Gannett Enters Agreement with Allbritton Jacksonville, Inc. To Acquire and Operate WJXX-TV
ARLINGTON, VA – Gannett Co., Inc. has entered into an agreement with Allbritton Jacksonville, Inc. to acquire and operate WJXX-TV, the ABC affiliate in Jacksonville, Fla. Gannett will also continue to own and operate WTLV-TV, the NBC affiliate in Jacksonville.
This acquisition is made possible by recent changes in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules that permit ownership of both stations in the Jacksonville market. The transaction is subject to FCC and other approvals. WJXX (ABC) and WTLV (NBC) will continue their current operations until the transaction is completed.
The announcement was made today by Cecil L. Walker, president and CEO of Gannett Broadcasting.
Upon completion of this transaction, Gannett Broadcasting will consist of 22 television stations reaching 17.4 percent of the U.S. television market.
“We have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Jacksonville community for the past 11 years. This is a new strategic opportunity for us to build a stronger ‘First Coast News’ operation to better serve the viewers,” Walker said.
Gannett Broadcasting’s other television stations are: W*USA (CBS-Washington, D.C.); WXIA (NBC-Atlanta); WTSP (CBS-Tampa); KARE (NBC-Minneapolis); WKYC (NBC-Cleveland); KPNX (NBC-Phoenix), KNAZ (NBC-Flagstaff), KMOH (WB-Kingman); K*USA (NBC-Denver); KXTV (ABC-Sacramento); KSDK (NBC-St. Louis); WZZM (ABC-Grand Rapids); WGRZ (NBC-Buffalo); WFMY (CBS-Greensboro); KTHV (CBS-Little Rock); WBIR (NBC-Knoxville); WCSH (NBC-Portland; WLTX (CBS-Columbia); WMAZ (CBS-Macon); and WLBZ (NBC-Bangor). Gannett Broadcasting also includes cable television systems in three states.
In addition to its broadcasting operations, Gannett publishes 74 daily newspapers, including USA TODAY, and USA WEEKEND, a newspaper magazine.