Hearst Completes WBBH-TV Acquisition | TV Tech

NEW YORK—After receiving all of the required regulatory approvals, Hearst has introduced that it has accomplished its beforehand introduced acquisition of WBBH-TV from Waterman Broadcasting Corporation. Hearst didn’t launch monetary phrases however the deal has been reported to be price about $220 million. The NBC-affiliated tv station is the market chief serving the Fort Myers and Naples, Florida, DMA. WBBH-TV additionally broadcasts the Heroes & Icons community on a digital sub-channel.   Under the transaction, Hearst assumes Waterman Broadcasting’s programming relationship with Montclair Communications, Inc., proprietor of WZVN-TV, the market’s ABC affiliate. WZVN-TV additionally broadcasts the MeTV and Dabl networks on its digital sub-channels.“The Waterman household has served southwest Florida with unparalleled group service and excellent journalism,” mentioned Jordan Wertlieb, govt vp and COO of Hearst. “We at Hearst are steadfast on this dedication to native broadcasting as now we have been all through Florida for over 25 years.” Longtime Waterman Broadcasting govt and WBBH-TV vp and station supervisor Darrel Lieze-Adams will proceed on this position and succeed Steve Pontius, who just lately introduced his retirement, with market oversight.“Darrel has a ardour for WBBH and has served the station and southwest Florida for 26 years as information director and station supervisor,” Hayes mentioned. “We are keen to affix him to proceed the excellent work being achieved.”  In addition to WBBH-TV, Hearst Television’s Florida stations embrace WESH-TV and WKCF-TV, the NBC and CW associates in Orlando; WPBF-TV, the ABC affiliate serving West Palm Beach; and WMOR-TV, an unbiased tv station in Tampa-St. Petersburg. Hearst Television reaches practically one out of each 5 households within the U.S.WBBH-TV and WZVN-TV have earned a number of awards for compelling and in-depth journalism and for service to the Fort Myers and Naples communities. Collectively, the stations earned three nationwide Edward R. Murrow Awards in 2022 from the Radio Television Digital News Association.Fort Myers/Naples is the fifty fifth largest tv market within the United States. The acquisition provides a twelfth NBC affiliate to the Hearst station group. Hearst will now function two NBC and two ABC stations within the state of Florida. WBBH-TV went on the air in December 1968 because the market’s NBC affiliate. Waterman Broadcasting Corporation was based by Bernard Waterman in 1956 when he bought WAAB-AM in Worcester, Massachusetts. WBBH and what’s now WZVN started a programming relationship in 1994.  

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