Shannon High-Bassalik has been named vice president of news operations for WFOR (CBS4) and WBFS (UPN33) in Miami.
Also Viacom has announced plans to buy two low-power South Florida stations in the West Palm Beach area. Those are WTCN and WWHB. WWHB is an affiliate for Mexico’s Azteca America which means that Viacom just entered the local spanish TV market and it could be competing directly with Telemundo and Univision.
With the aquisition of the two stations, there are now 5 Viacom-owned stations in South Florida – WFOR-CBS4, WBFS-UPN33, WTVX-UPN34 (West Palm Beach market), WTCn and WWHB
Miami Herald
Viacom buys in Stuart, West Palm
Viacom buys two small TV stations in South Florida region
Viacom buys in Stuart, West Palm
BY CHRISTINA HOAG
choag@herald.com
The Viacom Television Stations Group has agreed to acquire two low-power stations, bringing the company’s total number of regional channels to five.
Under the agreement, the media giant would purchase WTCN-TV 15 in Stuart and WWHB-TV 43 in West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce from American Netcom and American Netcom-WWHB. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Federal Communications Commission approval of the deal is pending.
”This was something that happened very quickly,” said Michael Colleran, president and general manager of Viacom’s South Florida stations, which include WFOR-CBS 4 and WBFS-UPN 33 in Miami and WTVX-UPN/WB 34 in West Palm Beach.
”It came up and we moved on it,” he said. “It gives us an opportunity to further put in our stake in the ground in an incredibly growing market.”
WTCN is an independent station with programming aimed at young adults, families and children. WWHB is a Spanish-language affiliate of Azteca Ame’rica, TV Azteca of Mexico’s new network aimed at U.S. Hispanics.
”We thought getting into the Spanish-language market especially was a very good opportunity,” Colleran said. “And it gives us another station we can program.”
The two stations will fall in the bailiwick of Brian Kennedy, vice president and general manager of WTVX, who reports to Colleran. Viacom already owns 39 TV stations around the country.
The Herald has a news and marketing partnership with WFOR-CBS 4.
Viacom buys two small TV stations in South Florida region
BY CHRISTINA HOAG
choag@herald.com
Viacom Television Stations Group has agreed to acquired two low-power stations, bringing the company’s total number of regional channels to five.
Under the deal, Viacom would buy WTCN-TV 15 in Stuart and WWHB-TV 43 in West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce from American Netcom. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The deal is pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission.
”This was something that happened very quickly,” said Michael Colleran, president and general manager of Viacom’s South Florida stations, which include WFOR-CBS 4 and WBFS-UPN 33in Miami and WTVX-UPN/WB 34 in West Palm Beach.
“It came up and we moved on it. It gives us an opportunity to further put in our stake in the ground in an incredibly growing market.”
WTCN is an independent station with programming aimed at young adults, families and children.
WWHB is a Spanish-language affiliate of Azteca América, TV Azteca of Mexico’s new U.S. Hispanic network.
”We thought getting into the Spanish-language market especially was a very good opportunity and it gives us another station we can program,” Colleran said.
The two stations will fall in the bailiwick of Brian Kennedy, vice president and general manager of WTVX, who reports to Colleran.
The Herald has a news and marketing partnership with WFOR-CBS 4.
Viacom already owns 39 TV stations around the country.
