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By Jason M. Reynolds, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.
Aug. 2--The owner of WDEF-TV has agreed to sell Chattanooga's oldest television station to Morris Multimedia Inc. for about $22 million.
Channel 12's sale is expected to close in the third or fourth quarter of 2006, said Ray Kozakewicz, spokesman for Media General Inc., the station's owner. The Federal Communications Commission first must approve the sale of the CBSaffiliated station to Savannah, Ga.-based Morris.
"We expect this transition to be seamless and continue on" with business, said WDEF general manager Cathy Gugerty.
WDEF, which was founded in 1954, is owned separately from the WDEF radio stations, Ms. Gugerty said.
Richmond, Va.-based Media General in April announced it would sell WDEF and three other CBS stations as part of its acquisition of four NBC stations, according to a prepared statement. Media General completed the NBC acquisitions on June 26. The sale of WDEF and the other three CBS stations is expected to total $100 million.
No announcements have been made concerning staffing or other changes at the station, Ms. Gugerty said. Channel 12 has 75 workers. Morris Multimedia will not assume control of Channel 12 until the FCC approves the deal, she said.
"WDEF is a superior television station with a strong local presence," Charles H. Morris, chairman and CEO of Morris Multimedia, said in a statement.
WDEF was acquired by Media General in 1997 from the former Park Communications. Media General owns about 180 newspapers and other publications and 30 network-affiliated television stations, which reach more than 33 percent of Southeastern households.
Morris Multimedia, one of the largest privately owned media companies in the nation, owns five network-affiliated stations and more than 100 daily and weekly newspapers. In addition to Channel 12, Media General is selling CBS stations KWCH in Wichita, Kan.; WIAT in Birmingham, Ala.; and KIMT in Mason City, Iowa.
E-mail Jason M. Reynolds at jreynolds@timesfreepress.com
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Copyright (c) 2006, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.
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