The E.W. Scripps Company now has a reach of 21 percent of U.S. television households after purchasing 15 television stations.
That brings the total number of stations for Scripps to 51. The purchase from Cordillera Communications was $521 million. It adds more NBC and CBS stations to Scripps' strong ABC roster.
The Cordillera stations will significantly diversify the Scripps portfolio, growing it to 51 stations, including 18 ABC stations, 11 NBC stations, seven CBS stations and two Fox stations. Scripps will operate seven duopolies, efficiently enhancing the depth and durability of the portfolio.
The stations Scripps is acquiring are:
• WLEX, the NBC affiliate in Lexington, Kentucky
• KOAA, the NBC affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colorado
• KATC, the ABC affiliate in Lafayette, Louisiana
• KSBY, the NBC affiliate in Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo, California
• KRIS, the NBC affiliate, and KAJA, a Telemundo affiliate, in Corpus Christi, Texas
• KPAX and KAJJ, a CBS affiliate in Missoula, Montana
• KTVQ, a CBS affiliate in Billings, Montana
• KXLF/KBZK, the CBS affiliate in Butte-Bozeman, Montana
• KRTV, the CBS affiliate
• KTGF, the NBC affiliate, in Great Falls, Montana
• KTVH, the NBC affiliate
• KXLH, the CBS affiliate, in Helena, Montana
Cordillera Communications is owned by Evening Post Industries. Scripps is not buying Cordillera’s remaining station in Tucson, Arizona, because Scripps already operates a duopoly in that market. There are no other overlapping markets.
The dealis expected to close in the first quarter of 2019.
This station is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company.
