Television: KOLR, KDEB sales pending FCC approval

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Springfield television stations KOLR and KDEB are expected to be under new ownership by the end of the year. Two deals are in the works for each station to be purchased by separate companies.|ret||ret||tab|

KDEB and KOLR are currently owned by separate entities Quorum Broadcasting and VHR Broadcasting of Springfield, respectively. But both are currently operated by Quorum under an operating agreement.|ret||ret||tab|

Irving, Texas-based Nexstar Broadcast-ing Group is seeking Federal Communications Commission approval to buy Quorum Broadcasting, which is a sister company of Nexstar. Quorum and Nexstar are both majority owned by Boston-based ABRY Partners LLC, a communications industry investment firm. Nexstar is purchasing Quorum Broadcasting and its 16 stations, which includes KDEB, a FOX affiliate.|ret||ret||tab|

In the KOLR deal, Mission Broadcasting is acquiring VHR Broadcasting. Mission Broadcasting will continue the operating agreements with Quorum when (Quorum) merges with Nexstar, said Dave Pulido, Quorum executive vice president. KOLR is a CBS affiliate.|ret||ret||tab|

Nexstar reached a definitive agreement to purchase Quorum Sept. 12, but the purchase price is not yet determined, Pulido said.|ret||ret||tab|

KOLR General Manager Dean Wasson declined comment until after the deals close. |ret||ret||tab|

Quorum owns, operates or provides services to 16 stations in 10 markets, Pulido said. The deal would place the total at 40 stations in 25 markets mostly located in the Midwest under the same ownership. Nexstar focuses on small- to medium-size television markets. Pulido suspects the Nexstar name would remain.|ret||ret||tab|

It would create a 40-station group with 2,000 employees and great geographic clustering, Pulido said.|ret||ret||tab|

Nexstar President and CEO Perry A. Sook said in a news release: This is an important and strategic acquisition for our company. This deal is an exciting next step towards our goal of becoming the leading television station operator serving medium and smaller television markets.|ret||ret||tab|

Quorum also owns the ABC affiliate in St. Joseph, KQTV. Quorum has owned KDEB since 1998, when it acquired the station from Petracom Media. Other states with markets in the deal are New York, Indiana, Illinois, Louisiana and Texas.|ret||ret||tab|

No changes are expected locally as a result of the pending sale.|ret||ret||tab|

There shouldnt be. We dont anticipate any changes, Pulido said, adding that stronger news coverage may result. |ret||ret||tab|

Nexstar is very strong in news, so we anticipate added resources in news.|ret||ret||tab|

Pulido said viewers can expect to see the same faces on KDEB and KOLR newscasts. Im assuming so, he said. We dont anticipate any changes at all in that area. |ret||ret||tab|

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year. |ret||ret||tab|

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