TEGNA sold, some Texas TV stations to be bought by Cox

It's been years in the making (rumors going back to at least 2020, maybe before), and now we know that it is Standard General who is buying TEGNA.

UPDATE 2023
Tegna scraps $8.6 bln Standard General deal after regulatory pushback

In Texas, the news goes even further as we see the breakup of the original Belo broadcast stations beyond the Standard General sale. 

Once the deal goes through, KHOU 11 - KTBU Houston, WFAA 8 - KMPX Dallas and KVUE Austin are expected to be acquired by Cox Media Group (CMG) from Standard General. These Texas television stations will now join the ranks of CMG powerhouses like WSB Atlanta and WSOC Charlotte, NC

In Houston, this means that KHOU 11 is now sister-stations with The New 93Q KKBQ, Houston’s Eagle 106.9 KHPT & 107.5 KGLK and Country Legends 97.1 KTHT which are all owned by CMG.

That leaves former Belo station KENS 5 San Antonio separate from the rest of the old Texas owned group and staying with Standard General. 

In Texas, TEGNA owns KHOU Houston, WFAA Dallas, KENS San Antonio, KVUE Austin, KCEN Waco, KAGS College Station, KYTX Tyler, KIII Corpus Christi, KBMT-KJAC Beaumont, KXVA Abilene and KIDY San Angelo.

Lots of questions are coming in about the two new owners. 

Standard General bills itself as a New York-based investment firm that manages event-driven opportunity funds. 

In 2019, Cox Enterprises, Inc. sold its television and radio stations to a new company still operated under the Cox Media Group or CMG name, that is majority owned by private equity funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. In the same press release about the sale, Apollo Global Management writes it is a leading global alternative investment manager with offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston, Bethesda, London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Delhi, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo.

RELATED
- Kim Gets A Win In Tegna Buy, But Will Journalism Lose?
- The Reason Local TV Still Sells

HERE IS THE OFFICIAL TEGNA PRESS RELEASE ON THE ACQUISITION:

TEGNA to be Acquired by Standard General for $24.00 Per Share

Will Become Nation’s Largest Minority-Owned, Woman-Led Broadcast Group

Tysons, Va. and New York – TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) and Standard General L.P. today announced that TEGNA and an affiliate of Standard General have entered into a definitive agreement under which TEGNA will be acquired by the Standard General affiliate for $24.00 per share in cash. The transaction has an equity value of approximately $5.4 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $8.6 billion, including the assumption of debt.

The transaction consideration represents a premium of approximately 39% to TEGNA’s unaffected closing share price on September 14, 2021, the last full trading day prior to media speculation about a potential sale of TEGNA, and a premium of approximately 11% to TEGNA’s all-time high closing price since separation from the Gannett publishing business in 2015. The transaction was unanimously approved by the TEGNA Board.

Howard D. Elias, Chairman of the TEGNA Board, said, “We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Standard General, which follows a thorough review of acquisition proposals received by the Company. After evaluating this opportunity against TEGNA’s standalone prospects and other strategic alternatives, our Board concluded that this transaction maximizes value for TEGNA shareholders. Thanks to the team’s stellar execution of the Company’s value-creation strategy, TEGNA has positioned itself as a leading broadcast television group serving the greater good of the communities in which we operate – and as a private company will have an enhanced ability to keep evolving its local news, programming, and marketing solutions to serve its communities in a rapidly changing media landscape.”

Soo Kim, Founding Partner of Standard General, commented, “As long-term investors in the television broadcasting industry, we have a deep admiration for TEGNA and the stations it operates and, in particular, for TEGNA’s talented employees and their commitment to serving their communities. We are excited to partner again with Deb McDermott, who previously spearheaded the broadcast group at Media General, where Standard General was a principal shareholder. We believe TEGNA has a strong foundation and exciting prospects for continued growth as a result of the stewardship of the Board and the current management team. We look forward to building on the Company’s strong foundation and leveraging Deb’s deep industry experience to drive further growth.”

Following the close of the transaction, Deb McDermott will become CEO and Mr. Kim will serve as Chairman of a new Board. Ms. McDermott currently serves as CEO of Standard Media and has more than 20 years of experience leading broadcast groups, including previously serving as COO of Media General and as CEO and President of Young Broadcasting. In these roles, she has served as a key member of the leadership teams responsible for the successful acquisition, integration, and operation of more than 90 stations.

Dave Lougee, President and CEO of TEGNA, said, “This transaction is the next step in TEGNA’s evolution and recognizes the value of our portfolio of leading broadcast assets and innovative digital brands. TEGNA’s employees deserve tremendous credit for their commitment to serving our viewers with high-quality news and content that informs and supports our local communities. At all levels, we have been tireless in our efforts to ensure TEGNA effectively serves all of our stakeholders, and I am immensely proud of these efforts. Our hard work has built a company that is a leading and trusted local news and media content provider in the markets it serves and has fostered a culture of diversity and inclusiveness. We are deeply gratified that TEGNA’s new owners value and embrace our purpose to serve the greater good of our communities. Deb McDermott is an experienced and accomplished broadcast executive, and we are confident in TEGNA’s future under her leadership.”

Ms. McDermott commented, “I am honored to lead TEGNA’s team to create new opportunities and build on its heritage and successes achieved under Dave’s leadership. TEGNA’s stations have earned excellent reputations as leading local content providers, and TEGNA’s digital and content assets are a key part of its future in an evolving media landscape. These achievements are a credit to the hard work of TEGNA’s dedicated employees, who are the Company’s most valuable asset. I’m very excited about what the future holds for TEGNA.”

Transaction Details

The transaction is subject to approval by TEGNA shareholders, regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the second half of 2022.

Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, in addition to receiving $24.00 per share, TEGNA shareholders will receive additional cash consideration in the form of a “ticking fee” of $0.00167 per share per day (or $0.05 per month) if the closing occurs between the 9- and 12-month anniversary of signing, increasing to $0.0025 per share per day (or $0.075 per month) if the closing occurs between the 12- and 13-month anniversary of signing, $0.00333 per share per day (or $0.10 per month) if the closing occurs between the 13- and 14-month anniversary of signing, and $0.00417 per share per day (or $0.125 per month) if the closing occurs between the 14- and 15-month anniversary of signing.

Following the close of the transaction, TEGNA stations in Austin (KVUE), Dallas (WFAA and KMPX) and Houston (KHOU and KTBU) are expected to be acquired by Cox Media Group (“CMG”) from Standard General.

Also after closing, Premion is expected to operate as a standalone business majority owned by Cox Media Group and Standard General.

Upon completion of the transaction, TEGNA will become a private company and its shares will no longer be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Financing

An affiliate of Standard General will hold substantially all of the voting, common equity in the new entity that is acquiring TEGNA, with CMG and funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management to hold securities in the new entity that will be non-voting and non-attributable and with other investors holding non-voting interests. A syndicate of banks led by RBC Capital Markets will provide debt financing.

Advisors

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as lead financial advisor, with Greenhill & Co. also acting as a financial advisor to TEGNA, and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz and Covington & Burling LLP are acting as its legal advisors. Moelis & Company and RBC are acting as financial advisor to Standard General and Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP are acting as its legal advisors.

About TEGNA

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA is the largest owner of top 4 network affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups. TEGNA also owns leading multicast networks True Crime Network, Twist and Quest. TEGNA offers innovative solutions to help businesses reach consumers across television, digital and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Premion, TEGNA’s OTT advertising service. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com.

About Standard General

Standard General was founded in 2007 and manages capital for public and private pension funds, endowments, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals. Standard General is a minority-controlled and operated organization. Mr. Kim is supported by a diverse, highly experienced 17-person team, including seven investment professionals with over 120 years of collective investing experience. 

*this post has been updated throughout the day

Nexstar enters into agreement to acquire TEGNA for $6.2 Billion in Accretive Transaction

IRVING, Texas and TYSONS, Virginia (Aug. 19, 2025) – Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST) (“Nexstar”) and TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TEGNA) (“TEGNA”) announced today that they entered into a definitive agreement (the “Agreement”) whereby, subject to regulatory approvals, Nexstar will acquire all outstanding shares of TEGNA for $22.00 per share in a cash transaction valued at $6.2 billion, inclusive of TEGNA’s net debt and estimated transaction fees and expenses.  

UPDATE OCTOBER 2025
Perry Sook reveals Nexstar-TEGNA deal outcome in DFW (and maybe Houston)

- Texas TV outcome in Nexstar + TEGNA deal?

(MCGUFF NOTE:  In Texas, TEGNA owns KHOU Houston, WFAA Dallas, KENS San Antonio, KVUE Austin, KCEN Waco, KAGS College Station, KYTX Tyler, KIII Corpus Christi, KBMT-KJAC Beaumont, NewsWest 9 KWES Midland-Odessa, KXVA Abilene and KIDY San Angelo. Nexstar will now own multiple TV stations in Houston, DFW, Austin, and more...)

The purchase price represents a 31% premium to TEGNA’s average 30-day average stock price ending August 8, 2025, the last closing stock price prior to media reports of a potential transaction.  Following completion of the transaction, the combined entity will be a leading local media company, well-positioned to compete in today’s fragmented and rapidly evolving marketplace.  The new company will be better able to serve communities by ensuring the long-term vitality of local news and programming from trusted local sources and preserving the diversity of local voice and opinion.  Nexstar will also be able to provide advertisers with an even greater variety of competitive local and national broadcast and digital advertising solutions to serve brands and consumers more effectively.

Nexstar’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Perry A. Sook, commented, “The initiatives being pursued by the Trump administration offer local broadcasters the opportunity to expand reach, level the playing field, and compete more effectively with the Big Tech and legacy Big Media companies that have unchecked reach and vast financial resources.  We believe TEGNA represents the best option for Nexstar to act on this opportunity.  TEGNA is a premier operator with high quality local television stations primarily in the top 75 DMAs.  We and TEGNA are similarly dedicated to providing communities of all sizes with the best programming and fact-based local journalism along with innovative digital products and marketing solutions for local viewers and advertisers.  The transaction will increase Nexstar’s reach through the expansion of our presence in important DMAs such as Atlanta, Phoenix, Seattle, and Minneapolis, as well as enhance our local presence, enabling us to continue to provide the core local news and programming that is in the public’s interest.”

Mr. Sook continued, “Nexstar has a stellar long-term record of growth through its deals, having completed many well-received transactions since 2011, including the 2019 acquisition of Tribune Media. The playbook we followed to make those transactions successful – improving and increasing local content, executing on identified synergies, and quickly de-leveraging our balance sheet with free cash flow post close – are the same opportunities and strategies we will use in connection with this transaction. With committed financing and a plan for significant synergy realization, we believe the combined entity will be poised for growth, leverage reduction, and the enhancement of shareholder value.”

Howard Elias, Chairman of TEGNA’s Board of Directors commented, “At TEGNA, we share Nexstar’s commitment to local broadcasting, exemplified by numerous investments and initiatives, industry journalism awards, and the significant expansion of our local news content.  This transaction, which will provide premium near-term value to TEGNA shareholders, comes at a time of rapid change in our industry and reflects the fact that policymakers of all perspectives are calling for regulations governing our industry to be modernized.  This transaction with Nexstar will further solidify the critical role our stations serve in our communities, preserve their trust, and be better able to compete in today’s highly fragmented media environment.”

Mike Steib, Chief Executive Officer of TEGNA, said, “We are thrilled to have found a partner in Nexstar that will enable TEGNA’s stations to continue doing what we do best: creating outstanding and impactful local content coupled with the delivery of indispensable digital products to the communities we serve around the country. Nexstar and TEGNA both share a rich heritage of commitment to journalistic excellence and technological advancements. Together, we will expand news coverage to serve more communities, across more screens, and ultimately secure the future of local news for generations to come.”

Transaction Details

TEGNA purchase price of $22.00 per share, reflects a 31% premium to TEGNA’s unaffected 30-day average stock price ending August 8, 2025.

Transaction has been unanimously approved by TEGNA’s Board of Directors.

TEGNA debt will be refinanced and/or assumed at close.

Committed financing in place from BofA Securities, P. Morgan Chase N.A., and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC to finance the transaction.

Transaction Highlights

Combines two best-in-class television broadcast companies which share an unwavering commitment to localism, innovation, and superior, trustworthy programming.

Increases operational and geographic diversity and scale. Upon closing, Nexstar, together with its partners, will have 265 full-power television stations in 44 states and the District of Columbia and 132 of the country’s 210 television DMAs. The combined company will have stations in 9 of the top 10 DMAs, 41 of the top 50 DMAs, 62 of the top 75 DMAs and 82 of the top 100 DMAs, covering, in total, 80% of U.S. television households.

Enhances presence in local DMAs. Nexstar’s station footprint overlaps with TEGNA in 35 of TEGNA’s 51 DMAs, providing improved synergy potential in these markets.

Extends footprint to additional contested election DMAs. The addition of strong Big-4 affiliates in key contested election DMAs, such as Phoenix, AZ, Atlanta, GA, Toledo, OH, and Portland, ME, will enhance the political advertising outlook for Nexstar in even-numbered years.

Financial Summary and Outlook

On a combined basis for the last eight quarters annualized ending June 30, 2025, Nexstar, together with TEGNA, would have combined net revenue (excluding synergies) of $8.10 billion and combined Adjusted EBITDA (excluding synergies) before stock-based compensation of $2.56 billion.

Based on our estimates for 2025, Nexstar expects to generate annual net synergies of approximately $300 million from a combination of revenue synergies and net operating expense reductions.

Together, the Adjusted Free Cash Flow of TEGNA, the expected synergies on an after-tax basis and the estimated after-tax financing costs related to the transaction, is expected to be more than 40% accretive to Nexstar’s standalone Adjusted Free Cash Flow in the first twelve months after closing.

After giving effect to the transaction, the incurrence of transaction-related debt, transaction expenses, and expected synergies, Nexstar expects its net leverage ratio to be approximately 4x at closing with de-leveraging to current leverage levels in 2028. As of June 30, 2025, Nexstar’s total net leverage ratio was 3.19x.

Consistent with past transactions, Nexstar initially intends to allocate excess free cash flow to repay debt.

Timing and Approvals

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including TEGNA shareholder and regulatory approvals.

The transaction is expected to close by the second half of 2026.

Advisors

BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are acting as financial advisors and Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Wiley Rein LLP, and Morrison Foerster are acting as legal counsel to Nexstar.

Allen & Company LLC is acting as financial advisor to TEGNA and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, and Covington & Burling LLP are acting as its legal counsel.

.

Tom Cury Takes Over Leadership of KVUE Austin While Continuing to Lead KENS San Antonio

TEGNA is expanding Tom Cury's leadership responsibilities by naming him president and general manager of KVUE Austin, while he continues in the same role at KENS 5 San Antonio.

Announced November 4, 2026, the appointment puts Cury in charge of two of TEGNA's Texas television stations. He will oversee news, content, sales, marketing, digital operations and community engagement at both the Austin ABC affiliate and the San Antonio CBS affiliate.

Cury succeeds Byron Wilkinson at KVUE, who was recently promoted to vice president of ad sales for TEGNA's Texas and Mid-South regions.

According to TEGNA, the expanded leadership structure is intended to bring the Austin and San Antonio stations closer together, creating more opportunities for collaboration while maintaining each station's individual connection to its community.

“Tom will bring our Austin and San Antonio teams closer together, creating more opportunities to collaborate while ensuring each station continues to reflect and serve its unique community,” said Brad Ramsey, senior vice president and group general manager at TEGNA. “Building on the strengths of both stations, Tom will help us accelerate momentum, deepen audience connection, and create even greater value for our customers and partners.”

Cury has served as president and general manager of KENS since joining the San Antonio station in 2015. During his tenure, the station developed innovative streaming content and statewide programming initiatives, including Border Cowboys, a multipart streaming documentary following a high school soccer team, and TEGNA's statewide streaming program Texas High School Football Now.

KENS also received the 2026 Texas Governor's Award for community service, recognizing the station's decade-long commitment to volunteering in local schools.

“At KENS, I've worked closely with our team to turn good ideas into solutions that drive results for our advertisers and into programming that our audiences seek out and enjoy,” Cury said. “KVUE shares that innovative spirit and I'm ready to work with the team there to continue to create content and coverage that serves Austin.”

Before moving to San Antonio, Cury served as director of sales at TEGNA's WFAA in Dallas. His media career also includes sales leadership positions in Baltimore, Miami, Los Angeles and New York. He began in New York City as an account executive with Petry Television before working with Westinghouse Broadcasting and CBS.

A New York City native, Cury earned a bachelor's degree in communications from American University in Washington, D.C.

Byron Wilkinson promoted to TEGNA vice president of ad sales

Cury's appointment at KVUE follows the promotion of Byron Wilkinson, who was named vice president of ad sales for TEGNA's Texas and Mid-South regions in October 2026.

Wilkinson's promotion was part of a broader series of sales leadership changes announced October 15 under Mark Cornetta, TEGNA's senior vice president of sales.

A native Texan with more than 26 years of broadcast and digital media experience, Wilkinson was named KVUE's president and general manager in December 2023 after previously serving as the station's director of sales for seven years.

Before becoming general manager, Wilkinson had served as interim general manager at KVUE and also held the interim general manager position at TEGNA's KBMT/KJAC in Beaumont.

His television management career includes serving as director of sales at KTHV in Little Rock, Arkansas, and local sales manager at KHOU 11 in Houston. Throughout his career, Wilkinson has developed multimedia sales teams and strategies spanning traditional television, streaming and digital advertising platforms.

Wilkinson graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

In his new position, he will oversee advertising sales for TEGNA stations across the Texas and Mid-South regions.

Kristie Gonzales named regional vice president of ad sales

Another executive with a significant connection to KVUE Austin is Kristie Gonzales, who was named vice president of ad sales for TEGNA's Northeast and Southeast regions.

Gonzales previously served as president and general manager of KVUE from 2016 until October 2023, when she left Austin to take the same leadership position at TEGNA's 11Alive WXIA and WATL in Atlanta.

She also serves as TEGNA's vice president of revenue and has served as president and general manager at WXIA.

In addition to her Austin responsibilities, Gonzales was named a TEGNA vice president of media operations in 2021. In that position, she oversaw several Texas stations, including KBMT/KJAC in Beaumont, KYTX in Tyler, KCEN/KAGS in Waco and Bryan-College Station, KWES in Midland-Odessa and KXVA/KIDY in Abilene and San Angelo.

Before joining KVUE, Gonzales held television management positions across the country, specializing in news branding, multicultural marketing, and digital and social media strategy. She previously served as promotion and digital brand manager at WABC in New York City.

A graduate summa cum laude with double honors from the University of New Mexico, Gonzales has been active in numerous community organizations. She has served on the boards of SAFE Alliance, Equidad ATX and United Way for Greater Austin, as well as the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas.

She is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Austin Area Research Organization. Gonzales also mentors women and people of color.

Other TEGNA sales leadership promotions

TEGNA's October 15 announcement also included two additional appointments under Cornetta as the company reshapes its national and regional advertising leadership.

Jay Donovan was promoted to vice president of digital sales, where he will lead digital growth strategy across TEGNA's more than 60 media brands. Donovan brings more than 15 years of experience in digital media and advertising technology, helping businesses and marketers use data and precision targeting to generate measurable results.

Kari Jacobs was named vice president of ad sales for TEGNA's Midwest and West regions. Jacobs began her career in journalism before transitioning to the revenue side of media. Her experience spans broadcast television, radio, digital and cable, and she has spent more than 20 years with TEGNA in general management and revenue leadership positions.

“Jay, Kristie, Kari and Byron have proven they know how to bring technology, sales expertise and creativity together to serve our clients,” Cornetta said. “In an increasingly competitive environment, we need experienced leaders willing to rewrite the playbook for our local sales teams, and they're the right people to do it.”

TEGNA establishes new regional management structure

The sales leadership changes followed another major management restructuring announced October 12, 2026, when TEGNA CEO Patrick Paolini named Joan Barrett, Kate Morris and Brad Ramsey as group general managers.

The three executives will oversee local general managers across TEGNA's six regions, with each responsible for two regions. Their responsibilities include establishing strategy and expectations for local station leaders, improving business performance, growing audiences and driving operational excellence.

- Joan Barrett will oversee TEGNA's Northeast and Southeast regions. She has been president and general manager of WCNC Charlotte since 2020 and also assumed oversight of WFMY Greensboro in 2024. Her previous experience includes leading KDVR/KWGN in Denver and television operations for Schurz Communications in Wichita. She is also a co-founder and longtime trainer with the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism.

- Kate Morris will oversee the Midwest and West regions. Morris has led KPNX 12News in Phoenix since 2020 and also oversees KMSB and KTTU in Tucson. Previously, she was president and general manager of KTVB in Boise, where the station expanded its local news operation and earned seven National Edward R. Murrow Awards.

- Brad Ramsey will oversee the Texas and Mid-South regions. Ramsey previously served as TEGNA's senior vice president of revenue and led the company's sports rights strategy. He also spent seven years as president and general manager of WFAA in Dallas-Fort Worth, during which the station earned 17 major national journalism honors, including the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence and the NAB Service to America Award.

Ramsey's regional oversight includes the Texas and Mid-South stations, the same broader region in which Wilkinson will now lead advertising sales.

Who will own KHOU and TEGNA a year from now?

Let's talk about TEGNA and who might own the giant television group eventually.

UPDATE 2-2-22
TEGNA sold, some Texas TV stations to be bought by Cox

If you're in Texas (or many other parts in the United States), chances are TEGNA owns a station near you.  In Texas alone, the group owns KHOU Houston, WFAA Dallas, KENS San Antonio, KVUE Austin, KCEN Waco, KAGS College Station, KYTX Tyler, KIII Corpus Christi, KBMT-KJAC Beaumont, KXVA Abilene and KIDY San Angelo.

Announced last week, Byron Allen, owner of Entertainment Studios, has enough investors to help him in a $23-a-share takeover of TEGNA. He also owns the Weather Channel and other local TV stations.

“Local news matters, you’re not going to replace that any time soon,” Bloomberg reported Allen saying during an  interview at the Milken Global Conference in California. 

Allen, however is not the only TEGNA suitor, which has bigger media implications. 

Back in September, TEGNA issued the statement, "TEGNA today confirmed the company has recently received acquisition proposals. Consistent with its fiduciary duty to TEGNA shareholders, the Board will carefully review and evaluate these proposals."

A few days after that, there were apparent side effects in Houston radio and beyond. Yes, seems odd that the potential purchase of a television broadcaster could affect radio DJs, but it looks like that happened.

Over at Houston's 97.1 Country Legends KTHT, morning show duo Dan Gallo (former 100.3 KILT) and Chuck Akers (former 101 KLOL) were both let go a few days later after the TEGNA statement. 

Akers explained more on Facebook:

"After more than a decade doing a morning radio show on Houston’s Country Legends 97.1, I became part of a corporate cutback this week and was laid off. I can’t say I was surprised. The company I worked for was bought out by a mega-investment firm a few years ago and these deals often turn into a circus act of budget cuts. That knowledge didn’t make the news any easier to hear.

I won’t miss working for a giant corporation in a hi-rise office tower. I won’t miss getting two dozen company emails a day that have nothing to do with me or my job, and I certainly won’t miss the downright silliness of fortune 500 programs and rituals. What I will miss is doing great radio – and doing it with amazingly talented people." 

Radio staffers at San Antonio's Y100 KCYY and 99.5 KISS FM San Antonio were also released as well as others around the country.

That's because 97.1 Country Legends and the other stations are owned by Cox Media Group.  RAMP reported that Cox Media Group's majority owner, Apollo Global Management, was "tightening its proverbial belt ahead of a possible multi-billion-dollar acquisition of TEGNA." 

But's that's not all as they say in the infomercial world.

Standard General is also bidding for TEGNA. 

So who will win out? Allen? Apollo? Standard General?

Bloomberg is reporting that TEGNA is concerned, "about Apollo’s ownership stake in Cox Media Group." That's because TEGNA and CMG own TV stations in some of the same markets which makes things messy with the Feds when merging operations. 

Stay tuned as we get more developments, just like your favorite news anchor says on the evening newscast. 

Bobby Springer new KHOU 11 station manager

ICYMI: TEGNA Names Bobby Springer Vice President and Station Manager at KHOU in Houston

TEGNA Inc. today announced that industry veteran Bobby Springer is joining KHOU in Houston, TX as vice president and station manager effective August 1, 2018. Springer will work closely with Susan McEldoon and will assume the role of president and general manager upon her retirement. McEldoon will remain at KHOU through January 2019 to ensure a smooth leadership transition, including KHOU’s move to 5718 Westheimer.

Springer joins KHOU from 9NEWS/KUSA in Denver where he is director of advertising and promotion and worked with the executive leadership team to set strategy for the station. During this time, Springer was also a part of the TEGNA Marketing Leadership Team working with stations in markets 17-39 and was also instrumental in the launch of Denver-produced daily news and entertainment show, “Daily Blast LIVE.”

“Bobby’s talents in marketing, branding, sales, digital and leading teams across TEGNA through transformation initiatives make him the best choice to lead KHOU into a new era,” said Lynn Beall, executive vice president and chief operating officer, media operations, TEGNA. “His cross-departmental career has exposed him to all aspects of our business. His track record of results and understanding of our innovative culture make him uniquely suited to meet the ever-changing needs of our audiences and customers.”

Prior to his current role, Springer held roles in business development, sales design and production at KUSA. Springer joined KUSA from KARE in Minneapolis, MN where he worked in the newsroom, art department and as a promotions writer and producer. He has won regional Emmy awards, a Telly award, a Minnesota Broadcasters award, numerous Colorado Broadcasters Awards, a Promax BDA award and the TVB Emma Award.

Springer graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He will relocate to the Houston area.

About TEGNA
TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. With 47 television stations and two radio stations in 39 markets, TEGNA delivers relevant content and information to consumers across platforms. It is the largest owner of top 4 affiliates in the top 25 markets, reaching approximately one-third of all television households nationwide. Each month, TEGNA reaches 50 million adults on-air and approximately 30 million across its digital platforms. TEGNA has been consistently honored with the industry’s top awards, including Edward R. Murrow, George Polk, Alfred I. DuPont and Emmy Awards. TEGNA delivers results for advertisers through unparalleled and innovative solutions including OTT local advertising network Premion, centralized marketing resource Hatch, and G/O Digital, a one-stop shop for local businesses to connect with consumers through digital marketing. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com.

(This post was taken from a release sent to me by TEGNA Inc.)

KHOU 11 wins big at #TEGNAAwards

After a rough battle with Hurricane Harvey in 2017, KHOU 11's perseverance has been rewarded by its parent company, TEGNA, at its annual awards show in McLean, Va.

And the big winners were KHOU's management team.

Congratulations to @TEGNA’s Manager of the Year, @KHOUSusan! Susan led @KHOU during Hurricane Harvey and inspires her team to take risks and embrace change. #TEGNAAwards pic.twitter.com/htYKvLHJB9

— TEGNA (@TEGNA) April 3, 2018

KHOU 11 President & General Manager, Susan A. McEldoon, who announced her retirement last month, won TEGNA’s Manager of the Year award for leading KHOU during Hurricane Harvey and inspiring her team to take risks and embrace change.

.@SallyKHOU11 is @TEGNA’s Employee of the Year! #TEGNAAwards pic.twitter.com/2fSCXczH8C

— TEGNA (@TEGNA) April 3, 2018

KHOU News Director Sally Ramirez received TEGNA’s Employee of the Year award.

But that wasn't the only accolades channel 11 received. Regional Account Executive Kaelin Bruzzone and Integrated Account Executive Alison Wallace won TEGNA’s Best Client Solution for their work with Standard Insurance of Texas.

As for the rest of the TEGNA Texas stations, KVUE Austin's Melanie Cottier was named TEGNA’s Sales Executive of the Year.

RELATED
KHOU signs deal on new building!

The KHOU staff watched the awards show remotely from its temporary home at the Houston Public Media studios on the University of Houston campus.

Yay @KHOUSusan !! @TEGNA Manager of the year! So well deserved!! #TEGNAAwards pic.twitter.com/KG4M6Vl1r5

— Kena Moore (@KenaMoore) April 3, 2018

Congrats to all #TEGNAawards recipients. I wanted to give a personal high high-five and mention to our Houston-based KHOU 11 Directors/Master Controllers who have been commuting to Dallas for 8mo!! -- newborns, spouses at home) to keep us going all the way from WFAA. #Sacrifice pic.twitter.com/9WsxKyxs31

— Brooks Garner (@BrooksKHOU) April 4, 2018

Kristie Gonzales promoted to KYTX and KVUE

Tysons VA – TEGNA Inc. announced today that it has promoted Kristie Gonzales to vice president, media operations. In addition to her current role as president and general manager of KVUE in Austin, Gonzales will now also oversee KYTX in Tyler, Texas, and help set the vision for recruiting across TEGNA’s 11 Texas markets.

Gonzales joined KVUE, TEGNA’s ABC affiliate in Austin and one of the top television stations in Central Texas, in 2016 as president and general manager. During her tenure, KVUE has launched the innovative series “Boomtown,” which highlights Central Texas’s explosive growth, and launched award-winning investigations, including an in-depth look at the death of Javier Ambler, who died in the custody of the Williamson County Sherriff Department, and coverage of Austin’s racial justice protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. In the last two years, the station has won ten Emmy® awards and numerous AP awards, and grown monthly active digital users by 24 percent, averaging more than 4 million visitors a month to KVUE.com platforms.

“Kristie is a proven business and community leader dedicated to developing high-quality content across platforms and serving the greater Central Texas community,” said Brad Ramsey, senior vice president of media operations, TEGNA. “In her expanded role, she’ll bring her significant management and marketing expertise to accelerate our leading content, marketing and community efforts across the state, and help lead our vision for recruiting, developing and promoting diverse talent across all of our Texas markets.”

Prior to joining KVUE, Gonzales held various television management roles across the country, specializing in news branding, multi-cultural marketing and harnessing the power of digital and social media. Before joining KVUE, she was the promotion and digital brand manager at WABC in New York City.

Gonzales graduated summa cum laude with double honors from the University of New Mexico. She serves on the board of directors for the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, the SAFE Alliance and United Way for Greater Austin. She’s a member of the Austin Area Research Organization and spends her free time mentoring women and people of color. She’s been named a Tribeza Magazine Driver of Style, Austin Under 40, Seedling Mentors Fab Five, and most recently, a Girl Scouts of Central Texas 2020 Women of Distinction Rising Star.

About TEGNA
TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA is the largest owner of top 4 network affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups, reaching approximately 39 percent of all television households nationwide. TEGNA also owns leading multicast networks True Crime Network and Quest. TEGNA Marketing Solutions (TMS) offers innovative solutions to help businesses reach consumers across television, digital and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Premion, TEGNA’s OTT advertising service. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com.

(This post was taken from a TEGNA release)

Dallas Mavericks and TEGNA Announce New Multi-Year Broadcast Rights Agreement

The Dallas Mavericks today announced a new multi-year broadcast rights agreement with TEGNA to bring all Mavericks games not exclusively televised nationally to approximately 10 million people in Texas, for free over-the-air, nearly tripling the current number of households the Mavericks can reach across the state.

Starting with the Mavs vs. Suns game on Oct. 26, TEGNA station KMPX Dallas-Ft. Worth (Ch. 29) will broadcast all games not exclusively televised nationally – 70 or more in the first season – for free over-the-air, with 15 or more games simulcast on WFAA Dallas-Ft. Worth (Ch. 8). The games will also be broadcast on TEGNA stations in Waco (KCEN and KAGS), Tyler (KYTX), Midland-Odessa (KWES), Abilene (KXVA), and San Angelo (KIDY).

WFAA becomes the official local broadcast partner of the Dallas Mavericks and will regularly take fans behind the scenes with extensive Mavericks coverage from lead sports anchor Joe Trahan. WFAA and TEGNA will lead local and regional advertising and sponsorship sales for all local games, and TEGNA will work with partner broadcast companies to announce additional Texas markets in the coming days.

“We are looking forward to giving Dallas Mavericks fans every opportunity possible to watch our exciting team build on the momentum of its incredible run to the NBA Finals last season,” said Patrick Dumont, governor of the Mavericks. “Our new agreement with TEGNA helps meaningfully deliver on that goal by broadcasting more games to more local homes than in any period in franchise history. Through our new partnership with TEGNA and our expanded relationship with WFAA, more Mavs fans than ever before will be able to watch the team they love.”

“We are excited to tip off the new season by bringing our games to more MFFLs across Texas,” said Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall. “It was a pleasure working with TEGNA last season to deliver additional viewing experiences for ten games. Building on the overwhelmingly positive feedback received, we look forward to providing millions more Mavs fans access to watch our games throughout the entire season. Stay tuned and let’s go Mavs!”

“This is an incredible day for Mavs fans and our partners across Texas, and we are grateful to the Mavericks organization for their partnership and trust,” said Brad Ramsey, senior vice president, media operations, TEGNA. “Mavericks fans, our audience, and our advertising partners had an unbelievable reaction to the 10 games we made available last season, and we are thrilled to build off of that momentum and make every game, home or away, available to more fans, in more homes.”

“Our team is passionate about giving our audience great local stories, and this further cements WFAA as the go-to place for live, local sports,” said Carolyn Mungo, vice president and station manager, WFAA. “Our team could not be more excited to help take the Mavericks viewership to new heights.”

Details on how to watch games by market can be found at mavs.com/broadcast. The Spanish-language content currently airing on Ch. 29 will be relocated to a different channel prior to the start of the Mavericks regular season, and KMPX will become a locally-programmed independent station, already owned and operated by TEGNA. Details on Ch. 29 will be communicated to fans and viewers ahead of the start of the season, including where to watch Ch. 29 by provider. Fans can visit wfaa.com/mavs for information on how to purchase or set up an over-the-air antenna to watch games free over-the-air.

(This post is taken from a TEGNA press release)

Dallas Wings expand local TV

Arlington, TX (April 23, 2025) – Two months after naming TEGNA station KFAA in Dallas-Fort Worth its exclusive local broadcast partner, the Wings are expanding their broadcast reach through additional agreements with TEGNA, Gray Media, and Corridor Television. The agreements will triple the team’s local TV footprint, bringing free, over-the-air Wings games to 6.3 million households across 12 markets during the 2025 season.

The agreements position the Wings as a league leader in both geographic reach and the number of households with access to local broadcasts. This comes on the heels of a franchise-shifting 2025 WNBA Draft for the Wings, highlighted by UConn’s Paige Bueckers as the No. 1 overall pick. The generational talent’s popularity has proven transcendent, as evidenced by television viewership, social media engagement, endorsements signed, and merchandise sales, among other tangible metrics.

“As we prepare for one of the most anticipated seasons in franchise history, we are excited about the opportunity to deliver Dallas Wings basketball into more homes than ever before,” said Wings CEO and Managing Partner Greg Bibb. “Our partners at TEGNA, Gray, and Corridor recognize the incredible demand there is to watch our games and have done a fantastic job in helping us secure additional markets to reach even more of our passionate fanbase.”

Notably, TEGNA worked with the WNBA to add coverage of these games on TEGNA’s KTBU in Houston, KCEN/KAGS-LD in Waco-Killeen, KYTX in Tyler-Longview, KWES in Midland-Odessa, KXVA in Abilene and KIDY in San Angelo. The same games will be carried on Gray Media’s KMYL in Lubbock, KFDA in Amarillo, and KXII in Sherman, along with Corridor Television’s KCWX in San Antonio and KCWX in Austin. Complete station information for the 2025 season is below.

“We’re proud to bring the energy of one of the WNBA’s most exciting teams to fans across the region,” said Brad Ramsey, Senior Vice President, Media Operations at TEGNA. “The passion for the Wings extends well beyond Dallas-Fort Worth, and delivering games free, over- the-air, is a win for both fans and stations.”

“Gray appreciates the opportunity to work with the Wings and TEGNA to bring these exciting games to free over-the-air television in several of our Texas markets,” said Sandy Breland, Gray’s Chief Operating Officer. “This season should be very exciting for the Wings and our viewers.”

“KCWX is excited to help bring Dallas Wings games to more fans than ever before,” said Carmen Tawil, Managing Partner of Corridor Television. “It’s a big moment, and we’re proud to be part of it.”

The Wings announced their 2025 broadcast and streaming schedule at the end of March, which included 28 regular-season games featured on local broadcasts. Additionally, the May 10 preseason game against Japan’s Toyota Antelopes will also be carried in local Dallas Wings markets. See below for the complete list of games available.

The 29 total games available to viewers are (times are listed in CT):

Sat., May 10 vs. Toyota Antelopes, 7 p.m. (preseason)

Mon., May 19 vs. Seattle Storm, 7 p.m.

Wed., May 21 at Minnesota Lynx, 7 p.m.

Sat., May 24 at Atlanta Dream, 2 p.m.

Tues., May 27 at Connecticut Sun, 6 p.m.

Thurs., May 29 at Chicago Sky, 7 p.m.

Sat., May 31 vs. Chicago Sky, 7 p.m.

Sun., June 8 vs. Minnesota Lynx, 3 p.m.

Wed., June 11 at Phoenix Mercury, 9 p.m.

Tues., June 17 vs. Golden State Valkyries, 7 p.m.

Sun., June 22 at Washington Mystics, 2 p.m.

Tues., June 24 vs. Atlanta Dream, 7 p.m.

Sat., June 28 vs. Washington Mystics, 7 p.m.

Thurs., July 3 vs. Phoenix Mercury, 7 p.m.

Mon., July 7 at Phoenix Mercury, 9 p.m.

Wed., July 9 at Chicago Sky, 7 p.m.

Wed., July 16 vs. Las Vegas Aces, 7 p.m.

Tues., July 22 at Seattle Storm, 9 p.m.

Sun., July 27 vs. Las Vegas Aces, 3 p.m.

Wed., July 30 vs. Atlanta Dream, 7 p.m.

Tues., Aug. 5 at New York Liberty, 6 p.m.

Sun., Aug. 10 vs. Washington Mystics, 3 p.m.

Wed., Aug. 20 at Los Angeles Sparks, 9 p.m.

Sun., Aug. 24 vs. Golden State Valkyries, 3 p.m.

Wed., Aug. 27 vs. Connecticut Sun, 7 p.m.

Mon., Sept. 1 at Minnesota Lynx, 7 p.m.

Thurs., Sept. 4 at Golden State Valkyries, 9 p.m.

Sun., Sept. 7 at Los Angeles Sparks, 5 p.m.

Thurs., Sept. 11 vs. Phoenix Mercury, 7 p.m.

Stations airing the games (subject to change) include:

Dallas-Fort Worth: KFAA 29.1 (TEGNA)

Abilene: KXVA 15.2 (TEGNA)

Amarillo: KFDA 10.2 (Gray)

Austin: KCWX 2.1, KCWX 2.2 (Corridor)

Houston: KTBU 55.1

Lubbock: KMYL 14.1 (Gray)

Midland-Odessa: KWES 9.2 (TEGNA)

San Angelo: KIDY 6.2 (TEGNA)

San Antonio: KCWX 2.1, KCWX 2.2 (Corridor)

Sherman: KXII 12.2 (Gray)

Tyler-Longview: KYTX 19.3 (TEGNA)

Waco-Killeen: KCEN 6.2, KAGS 23.2 (TEGNA)

KHOU 11 buys KTBU 55

UPDATE APRIL 2021

Quest Houston moves to 55.1 from 11.4 - Twist replaces 

UPDATE MARCH 27, 2020
TEGNA takes over KTBU 55

KHOU 11's owner TEGNA, just bought KTBU 55 from Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) for $15 million



TEGNA, owner of KHOU 11 in Houston, has bought channel 55 KTBU for $15 million.

A new Houston duopoly is born.

This is making big news in the radio trade world because current KTBU owner, Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS), is really more of a radio company and are reportedly selling off unrelated assets to pay off debt. Looking at my old post, SBS paid $16 million for KTBU around nine years ago.

Since 2011, KTBU has been Spanish language network Mega TV. Now that SBS is selling the station, one would assume the Mega network it runs leaves with it, but you never know, maybe TEGNA will keep it.

More likely, TEGNA will program its other offerings on it.

For example, it owns multicast programming like Justice Network and Quest. Will these shows stay on the KHOU digital sub-channels or go to KTBU? Who knows?

Will KTBU re-air KHOU newscasts like #HTownRush or maybe its own shows like Great Day Houston mixed in with syndicated fare? Once again, who knows right now?

This will not the first Houston duopoly or one owner owning multiple stations.

Houston TV already has:

Fox Television Stations Incorporated
KRIV FOX
KTXH My20

Univision
KXLN‐DT UNI
KFTH‐DT UnM

So how can one company own multiple television stations in one city?

Let's go straight to the TEGNA-KTBU deal's FCC filing where attorney's say:

The Transaction complies with the Commission’s local television multiple ownership rule, as reinstated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit effective as of November 29, 2019. The rule allows ownership of two television stations in the same DMA that have overlapping contours so long as (1) at least one of the stations is ranked below the top four stations in the market, based on the most recent all-day audience share measured by professional, accepted audience ratings services,2
and (2) “[a]t least 8 independently owned and operating, full-power commercial and noncommercial TV stations would remain post-merger in the DMA in which the communities of license of the TV stations in question are located.”
The Transaction meets this requirement because, in Nielsen’s December 2019 survey, KTBU placed below the top four stations in all-day household share,4 and after consummation of the proposed Transaction there would remain more than eight independently owned and operating full-power commercial and noncommercial television stations in the Houston DMA.5
Furthermore, because TEGNA has no attributable interest in any radio station or newspaper in the Houston DMA, the Commission’s local media ownership rules governing local radio ownership, radio-television cross-ownership, and newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership are not implicated by the Transaction.
Finally, because TEGNA already owns KHOU, a VHF station located in the Houston DMA, TEGNA’s acquisition of KTBU (a UHF station) would have no effect on TEGNA’s national television audience reach.6 Accordingly, grant of the instant license assignment application would comply with the Commission’s media ownership rules.

Still awake? I'm not. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Now some Houston TV watchers might remember when KTBU 55 was "The Tube" and owned by Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church. Or maybe the actual church owned it, not sure. Lakewood sold KTBU in 2006 to USFR Media Group.

In 2007, USFR Media Group moved KTBU to the old News 24 Houston facility on Beltway 8.

I would assume that TEGNA moves KTBU in with channel 11 at its new digs at 5718 Westheimer. Now both staffs can run across the street for a Pappas Burger run.

Stay tuned.

TEGNA expands management roles

Raquel Amparo

McLean, Va. – TEGNA CEO Patrick Paolini today announced four leadership appointments, naming industry veterans to expanded roles across the business.

“Each of these individuals has a proven record of measurable results built on experience, strong instincts and sound judgment,” Paolini said. “As our leadership team continues to grow, these are the qualities that will shape TEGNA’s future.”

Marc Sher has been promoted to senior vice president and general counsel, overseeing all of TEGNA’s legal matters, including, among other things, compliance, contracts, litigation, regulatory matters, and risk management.

Raquel Amparo has been named senior vice president of content, leading the company’s content strategy, creation and content partnerships across platforms.

Melissa Jones will become senior vice president of human resources (HR), directing the company’s people strategy, including talent acquisition, employee relations, compensation and benefits, and organizational development.

Pamela Long has been promoted to senior vice president of finance, managing the company’s financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and capital planning.

About the team:

Marc Sher joined TEGNA in 2013 and most recently served as vice president, associate general counsel and secretary, with experience spanning commercial agreements, regulatory compliance, litigation, M&A support and privacy and data security. He previously was a partner at Dow Lohnes PLLC and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Emory University and a law degree from The George Washington University Law School.

Raquel Amparo, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and Kneeland Fellow with more than 20 years of news experience, has been promoted from vice president of content for TEGNA’s Texas markets. In this role, she helped develop multi-platform content strategies to elevate enterprise and solutions-based journalism. Amparo previously served as president and general manager for CBS 11 News Texas KTVT and held roles at Univision Communications and FOX Television. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Miami.

Melissa Jones joined TEGNA in 2016 as vice president of human resources. She leads the HR business partner team across the company’s 64 stations in 51 markets, as well as talent acquisition and development. Jones previously held global HR roles at General Electric across several divisions. She began her career as an employment attorney and holds a law degree and a master’s degree from the Catholic University of America, and a bachelor’s degree from Mount Union University in Ohio.

Pamela Long joined TEGNA in 2015, and most recently served as vice president of finance and operations, leading the finance business partner team that supports TEGNA’s business units. Long is responsible for revenue optimization, performance metrics, business initiative analysis, budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting. Prior to joining TEGNA, Long held various finance and accounting positions at Northcentral University, University of Phoenix, the Institute for Professional Development, Marriott Vacation Club International and CNF Mobile Solutions. She began her career in public accounting. Long holds an MBA in international business from Northcentral University, a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Northern Arizona University and is a certified public accountant (CPA).

TEGNA stations like KHOU back on DirecTV & U-Verse

TEGNA and AT&T have reached a deal.  It's a Christmas miracle.  Your favorite TEGNA station is back on DirecTV and AT&T U-Verse systems.

People on my Facebook page comments will have to find another topic to discuss now.

TEGNA owns television stations in the great state of Texas like KHOU Houston, WFAA Dallas, KENS San Antonio, KVUE Austin, KCEN Waco, KAGS College Station, KYTX Tyler, KIII Corpus Christi, KBMT-KJAC Beaumont, KXVA Abilene and KIDY San Angelo.

Here is the official release:

TYSONS, Va. & DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) and AT&T (NYSE: T) have entered into a new multi-year retransmission consent agreement to provide TEGNA-owned local broadcast stations to customers of AT&T’s video platforms across the country. All TEGNA stations are returning today to any impacted AT&T homes.

AT&T and TEGNA regret any inconvenience to their customers and viewers and thank them for their patience.

The agreement includes retransmission consent for all 64 TEGNA-owned stations serving 51 Nielsen markets including Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Phoenix, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa and Washington, among many others. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. 

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle reported that during the TEGNA blackout, the Houston Texans game ratings took a sack. 

KHOU 11 awards $88,000 to help 8 Houston-area nonprofit organizations

TEGNA Foundation and KHOU 11 Award $88,000 to Help Eight Houston-Area Nonprofit Organizations


The TEGNA Foundation, the charitable foundation sponsored by TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA), and KHOU 11, TEGNA’s CBS affiliate in Houston, announced today they will award eight area nonprofit organizations with community grants each totaling $11,000. The community grants in Houston address pressing needs, including education, infant and childhood hunger, support for at-risk youth and aim to make a difference in communities in the region.

Among the grant recipients are:
Bo’s Place. The grant will provide free grief and mental health support to children in both English and Spanish.

Camp For All Foundation. The grant will support a week-long camp experience at eight Houston area hospitals to serve children and youth with challenging illnesses or special needs.

Lunches of Love. The grant will help fill the gap for children living in food insecure homes.

“Our employees are driven by our strongly-held purpose to serve the greater good of our communities and to make a difference in our work, our company and our communities,” said TEGNA president and CEO Dave Lougee. “We’re very proud to partner with our local stations to help address important community needs and support the well-being of our neighbors.”

“In our commitment to serve and celebrate with our community, we are thrilled to award these grants that will go towards making Houston a better place to live,” said KHOU 11 president and general manager Robert Springer. “We received grant applications from over one hundred and forty organizations. This was such a tough decision because we have so many deserving nonprofits doing great work in our community.”

TEGNA Foundation Community Grants support the diverse needs of the communities where TEGNA does business, with the majority of distributed grants falling into four of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Categories: Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, No Poverty, and Zero Hunger. Grants are vetted by a committee of employees at each station, including the station general manager, and approved by the TEGNA Foundation Board of Directors. For information on how to apply for Round Two of the TEGNA Foundation Community Grants, click here.

(This post was taken from a release sent to me by KHOU)

KHOU 11 and TEGNA Foundation Award $88,000 in Community Grants

KHOU 11 and the TEGNA Foundation, the charitable foundation sponsored by TEGNA Inc., have awarded 8 area nonprofit organizations community grants totaling $88,000.

Community grants in Houston are aimed at alleviating community concerns such as education, unemployment, homelessness, at-risk youth, autism, etc.

Among the grant recipients are:

• A 2nd Cup: The grant will support Brazen Table a holistic culinary and job skills

training program operating as an extension of the mission and operations of A

2nd Cup. A 2nd Cup is Houston's only non-profit coffee shop dedicated to ending

human trafficking through community education and awareness, partnering with

other anti-trafficking organizations, and investing in aftercare for survivors of

trafficking.

• Community Family Centers: The grant will be used for CFC’s afterschool program

which improves academic achievement and increases student attendance and

interest in school. The program primarily provides services to Hispanic youth in

the Austin High School feeder pattern in Magnolia Park and Second Ward, in

Houston’s East End.

• Love Fosters Hope: The grant will help cover the cost of uniquely designed

summer camps for children and teens in foster care. The camps create a safe

environment where the children can escape and play.

“We are thrilled to award these grants to eight organizations who stand for Houston by uplifting and empowering our neighbors,” said KHOU 11 president and general manager Robert Springer. “This is such a deserving group of nonprofits and we look forward to seeing how they use these funds to improve our community and the lives of the people they serve.”

“We are proud to support KHOU 11 as they serve those in need in Houston,” said Dave Lougee, president and CEO, TEGNA. “Our stations’ commitment to investing in their local communities is core to our purpose of serving the greater good. We are proud that we were recently named one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States for the third consecutive year and the Telecommunications Sector Leader by The Civic 50 by Points of Light.”

The TEGNA Foundation Community Grants program addresses the diverse local community needs in communities served by TEGNA. Most grants awarded fall into one of the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Categories: Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, and Zero Hunger. Other goals supported include Decent Work and Economic Growth, Reduced Inequality, No Poverty, Life Below Water, and Life on Land. 

Community Grants are vetted by a committee of employees at each station, including the station general manager, and approved by the TEGNA Foundation Board of Directors.

 Stations also amplify the impact of the TEGNA Foundation’s charitable contributions through reporting and employee volunteerism. For information or to apply for a TEGNA Foundation Community Grant, click here.

(This post was taken from a release sent to me by KHOU)

Nexstar + Tegna, what about Texas stations, plus the dissent

 

On Thursday evening, it was announced that Texas-based Nexstar Media Group, Inc., had closed its $6.2 billion merger with TEGNA Inc. following approval of the transaction by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).

So the TL;DR of all this is that Nexstar now owns around 260 TV stations across the United States, including the CW TV network and the NewsNation cable channel. The company must get rid of six stations within two years, the FCC says.   

For this deal to even happen, the FCC had to grant Nexstar a waiver lifting the ownership cap.  In the past, TV owners could own only a limited number of stations, limiting their reach to 39% of the country. Deadline says the new Nexstar will now broadcast to around 80% of the country.

I haven't seen this discussed, but if Nexstar can go above the 39% cap, what's to stop another TV company from doing the same?  Believe me, I have talked to another station group that has been preparing for this cap to be lifted. Stay tuned.

“This transaction is essential to sustaining strong local journalism in the communities we serve," Nexstar’s Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Perry Sook, said in a release.  "By bringing these two outstanding companies together, Nexstar will be a stronger, more dynamic enterprise—better positioned to deliver exceptional journalism and local programming with enhanced assets, capabilities, and talent. We are grateful to President Trump, Chairman Carr, and the DOJ for recognizing the dynamic forces shaping the media landscape and enabling this transaction to move forward.”

“The FCC has been focused on empowering broadcast TV stations to serve their local communities, consistent with their public interest obligations," Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr added in a separate statement from the FCC.  "Today’s agency decision does exactly that as both the record and Nexstar’s enforceable commitments demonstrate.  For too long, the FCC stood by while newspapers closed by the dozen in communities all across the country.  Those trusted sources of local news and information shuttered while the FCC dithered.  If you care about local news, you should care about the future of local broadcast TV stations.  Often, they are the ones in a market doing the gumshoe reporting that citizens value and need.  By approving this transaction, which allows Nexstar to own less than 15% of television stations, the FCC acts mindful of the media marketplace that exits today—not the one from decades past—and the agency ensures that these broadcasters have the resources to continue investing in their local news operations.  

“The D.C. Circuit has already determined that the relevant media ownership regulation is an agency rule, not a firm statutory limit, and the full Commission has reached the same determination on multiple occasions.  Waiving that rule here is consistent with longstanding FCC authorities and doing so promotes the underlying purpose of the FCC’s media regulations by promoting competition, localism, and diversity.  I want to thank the Media Bureau team for their great work on this matter.”

When the mega TV merger paperwork arrived at the FCC in December 2025, the agency said TEGNA operated 64 full-power broadcast television stations, one AM radio station, and one FM radio station.  Nexstar operated 201 stations in 116 television markets.  According to the applicants’ press release, the companies’ footprints overlapped in 35 designated market areas (DMAs), and the combined company would operate 265 full-power television stations in 44 states and the District of Columbia and in 132 of the country’s 210 television DMAs.  The applicants sought both a waiver of the FCC’s National Television Multiple Ownership rule and waivers of the Local Television Ownership rule in 23 DMAs to allow it to own more than two stations in the DMA; in addition, the consolidated company would own two stations in each of 17 DMAs.  Nexstar has committed to divesting 6 stations across 6 DMAs, as well as to commitments on affordability and localism.

For those who call NexStar the DeathStar

But not everyone is happy about the giant local television station merger...

Earlier, eight states filed suit to block the big media merger.

And you don't have to go farther than the FCC's own website to find a dissenting voice on the merger.

Today, FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez issued the following statement after the FCC's Media Bureau approved the Nexstar/TEGNA merger, which violates the existing 39% national ownership cap in federal law, without an open and transparent process and a vote before the full Commission:

“The FCC has once again chosen bureaucratic cover over public accountability. This merger was approved behind closed doors with no open process, no full Commission vote, and no transparency for the consumers and communities who will bear the consequences. A transaction of this magnitude, which includes new and novel issues before the FCC, demands open deliberation before the full Commission, not a quiet sign-off meant to avoid public scrutiny. Given the increasingly alarming pace of reckless media consolidation, the American public deserves to know how and why this decision was made.

“Local journalism is under extraordinary strain. Across the country, newsrooms are being consolidated, reporters laid off, and editorial decisions made far from the communities broadcast stations are licensed to serve. The Nexstar/TEGNA merger will accelerate exactly that trend, concentrating broadcast power in fewer corporate hands, shrinking independent editorial voices, and prioritizing national business interests over local needs. Nexstar has already begun cutting newsrooms throughout the country, and as these billion-dollar companies grow even larger, their increased negotiating leverage will drive up fees that translate into higher monthly bills for those families who can least afford them. The consequences of this rubber stamp approval will be felt in living rooms and newsrooms across the country, resulting in fewer voices, less competition, and higher costs for consumers.”

Just tell me about Nexstar-Tegna Texas stations

In Texas, TEGNA owns KHOU Houston, WFAA Dallas, KENS San Antonio, KVUE Austin, KCEN Waco, KAGS College Station, KYTX Tyler, KIII Corpus Christi, KBMT-KJAC Beaumont, NewsWest 9 KWES Midland-Odessa, KXVA Abilene, and KIDY San Angelo. Nexstar will now own multiple TV stations in Houston, DFW, and Austin.  But wait, Nexstar already owns multiple stations in smaller Texas markets.

So what does all this mean for the future of Nexstar-Tegna in Texas?

Uncle Perry, as the Nexstar CEO is often called, said on a podcast in October:

"From where I speak, and here in Dallas, we own the CW affiliate (CW33 KDAF), Tegna owns the ABC affiliate (WFAA 8).

"There's no local news on the CW because we can't afford to compete in a market like Dallas with a CW affiliate stand alone. So when we combine the two, they'll be in one building with, you know, one set of back office folks, and we'll be able to take the ABC news operation and expand their footprint and put, you know, news on the CW at 9:00, because ABC is programming until 10:00. We'll be able to when they go to Good Morning America, 7 to 9 in the morning, we'll be able to program local news on the CW affiliate using a lot of the same resources." 

In Houston, KIAH only produces a CW39 morning newscast. In 2025, the KHOU 11 morning anchors launched an all-digital newscast at 7am. So why wouldn't the newly merged company just simulcast that online version on CW39, too?  I expect that once the contract is up, the current CW39 9pm leased newscast from ABC13 KTRK will be replaced by "KHOU 11 News at 9pm on CW39."

UPDATE JULY 2026
KHOU 11 to provide CW39 9pm newscast

Last year, I guessed that CW39 would move to KHOU's Westheimer studios for now.  Since Nexstar owns the KIAH studios, they could tear down that building and build a new, larger, modernized space for both stations to eventually move back into. This is probably wrong, though.

Since then, I've heard a rumor that CW39 is moving into KHOU's Westheimer studios and both stations will stay there for the foreseeable future.

Stay tuned for more as the details are ironed out.

Oh, and the market that interests me the most in this is Austin. Nexstar's KXAN is the top-rated station.  I believe TEGNA's KVUE has the second-highest ratings.  What will happen in our state capitol in this situation?

In the meantime, here is the Perry A. Sook memo sent out to employees today titled "Welcome to Day 1":

" Today marks an important and historic milestone for Nexstar Media Group, Inc.  With the closing of the transaction announced last August, Nexstar and TEGNA are now one company, which I think of as “New Nexstar.”  Together, we have an exciting array of assets in the U.S. focused on creating and delivering local content to the communities we serve, backed by the resources and collective vision necessary to adapt to the realities of a rapidly changing media environment.  Our future is filled with both threats to our business and opportunities to continue to evolve our company to not only survive those threats but to thrive. 

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who worked so hard these last nine months to bring this transaction to a successful conclusion.  Even more important, whether you are a long-time Nexstar employee or you are just joining the Nexstar Nation, we want to thank all of you for your continuing focus and commitment to serving our customers, viewers, users, and communities throughout the acquisition process.

Nexstar was built from a single TV station based on a commitment to serving its communities by producing and distributing the best possible local news and programming.  New Nexstar today produces more than 400,000 hours of local content annually.  Our local sales force does business with more than 60,000 SMBs in forty-four states.  This local focus will continue to be our Northstar, and we will look for opportunities to expand our local content presence wherever possible.

Now, some important housekeeping information.  For those of you joining us from TEGNA, you will be given credit for your years of service at TEGNA in terms of qualifying for Nexstar’s benefit and vacation policies.  You will remain on your current TEGNA benefit plans and payroll system for the remainder of 2026.  This ensures that you are not hit with double withholding taxes or double health insurance deductibles in this partial year period.  Beginning in October, Nexstar’s Human Resources team will distribute detailed information about those plans as part of getting you prepared for Open Enrollment in November.

We are also pleased to invite our new colleagues to join us in participating in the celebration of Nexstar’s annual “Founder’s Day of Caring,” being held on Friday, June 12.  It is a day when employees across the company are given half-day paid time-off to volunteer at local non-profit and/or community service organizations.  This year’s Founder’s Day is particularly special, as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Nexstar’s founding.  More detailed information about this effort will be shared in the next several days, and we are excited for you to take part in this very special connection to our communities.

Finally, we will host a town hall meeting for all our employees next week, which we will broadcast to all our locations.  We will talk about the roadmap ahead, our top priorities for the remainder of 2026, and our expectations through year-end and beyond.

To our newest employees, welcome to the Nexstar Nation!  We are going to do great things together.

With gratitude and a great deal of excitement for what lies ahead"

The TEGNA cuts of 2024

My LinkedIn feed is full of reports of TEGNA's job cuts this week. This makes TEGNA just the latest to have layoffs or buyouts.

Here is the memo from executive vice president and chief operating officer of media operations Lynn Beall, who will depart from TEGNA in mid-2025: 

"Today, we’re sharing that we’re centralizing our marketing team. This team will share the same goals as stations – growing audience and revenue. 

We know this change won’t be easy, but it is a necessary step to becoming more focused, effective and strategic in our marketing efforts. This will eliminate duplication of work and allow us to apply best practices across the entire organization.

The team will oversee key areas including the growth of our stations and audience, digital marketing, consumer insights, community engagement, commercial production and strategic initiatives like sponsorships and sports. This structure will include regional marketing leaders who will oversee multiple stations and markets. We encourage everyone to apply for roles on the new team.

Unfortunately, because not everyone will have a seat in the new structure, we have also created a transition period for marketing employees through mid-January.

We’re very thankful for the hard work and dedication of our marketing teams and the positive impact they’ve made in serving our communities."

NewscastStudio reports that TEGNA is creating seven regional marketing hubs to eliminate hundreds of marketing jobs from its local television stations. 

FTVLive says that more than marketing jobs were also cut.

TEGNA tried to merge with Standard General in 2022, but regulatory pushback killed that effort. So, maybe this is preparation for the next deal.

Just today, TEGNA issued a release stating its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of 12.5 cents per share, payable on January 2, 2025, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 6, 2024.

In Texas, TEGNA owns KHOU Houston, WFAA Dallas, KENS San Antonio, KVUE Austin, KCEN Waco, KAGS College Station, KYTX Tyler, KIII Corpus Christi, KBMT-KJAC Beaumont, KXVA Abilene and KIDY San Angelo.

TEGNA, owner of KHOU and many Texas stations, announces furloughs

TEGNA, owner of Texas stations like KHOU Houston, WFAA Dallas, KENS San Antonio, KVUE Austin, KCEN Waco, KAGS College Station, KYTX Tyler, KIII Corpus Christi, KBMT-KJAC Beaumont, KXVA Abilene and KIDY San Angelo has announced week long furloughs to come this month.

"On one hand, we're experiencing large increases in ratings and traffic across all our platforms," Dave Lougee, president and CEO of TEGNA told employees in an email. "But on the other hand, and for obvious reasons, many businesses have decreased or in some cases pulled their current advertising and marketing campaigns because of COVID-19. In anticipation of this possibility, we made operational decisions in early March to keep costs down, including eliminating all non-essential expenses."

Scott Jones of FTVLive has the full employee memo.

Poynter reports starting the week of April 20 to June 26, employees will be furloughed for a week. Management will take a, "commensurate 8% temporary pay reduction and general managers and corporate senior vice presidents and above will receive a 20% temporary pay reduction.”

Even the TEGNA board of directors will take a 25% pay cut for three months.

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