Friday, August 15, 2008

Disney: Our stations are NOT for sale

Disney has denied a report from investment research firm Caris & Co. that it planned to sell its ten ABC O&Os, and would focus on distributing content.

Disney owns TV stations in the largest markets, including WLS-TV in Chicago. All three major networks have sold stations in the past year, although in smaller markets such as Milwaukee, St. Louis, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, and Green Bay. Some new privately-held broadcast companies have popped up as a result, including Four Points and Oak Hill's Local TV LLC (whose slogan is "The vision you can't ignore" - a Randy Michaels presentation.)

ABC owned-and-operated stations are the most successful in the business, with WLS and New York's WABC-TV and Philadelphia's WPVI listed as the most dominant outlets in their respective markets, with a strong syndicated lineup consisting of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Wheel of Fortune, Jeporady!, and Live With Regis & Kelly (except in Chicago, where Regis & Kelly airs on WGN-TV.)

In addition to the above three, ABC owns TV stations in Los Angeles (KABC); San Francisco (KGO); Houston (KTRK), Raleigh-Durham, N.C.(WTVD); Fresno (KFSN); Flint, Mich. (WJRT); and Toledo, Ohio (WTVG).

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