to Sell Puerto Rico Operations". Business Wire. October 19, 2006. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  10. ^ "Lin TV dark on Time Warner". Reuters. October 6, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  11. ^ Retrieved on 11 August 2009.
  12. ^ Eggerton, John (August 7, 2009). "LIN TV Develops Blackberry App For Mobile TV Service". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  13. ^ [1] March 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Eggerton, John (April 13, 2010). "LIN TV Rebrands as LIN Media". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  15. ^ "LIN, ACME Share Services in Three Markets", from broadcastingcable.com, June 4, 2010
  16. ^ Source: FCC Daily Digest of 4/7/2011
  17. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (March 13, 2011). "Dish Network, Lin TV End Carriage Dispute After Eight-Day Blackout". The Hollywood Reporter.
  18. ^ Sinclair Inks Shared Services Deal for WWHO Columbus, Broadcasting & Cable, March 8, 2012.
  19. ^ "CDBS Print". Licensing.fcc.gov. December 31, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  20. ^ "CDBS Print". Licensing.fcc.gov. December 31, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  21. ^ "CDBS Print". Licensing.fcc.gov. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  22. ^ "Tweets and Retweets From the Editors: LIN-New Vision Tops A Week of TV Sales". TVNewsCheck.com. May 18, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  23. ^ Malone, Michael (May 7, 2012). "LIN Acquiring New Vision Stations for $330 Million". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  24. ^ Malone, Michael (October 15, 2012). "LIN Closes On $330 Million New Vision Deal | Broadcasting & Cable". Broadcastingcable.com. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  25. ^ a b "LIN exits NBC joint venture, plans reorg". RBR.com. February 13, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  26. ^ (PDF). LIN Meia. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  27. ^ "TV Station Mega Merger: Media General, LIN Set $1.6 Billion Deal" Variety, March 21, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014
  28. ^ Media General acquiring LIN Media for $1.6 billion, Los Angeles Times, March 21, 2014.
  29. ^ Media Gen/LIN To Sell/Swap In Five Markets, TVNewsCheck, March 21, 2014.
  30. ^ "Media General, LIN Sell Stations in 5 Markets". TVNewsCheck. August 20, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  31. ^ "Media General, LIN Shareholders Vote Yes on Merger". Broadcasting & Cable. October 6, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  32. ^ "FCC Okays Media General/LIN Merger". Broadcasting & Cable. December 12, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  33. ^ Media General Completes Merger With LIN Media December 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Press Release, Media General. Retrieved December 19, 2014
  34. ^ "Setting The New Order at New Media General". TVNewsCheck. July 9, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  35. ^ "FCC Approves Nexstar's $4.6B Acquisition of Media General". Deadline. January 11, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  36. ^ "Nexstar Broadcasting Group Completes Acquisition of Media General Creating Nexstar Media Group, The Nation's Second Largest Television Broadcaster". Nexstar Media Group, Inc. January 17, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  37. ^ (PDF). NBCUniversal. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2012.

External links edit

  • Business data for LIN Media LLC:
    • SEC filings

media, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, august, 2009, learn,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources LIN Media news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message LIN Media was an American holding company founded in 1994 1 that operated 43 television stations All except one were affiliates of the six major U S television networks One of the remaining stations was a low powered weather station in Indiana LIN Media LLCCompany typePublicTraded asNYSE LINIndustryBroadcast televisionTelevision productionPredecessorLIN BroadcastingLIN TV CorporationNew Vision TelevisionFounded1994 30 years ago 1994 1 DefunctDecember 19 2014 9 years ago 2014 12 19 FateMerged with Media GeneralSuccessorMedia GeneralNexstar Media GroupHeadquartersProvidence Rhode IslandAustin TexasArea servedUnited States Nationwide Key peopleVincent L Sadusky CEO ProductsBroadcast televisionRevenue 443 5 million USDOperating income 247 44 million USDNet income 274 5 million USDOwnerHM Capital Partners 70 2 Number of employees2 414 full time SubsidiariesLIN DigitalStation Venture Holdings 20 38 The former LIN TV logo LIN Media s chief executive officer was Vincent L Sadusky Sadusky had been LIN s chief financial officer Vice President and treasurer since 2004 and had been CFO for Telemundo working closely on its sale to GE NBC Sadusky had been interim CEO since former chairman Gary R Chapman announced his impending retirement in June 2006 and through the company s search for a permanent replacement He was installed as CEO upon Chapman s retirement on July 10 2006 3 Contents 1 History 1 1 2012 New Vision acquisition NBC sale 1 2 2014 Media General merger 2 Former stations 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThis section is in list format but may read better as prose You can help by converting this section if appropriate Editing help is available October 2012 LIN TV s roots trace back to the founding of its former parent LIN Broadcasting Corporation in 1961 LIN Broadcasting was engaged in radio television direct marketing information and learning music publishing and record labels LIN takes its initials from three major cities Louisville Indianapolis and Nashville all located on Interstate 65 The company was based in Nashville where it owned WMAK It purchased WAKY in Louisville Although planned it was never able to purchase a station in Indianapolis The company purchased its first television station WTVP now WAND in Decatur Illinois at the end of 1965 It also briefly owned the catalogues of King Records and Starday Records in the early 1970s LIN Broadcasting made acquisitions in broadcasting expanded into paging and in the early 1980s the company entered the fledgling cellular telephone business By 1983 the company owned seven television stations and by 1985 it owned and managed cellular telephone licenses serving Dallas Houston Los Angeles New York City and Philadelphia LIN Broadcasting sold its paging operations and six of its radio stations in 1986 to help finance the development of its cellular business In March 1990 McCaw Cellular Communications purchased a 52 interest in LIN Broadcasting McCaw was acquired by AT amp T in 1994 after which LIN Broadcasting s television operations were spun off as a public company traded on the NASDAQ stock market and 45 owned by AT amp T The new company LIN Television Corporation owned and or operated 12 stations and its stock price increased at a compounded annual growth rate of 31 between 1994 and 1998 During this period LIN acquired WIVB TV in Buffalo New York and WTNH in New Haven Connecticut 4 In March 1998 LIN TV was acquired by Hicks Muse Tate amp Furst a leading private investment firm based in Dallas Texas At the time of the HMTF acquisition LIN contributed its Dallas NBC affiliate KXAS TV to a joint venture with the network that also held the San Diego affiliate KNSD 5 Under HMTFs ownership LIN Television has grown considerably through a wide range of transactions In June 1999 LIN TV acquired WOOD TV in Grand Rapids Michigan Former parent LIN Broadcasting had owned the station from 1983 to 1994 when it merged with AT amp T However LIN TV had continued to operate it In August LIN TV helped finance the establishment of the now defunct Banks Broadcasting a minority owned television broadcast company in which it held a 50 interest Banks owned two stations both of which became CW network affiliates under Banks KWCV now KSCW DT in Wichita Kansas and KNIN TV in Boise Idaho the latter has since switched its network affiliation to Fox LIN TV purchased WAPA TV in San Juan Puerto Rico in October In April 2000 LIN TV acquired WLFI TV serving West Lafayette Indiana as well as Lafayette Indiana in exchange for 66 of WAND LIN continued to provide management oversight for WAND for several years after the swap was completed LIN TV purchased WWLP in Springfield Massachusetts in 2000 In 2001 LIN TV acquired WJPX and two satellite facilities in Puerto Rico and the secondary commercial license of PBS member station WNEQ in Buffalo from the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association re launching it as commercial station WNLO The company exercised and closed on options to purchase WOTV in Battle Creek Michigan and WVBT in Norfolk Virginia both stations that it had already managed in January 2002 In February LIN TV agreed to acquire seven stations in six markets from Sunrise Television The transaction of the stations was completed in May Also in May LIN TV completed the issuance of 19 55 million shares of Class A Common Stock through its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange In December 2002 LIN TV announced the sale of two television stations in Abilene and San Angelo Texas This was followed in January 2004 by the sale of a station in Flint Michigan In 2004 LIN TV announced that they signed a deal with NBC to convert its Dayton station WDTN along with the station LIN is operating WAND both ABC affiliates to the network 6 As a response to the deal Sinclair Broadcast Group signed two ex NBC outlets with ABC 7 In February 2005 LIN TV announced purchase of two UPN stations WWHO in Columbus and WNDY in Indianapolis from Viacom 8 In late August 2005 LIN TV purchased several stations from Emmis Communications the stations purchased were WALA TV and WBPG now WFNA in Mobile Alabama WTHI TV in Terre Haute Indiana KRQE in Albuquerque New Mexico and WLUK TV in Green Bay Wisconsin In July 2006 LIN announced the planned purchase a second station in New Mexico KASA TV from Raycom Media In May 2006 LIN TV announced the sale of Puerto Rico stations WAPA TV and WJPX to InterMedia Partners for 130 million 9 In November 2007 LIN TV completed the sale of its share of WAND to Block Communications With this sale LIN TV no longer manages the station On October 3 2008 LIN TV s stations were dropped from Time Warner Cable due to a dispute over retransmission fees 10 LIN s stations returned to Time Warner on October 29 2008 11 Also during Fall 2008 LIN TV and Fox Interactive Media developed a new Web CMS platform which would initially host the Web sites of all of the stations owned by LIN TV and those owned by Fox Television Stations This division would be spun off in 2009 as the independent company Canvas Technology which would change its name to EndPlay in 2010 With Fox Television Stations abandoning the EndPlay platform in favor of WorldNow during 2012 LIN TV will become EndPlay s largest client followed by the E W Scripps Company which adopted the EndPlay platform during 2010 On August 7 2009 LIN TV introduced mobile TV BlackBerry service on six of its stations with plans for 27 more stations to be added The strategy accompanies a 20 percent second quarter revenue decline at the same time digital revenue has risen 52 percent 12 On October 6 2009 LIN TV acquired RM Media an online advertising and media services startup based in Austin RM Media connects targeted audiences with advertisers and publishers based on demographic psychographic and consumer behaviors to enhance branding and maximize client return on investment RM Media developed extensive proprietary technology including a consumer and advertiser friendly video player a top 35 comScore display ad network a highly effective Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing process and acquired and integrated two companies that specialize in web development and lead generation launched two top 100 comScore proprietary websites and services several Fortune 500 clients 13 A rebranding to LIN Media was announced on April 13 2010 although the corporate name remained LIN TV Corporation the new name emphasized the company s Internet and mobile interests 14 On June 4 2010 LIN TV reached a deal with ACME Communications on a shared services agreement involving ACME and LIN owned stations in the Green Bay Dayton and Albuquerque markets LIN TV would then provide technical engineering promotional administrative and other operational support services for ACME s CW stations as well as provide advertising sales services under a related but separate joint sales agreement 15 This was followed on September 2 by the announcement that LIN would be acquiring two of the ACME stations WBDT in Dayton Ohio and WIWB in Green Bay Wisconsin WIWB which has since taken the new calls WCWF would become owned by LIN outright while WBDT would be technically owned by Vaughan Media but controlled by LIN who would hold an ownership stake in that company The FCC approved the sales of WBDT and WCWF in April 2011 16 On March 4 2011 LIN TV s contract with Dish Network expired and all 31 LIN TV affiliated stations were pulled from local Dish Network broadcasts LIN TV initially demanded a price increase of 140 from Dish Network a number that skyrocketed to 175 after the contract expired The channels returned to Dish Network on March 13 2011 17 In 2011 LIN sold WWHO to Manhan Media who entered into an SSA with Sinclair Broadcast Group owners of WSYX and operators of WTTE the deal was finalized in February 2012 18 2012 New Vision acquisition NBC sale edit On May 7 2012 LIN TV announced that it will acquire the 13 television stations owned by New Vision Television for 330 4 million and the assumption of 12 million in debt The agreement includes operational control of three stations currently owned by PBC Broadcasting involved in shared service agreements with New Vision owned stations in three markets The three PBC owned stations KTKA TV in Topeka Kansas 19 WTGS in Savannah Georgia 20 and WYTV in Youngstown Ohio 21 were sold to Vaughan Media but are operated by LIN TV under shared service agreements 22 The transaction was finalized on October 12 23 24 On February 13 2013 LIN TV announced that it would be re organized into a new company LIN Media LLC Also on that date LIN pulled out of its Station Venture Operations joint venture with NBCUniversal giving NBC 100 ownership of KNSD and KXAS TV LIN paid NBC around 100 million to allow for the transaction 25 The re organization was completed on July 30 26 2014 Media General merger edit On March 21 2014 LIN announced that it would sell itself to Media General in a transaction described as a merger The deal worth an estimated 1 6 billion would create an entity of 71 stations adjusted for side deals and divestitures that would reach approximately 24 of U S television households In order to comply with FCC ownership rules as well as planned changes to rules regarding same market television stations which would prohibit future joint sales agreements Media General and LIN will divest and swap stations that both companies own in Birmingham Green Bay Mobile Providence and Savannah 27 28 29 The companies swapped WTGS WJAR WLUK and WCWF to Sinclair Broadcast Group in exchange for KXRM KXTU and WTTA Hearst Television acquired WJCL and WVTM and Meredith Corporation acquired WALA Meredith later merged with Gray Television 30 The deal was approved by shareholders on October 6 2014 31 and by the FCC on December 12 2014 32 The merger was completed on December 19 33 Although the combined company adopted the Media General name the company was taken over by the principal staff of LIN including CEO Vincent Sadusky who replaced Media General s CEO George Mahoney post merger In total 45 Media General staff members were laid off as part of the merger 34 On January 11 2017 the FCC approved the sale of Media General to Nexstar Broadcasting Group 35 the sale was completed on January 17 36 Former stations editStations are arranged alphabetically by state and by city of license Indicates station was built and signed on by LIN City of license Market Station Channel Years owned Current statusBirmingham Tuscaloosa Anniston AL WIAT 42 2012 2014 a CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupMobile Gulf Shores AL WALA TV 10 2005 2014 b Fox affiliate owned by Gray TelevisionWBPG WFNA 55 2006 2014 b The CW affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupSan Diego CA KNSD 39 1997 1998 c NBC owned and operated O amp O New Haven Hartford CT WTNH 8 1994 2014 ABC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupWTVU WBNE WCTX 59 1995 2014 MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupSavannah GA Hardeeville SC WJCL 22 2012 2014 a ABC affiliate owned by Hearst TelevisionWTGS 28 2012 2014 d Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast GroupHonolulu HI KHON TV 2 2012 2014 a Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupHilo HI KHAW TV A 11 2012 2014 a Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupWailuku HI KAII TV A 7 2012 2014 a Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupDecatur Springfield Champaign IL WTVP WAND 17 1965 2000 e NBC affiliate owned by Block CommunicationsFort Wayne IN WANE TV 15 1984 2014 CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupIndianapolis Marion IN WISH TV 8 1984 2014 The CW affiliate owned by Circle City BroadcastingWNDY TV 23 2005 2014 MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Circle City BroadcastingWIIH CD B 17 1992 2014 GetTV affiliate owned by Circle City BroadcastingWest Lafayette IN WLFI TV 18 2000 2014 CBS affiliate owned by Allen Media BroadcastingTerre Haute IN WTHI TV 10 2005 2014 b CBS affiliate owned by Allen Media BroadcastingMason City IA Rochester MN KIMT 3 2012 2014 a CBS affiliate owned by Allen Media BroadcastingTopeka KS KSNT 27 2012 2014 a NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupKTMJ CD 43 2012 2014 a Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupKTKA TV 49 2012 2014 d ABC affiliate owned by Vaughan Media f Wichita KS KAKE TV 10 1999 2000 ABC affiliate owned by Lockwood Broadcast GroupKSNW 3 2012 2014 a NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupColby KS KLBY C 4 1999 2000 ABC affiliate owned by Lockwood Broadcast GroupDodge City KS KUPK TV C 13 1999 2000 ABC affiliate owned by Lockwood Broadcast GroupGarden City KS KSNG D 11 2012 2014 a NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupGreat Bend KS KSNC D 2 2012 2014 a NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupSalina KS KSNL LD D 47 2012 2014 a NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupMcCook NE KSNK D 8 2012 2014 a NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupSpringfield MA WWLP 22 2000 2014 NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupWFXQ CD E 28 2006 2014 NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupBay City Flint Saginaw MI WEYI TV 25 2002 2004 g NBC affiliate owned by Howard Stirk Holdings h Grand Rapids MI WOTV WOOD TV 8 1983 1994 1999 2014 NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupWXSP CD 15 2002 2014 MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupBattle Creek MI WOTV 41 2001 2014 ABC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupOmaha NE WOWT 6 1999 2000 NBC affiliate owned by Gray TelevisionAlbuquerque Santa Fe NM KRQE 13 2005 2014 b CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupKASA TV 2 2007 2014 Telemundo owned and operated O amp O KWBQ 29 2010 2014 i The CW affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting f KASY TV 50 2010 2014 i MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting f Roswell NM KBIM TV F 10 2005 2014 b CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupKRWB TV G 21 2010 2014 i The CW affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting f Durango CO KREZ TV F 6 2005 2014 b CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupBuffalo NY WIVB TV 4 1995 2014 CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupWNLO 23 2001 2014 The CW affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupColumbus OH WWHO 53 2005 2012 The CW affiliate owned by Manhan Media Inc h Dayton Springfield OH WDTN 2 2002 2014 g NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupWBDT 26 2010 2014 d The CW affiliate owned by Vaughan Media f Toledo OH WUPW 36 2002 2012 g Fox affiliate owned by American Spirit Media j Youngstown OH WYFX LD 19 2012 2014 a Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupWKBN TV 27 2012 2014 a CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupWYTV 33 2012 2014 d ABC affiliate owned by Vaughan Media f Portland OR KOIN 6 2012 2014 a CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupProvidence RI WPRI TV 12 2002 2014 g CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupWNAC TV 64 2001 2014 k Fox affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting l Abilene TX KRBC TV 9 2002 2003 g NBC affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting f Austin TX KTVV KXAN TV 36 1979 2014 NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupKNVA 54 1994 2014 d The CW affiliate owned by Vaughan Media l KBVO CD H 51 2001 2014 MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupLlano TX KLNO KXAM TV KBVO 14 1991 2014 MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupFort Worth Dallas TX KXAS TV 5 1974 1998 c NBC owned and operated O amp O San Angelo TX KACB TV 3 2002 2003 g NBC affiliate KSAN TV owned by Mission Broadcasting f Norfolk Portsmouth Newport News VA WAVY TV 10 1968 2014 NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupWVBT 43 1995 2014 Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media GroupGreen Bay Suring WI WLUK TV 11 2005 2014 b Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast GroupWCWF 14 2010 2014 The CW affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast GroupSan Juan PR WAPA TV 4 1998 2007 Independent owned by Hemisphere Media Group m WJPX 24 2001 2007 America Teve affiliate owned by America CV NetworkNotes edit a b Satellite of KHON TV Translator of WISH TV a b Satellite of KAKE a b c d Satellite of KSNW Translator of WWLP a b Satellite of KRQE Satellite of KWBQ Translator of KBVO a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Acquired from New Vision Television a b c d e f g Acquired from Emmis Communications a b Through Station Venture Operations LIN kept 24 ownership of these stations from 1998 to 2013 37 LIN did not manage these stations and for all intents and purposes they were NBC owned and operated stations Both stations are now wholly owned by NBCUniversal outright 25 a b c d e Owned by Vaughan Media and operated by LIN through a local marketing agreement LIN kept 33 ownership of WAND from 2000 to 2007 a b c d e f g h Operated through an SSA by Nexstar Media Group a b c d e f Acquired from Sunrise Television a b Operated through an SSA by Sinclair Broadcast Group a b c Owned by Tamer Media LLC and operated by LIN through a SSA Operated through an SSA by Tegna Inc Owned by Super Towers and operated by LIN through an LMA a b Operated through an LMA by Nexstar Media Group A joint venture between InterMedia Partners 73 percent and Azteca Acquisition Corporation 27 percent References edit a b Lin Television in Deal The New York Times December 30 1994 Retrieved February 17 2013 The newly formed Lin Television Corporation part of the previously announced transfer of ownership of Lin Television by the Lin Broadcasting Corporation to its shareholders LIN TV 2012 Annual Report SEC Filings LIN TV Retrieved October 6 2012 Romano Allison July 13 2006 LIN Taps Sandusky as CEO Broadcasting amp Cable Retrieved August 11 2009 TV The next generation Head of LIN TV in Providence looks ahead Providence Journal September 3 1995 Retrieved July 21 2012 Myerson Allen R October 23 1997 Hicks Muse Aided by NBC Sweetens Lin Television Bid The New York Times Retrieved February 17 2013 www bizjournals com https www bizjournals com dayton stories 2004 03 01 daily25 html Retrieved November 24 2023 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help www bizjournals com https www bizjournals com dayton stories 2004 08 16 story7 html Retrieved November 24 2023 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help Learmonth Michael February 10 2005 LIN wins bid for two Viacom UPN affils Variety Retrieved December 8 2021 LIN TV to Sell Puerto Rico Operations Business Wire October 19 2006 Retrieved August 12 2009 Lin TV dark on Time Warner Reuters October 6 2009 Retrieved August 12 2009 Retrieved on 11 August 2009 Eggerton John August 7 2009 LIN TV Develops Blackberry App For Mobile TV Service Broadcasting amp Cable Retrieved August 11 2009 1 Archived March 29 2010 at the Wayback Machine Eggerton John April 13 2010 LIN TV Rebrands as LIN Media Broadcasting amp Cable Retrieved April 13 2010 LIN ACME Share Services in Three Markets from broadcastingcable com June 4 2010 Source FCC Daily Digest of 4 7 2011 Nordyke Kimberly March 13 2011 Dish Network Lin TV End Carriage Dispute After Eight Day Blackout The Hollywood Reporter Sinclair Inks Shared Services Deal for WWHO Columbus Broadcasting amp Cable March 8 2012 CDBS Print Licensing fcc gov December 31 2011 Retrieved March 24 2014 CDBS Print Licensing fcc gov December 31 2011 Retrieved March 24 2014 CDBS Print Licensing fcc gov Retrieved March 24 2014 Tweets and Retweets From the Editors LIN New Vision Tops A Week of TV Sales TVNewsCheck com May 18 2012 Retrieved March 24 2014 Malone Michael May 7 2012 LIN Acquiring New Vision Stations for 330 Million Broadcasting amp Cable Retrieved May 7 2012 Malone Michael October 15 2012 LIN Closes On 330 Million New Vision Deal Broadcasting amp Cable Broadcastingcable com Retrieved March 24 2014 a b LIN exits NBC joint venture plans reorg RBR com February 13 2013 Retrieved February 13 2013 LIN Media LLC Announces Completion of Merger with LIN TV Corp PDF LIN Meia Archived from the original PDF on September 18 2013 Retrieved March 24 2014 TV Station Mega Merger Media General LIN Set 1 6 Billion Deal Variety March 21 2014 Retrieved December 15 2014 Media General acquiring LIN Media for 1 6 billion Los Angeles Times March 21 2014 Media Gen LIN To Sell Swap In Five Markets TVNewsCheck March 21 2014 Media General LIN Sell Stations in 5 Markets TVNewsCheck August 20 2014 Retrieved December 16 2014 Media General LIN Shareholders Vote Yes on Merger Broadcasting amp Cable October 6 2014 Retrieved December 16 2014 FCC Okays Media General LIN Merger Broadcasting amp Cable December 12 2014 Retrieved December 16 2014 Media General Completes Merger With LIN Media Archived December 19 2014 at the Wayback Machine Press Release Media General Retrieved December 19 2014 Setting The New Order at New Media General TVNewsCheck July 9 2014 Retrieved August 4 2014 FCC Approves Nexstar s 4 6B Acquisition of Media General Deadline January 11 2017 Retrieved January 11 2017 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Completes Acquisition of Media General Creating Nexstar Media Group The Nation s Second Largest Television Broadcaster Nexstar Media Group Inc January 17 2017 Retrieved November 25 2018 NBCUniversal 2011Annual Report 10K PDF NBCUniversal Archived from the original PDF on July 28 2014 Retrieved October 19 2012 External links editBusiness data for LIN Media LLC SEC filings Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title LIN Media amp oldid 1186624062, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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