Sinclair acquiring Fisher Communications
SEATTLE -- Sinclair Broadcast Group is acquiring Fisher Communications for about $373 million.
The deal was announced Thursday by Sinclair, which is based in Hunt Valley, Md., and Fisher, which is based in Seattle. Fisher announced in January it was considering options for shareholders.
Fisher owns 20 television stations in eight markets reaching 4 percent of U.S. households with TVs. They include KOMO in Seattle, KIMA and KEPR in Yakima and the Tri-Cities, KATU in Portland, KVAL in Eugene, KCBY in Coos Bay, Ore., KPIC in Roseburg, Ore., KBOI in Boise, KLEW in Lewiston, Idaho, and KBAK/KBFX in Bakersfield, Calif. The sale also covers Fisher radio stations in Seattle, including KOMO, KPLZ and KVI.
"We are excited to acquire Fisher and expand our coverage westward," said Sinclair President and CEO David Smith.
Under the terms of the agreement, Fisher shareholders will receive $41.00 in cash for each share of Fisher common stock.
"Sinclair is the largest independent TV broadcaster in the country, and we believe its commitment to the industry along with its greater scale and sizable resources will provide our stations, team members and business partners with new opportunities to flourish," said Colleen Brown, Fisher's President and CEO.
After the acquisition Sinclair will own or operate 134 television stations in 69 markets reaching about 34 percent of U.S. TV households.
The deal was announced Thursday by Sinclair, which is based in Hunt Valley, Md., and Fisher, which is based in Seattle. Fisher announced in January it was considering options for shareholders.
Fisher owns 20 television stations in eight markets reaching 4 percent of U.S. households with TVs. They include KOMO in Seattle, KIMA and KEPR in Yakima and the Tri-Cities, KATU in Portland, KVAL in Eugene, KCBY in Coos Bay, Ore., KPIC in Roseburg, Ore., KBOI in Boise, KLEW in Lewiston, Idaho, and KBAK/KBFX in Bakersfield, Calif. The sale also covers Fisher radio stations in Seattle, including KOMO, KPLZ and KVI.
"We are excited to acquire Fisher and expand our coverage westward," said Sinclair President and CEO David Smith.
Under the terms of the agreement, Fisher shareholders will receive $41.00 in cash for each share of Fisher common stock.
"Sinclair is the largest independent TV broadcaster in the country, and we believe its commitment to the industry along with its greater scale and sizable resources will provide our stations, team members and business partners with new opportunities to flourish," said Colleen Brown, Fisher's President and CEO.
After the acquisition Sinclair will own or operate 134 television stations in 69 markets reaching about 34 percent of U.S. TV households.
Just part of the consolidation of media companies.
"The company is affiliated with all major networks, led by 29 Fox affiliates, according to the release." Â Goodbye.
Read more here: https://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/04/11/2553580/northwest-tv-radio-group-fisher.html#storylink=cpy
I wonder how many KATU employees are going to get the ax because of this transaction?
Sinclair is bad news. Â there was a huge dust-up a few years ago with them showing right-wing propaganda and refusing to accept ads for opposing views. Â It'll be Lars Larson 24 hours a day. Â Fortunately, we have other choices.
...and, it continues. Currently between Disney, Time/Warner and Newscorp, there's about a 90% saturation nationally with regards to specific boards of directors owning news conglomerates. I see the rank and file bemoaning the 'conservative' ownership of Sincliar, but I hate to break it to you guys but the VAST majority of controlling interest share holders in these conglomerates are GOP stalwarts.Â
They get to stir the pot, create the contrivercy, and laugh all the way to the bank while their minions jump on cue from Maddow and Limbaugh.Â
Propoganda is one of the hallmarks of mass population control and manipulation. While you may believe that we do not experience this under the guise of the 1st amendment, your belief is in error.Â
..an interesting read (irrelevent of the source);
https://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b;=4923173
Sinclair CEO David Smith is a right wing nut:Â https://money.cnn.com/2004/10/11/news/newsmakers/sinclair_kerry/
"Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of the largest group of television stations in the nation, plans to air a documentary that accuses Sen. John Kerry of betraying American prisoners during the Vietnam War, a newspaper reported Monday."
This space for rent...
I did a little research and Sinclair is owned by a bunch of wingnut conservative conspiracy freaks. Oh brother.
Thank god.... hopefully they can change the stations from a tabloid rag to a news producing company.Â
We were looking when we found KATU .......... now we get to look again!
Maybe we'll finally get some decent weather maps. I really hope they drop the lame bits, like talking to us from inside a refrigerator, or writing text on trash can lids, and all that other cheesy crap.
Checked out a few of their stations, they're all on Facebook comments :(
Good, ditch Livefyre.
Sinclair Further Downsizes Local TV News: https://goo.gl/pE3sP
I do not think KATU is going anywhere. The people inside KATU, yes it is change of command time. Â Keep Steve and Dave, besides the news, they are great comedians, along with Anna. She is a great investigator and well, sheâs hot!!!
So long, KATU.
It's been good to know you.
@Rey Arteb Hardly murdoch is buying them out...
@kilchisriver Try this site for the hard hitting, no fluff, balanced stories that really matter.
https://www.equestriadaily.com/
@kilchisriver  You honestly don't even want to think that.  Been to those other sites when I had no other choice......you don't even want to think that.
@Fake PilotYou're kidding, right? Â Do you know where we'd be if they switched back to IntenseDebate? Â You and I would be commenting on KIMA, KPIC, KVAL.....oh, wait -- we were IP banned there too, weren't we? Â Bakersfield/KBAK and that one really sucked donkey ****. Â But there's always that Petersen's Gun Site and the channel in Boulder that Soup showed up at. Â Good times? Â LOL!
@Richard Lindsay Seems to me this will only happen in their smaller markets
@dkgiovenco So now I know your real name must be John Canzano.
@Sundowner @Fake Pilot There's always my favorite site that uses IntenseDebate......
https://www.equestriadaily.com/@Fake Pilot Ahh, yes...for the brony boys.