Sinclair announces divestitures; Pittsburgh not included
May 9, 2018Last August, in the beginnings of Sinclair Broadcast Group’s plan to purchase Tribune Media’s stations, Fox apparently had concerns about Sinclair’s purchase and was in talks with Ion Networks to start carrying Fox in markets where Sinclair carried the network. There was further concern among local speculators on how that would affect WPGH-TV (53), the local Fox affiliate.
Relax speculators! Sinclair and Fox have signed carriage agreements so “Fox 53” isn’t going anywhere. Also it was announced this morning that SBGI is selling 7 stations to Fox for $910 Million as part of the plan to purchase Tribune.
Other buyers for SBGI station spinoffs include Standard Media while will be spun off to companies with whom SBGI has an LMA. That includes Howard Stirk Holdings and Cunningham Broadcasting*.
Within the PBRTV coverage area, Sinclair owns WPGH (53), WPNT-TV (22), WTOV (9 Wheeling), and WJAC (6 Johnstown).
*NOTE: Cunningham Broadcasting got its start in Pittsburgh in 1994 as Glencairn, Ltd. when Eddie Edwards purchased WPTT (22) so Sinclair could purchase WPGH. Sinclair continued to operate channel 22 through an LMA and repurchased the station in 2000. Sinclair effectively owns Cunningham Broadcasting as most stock is carried by children of SBGI founders. An example of such an ownership is in nearby Columbus, Ohio where SBGI owns WSYX-TV (6) and Cunningham “owns” WTTE-TV (28). Cunningham’s nearest Pittsburgh presence is Johnstown where, in 2016, it purchased WWCP (8) and WATM (24).
WPNT was started by Sinclair (Then known as Commercial Radio Institute) in 1978. So, in theory, Sinclair has always had their mitts on Channel 22.