Sinclair Broadcast Group is seeking FCC approval to purchase TV stations in Cedar Rapids and Omaha that it has already operated for decades.
In separate asset purchase agreements filed with the FCC on May 8 and May 9, Sinclair would buy KFXA/28.1 (Cedar Rapids) from Second Generation of Iowa for $1.9 million and KXVO/15.1 (Omaha) from Mitts Telecasting for $650,000. (The KFXA agreement was reached in 2008, at which time Sinclair purchased KFXA’s non-license assets for $17.1 million.)
Sinclair also owns KGAN/2.1 (Cedar Rapids) and KPTM/42.1 (Omaha). The filings explain that the transaction complies with ownership rules because neither KFXA nor KXVO ranks in the top four.
KGAN carries CBS on 2.1 and began carrying KFXA’s former FOX affiliation on 2.2 in January 2021, while KPTM carries FOX on 42.1 and began carrying KXVO’s former CW affiliation on 42.3 in September 2021.
KPTM has operated KXVO since 1994 and KGAN has operated KFXA since 2002.
KFXA is currently a primary DABL affiliate while KXVO is a primary affiliate of Roar, formerly known as TBD. KXVO serves as the NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) hosts for the Omaha market.
Disclosure: Jon Ellis is an employee of Gray Media Group. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.