Gannett Announces Agreement with Jacor Communications
ARLINGTON, Va. — Gannett Co., Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire WTSP-TV, the CBS affiliate in Tampa, Fla., from Jacor Communications, Inc., in exchange for KIIS AM/FM at Los Angeles, KSDO-AM/KKBH-FM at San Diego and WDAE-AM/WUSA-FM at Tampa. The WUSA call letters will be retained by Gannett. The transaction is subject to FCC approval.
The announcement was made today by Cecil L. Walker, president and CEO, of Gannett Broadcasting.
With the acquisition of WTSP-TV (CBS), Gannett Broadcasting would consist of 16 television stations reaching 16 percent of the U.S. television market. After the transfer of KIIS-AM/FM, KSDO-AM/KKBH-FM, and WDAE-AM/WUSA-FM, Gannett will continue to own radio stations WGCI-AM/FM, Chicago, KHKS-FM, Dallas, and KKBQ-AM/FM, Houston.
“Our radio stations in the Los Angeles, San Diego and Tampa markets have been part of our Gannett family for many years; we will miss them.WTSP represents a growth opportunity for Gannett that fits well with our television broadcast coverage across the USA.We ve enjoyed being part of the Tampa radio market and look forward to remaining in the market on the television side,” Walker said.
Gannett Broadcasting’s other television stations are: WUSA (CBS-Washington, D.C.); WXIA (NBC-Atlanta); WKYC (NBC-Cleveland); KARE (NBC-Minneapolis); KPNX (NBC-Phoenix); KUSA (NBC-Denver); KSDK (NBC-St. Louis); WLWT (NBC-Cincinnati); KOCO (ABC-Oklahoma City); WFMY (CBS-Greensboro); WTLV (NBC-Jacksonville); KTHV (CBS-Little Rock); WBIR (NBC-Knoxville); KVUE (ABC-Austin) and WMAZ (CBS-Macon). Gannett Broadcasting also consists of cable operations in five states, an entertainment programming unit and Multimedia Security Service.
In addition to its broadcasting operations, Gannett publishes 92 daily newspapers, including USA TODAY, and USA WEEKEND, a newspaper magazine.