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The Philadelphia Inquirer

By Suzette Parmley, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Feb. 16--Philadelphia sister stations CBS 3 (KYW-TV) and UPN 57 (WPSG-TV) will relocate to an office building six blocks north of City Hall, a move that culminates a three-year search for a new home.

The stations signed a 20-year lease yesterday with Amerimar Enterprises Inc. for 120,000 square feet at 1500 Spring Garden St. for its studios and office space. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

The stations will move in March 2007, around the expiration of their leases at Fifth and Market Streets, according to Michael Colleran, the stations' president and general manager.

"It's a great building which has just had a sizable renovation, and it's a terrific place from which to do television," Colleran said. "The location is ideal for our news-gathering operations because we have major access to all the major highways."

CBS 3 has been broadcasting from its Independence Mall studios since 1972. UPN 57 joined the station there in 2000, when it became part of the CBS family.

Colleran said the stations also looked at sites in South Jersey and the Pennsylvania suburbs.

He said the Spring Garden location satisfied two key requirements -- it provides 30 percent more space, and it allows the stations to stay in the city.

"Our TV stations have always been in the city of Philadelphia, and the goal was to keep them here," he said. "It makes sense to be where the heartbeat is."

About 350 employees will relocate to the custom-designed space. The new location will include a private entrance, two television studios, office space, a public meeting space with skylights, and state-of-the-art communications and satellite facilities.

CBS 3 and UPN 57 are part of the CBS Television Stations division, with 21 CBS stations, 15 UPN, one WB, and two not affiliated with major networks. In September, UPN 57 becomes part of the CW Network -- the new CBS-Warner Bros. network.

Contact staff writer Suzette Parmley at 215-854-2594 or sparmley@phillynews.com.

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