OTA Broadcasting

OTA Broadcasting, LLC was a broadcasting company founded in 2011 by Michael Dell. The company is based in Fairfax, Virginia.

OTA Broadcasting, LLC
Private company
IndustryBroadcast and Digital
Founded2011
Defunct2019
HeadquartersFairfax, Virginia
Key people
Michael Dell, founder
ProductsTelevision
ParentMSD Capital
Websiteotabroadcasting.com

History

OTA Broadcasting was founded in 2011 by Michael Dell's MSD Capital. It had been rumored that Dell formed OTA Broadcasting to buy stations that could be sold in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) spectrum auction.[1]

The company's first acquisition was announced in June 2011 when it was announced that it was acquiring KTLN-TV in San Rafael, California.[2] The purchase closed that October.

OTA reached an agreement to purchase WTBL-CD in Lenoir, NC, located in the Charlotte DMA, for $500,000.[3]

On October 4, 2013, Journal Broadcast Group announced that it had entered an agreement to sell KMIR-TV and KPSE-LD in Palm Springs, California to OTA.[4] The acquisition closed in January 2014. KMIR became OTA's first station affiliated with one of the "Big Three" networks.

On April 13, 2017, the FCC announced that OTA's WEMW-CD was a successful bidder in the spectrum auction, and would be surrendering its license in exchange for $12,394,400.[5] OTA surrendered WEMW-CD's license to the FCC for cancellation on July 21, 2017.

Post-spectrum auction

On July 21, 2017, OTA Broadcasting announced its sale of KMIR-TV and KPSE-LD to Entravision Communications for $21 million.[6] The sale completed November 1, 2017.[7]

On August 7, 2017, it was announced that Nexstar Media Group would acquire the non-spectrum operating assets of WLWC from OTA.[8]

Weigel Broadcasting, on October 25, 2017, announced it would acquire KAXT-CD, KTLN-TV, KFFV, and KVOS-TV for $23.2 million.[9]

NBCUniversal filed an application to purchase WYCN-CD on October 27, 2017.[10]

In November 2017, HC2 Holdings announced they were purchasing low-power television stations from OTA, including WKHU-CD Kittanning, PA, WMVH-CD in Charleroi, PA, WWKH-CD in Uniontown, PA, WWLM-CD in Washington, PA and WJMB-CD in Butler, PA for $275,000. In a separate deals, HC2 is buying KUGB-CD in Houston for $1.5 million and W21CK-D in Charlotte for $500,000.[11]

On December 5, 2017, Ion exercised an option to buy the WLWC license for $150,000; the deal was made possible by a change in FCC ownership rules that eliminated the requirement that there be at least eight owners of television stations in a market following the formation of a duopoly. Ion also entered into a shared services agreement, retroactive to October 1, to operate WLWC.

Former stations
City of license / Market Station Channel
TV (RF)		 Owned from Status
Palm Springs KMIR-TV 36 (46) 2014–2017 NBC affiliate owned by Entravision Communications
KPSE-LD 29 (50) 2014–2017 MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Entravision Communications
San Rafael – San Francisco – San Jose KTLN-TV 68 (47) 2011–2019 Heroes & Icons owned-and-operated station (O&O), owned by Weigel Broadcasting
KAXT-CD 1 (42) 2016–2019 Decades owned-and-operated station (O&O), owned by Weigel Broadcasting
Nashua – Boston WYCN-CD 13 (36) 2013–2018 NBC owned-and-operated station (O&O), WBTS-CD
Lenoir – Charlotte WTBL-CD 49 (49) 2015–2017 defunct, License cancelled October 25, 2017
New York City WEBR-CD 49 (17) 2012–2017 Universal Affiliates Network affiliate, WNDT-CD, owned by WNET
Bridgeport – Wheeling WVTX-CD 28 (28) 2013–2017 defunct, License cancelled October 25, 2017
Pittsburgh WEPA-CD 59 (16) 2013–2017 defunct, License cancelled October 25, 2017
WEMW-CD 59 (19) 2013–2017 defunct, License cancelled October 25, 2017
New Bedford – Providence WLWC 28 (17) 2013–2018 Ion Life owned-and-operated station (O&O)
Houston KUGB-CD 28 (28) 2013–2017 GEB America owned by HC2 Holdings
Bellingham – Seattle KVOS-TV 12 (35) 2012–2018 Heroes & Icons owned-and-operated station (O&O), owned by Weigel Broadcasting
KFFV 44 (44) 2011–2018 MeTV owned-and-operated (O&O) station, owned by Weigel Broadcasting
Weirton WJPW-CD 18 (18) 2013–2017 defunct, License cancelled October 25, 2017
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References
  1. Resigner, Don (January 13, 2016). "Michael Dell Could Make Billions off TV Stations You Don't Watch". Fortune. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  2. O'Connor, Clare (July 7, 2011). "Why Is Michael Dell Buying Up Bankrupt TV Stations?". Forbes. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  3. Malone, Michael (May 13, 2015). "OTA Broadcasting Picks Up North Carolina Station for Half Million". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  4. "KMIR6 and KPSE My13 Being Sold to New Owner". Palm Springs, CA: KMIR-TV. October 4, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  5. "FCC Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction — Auction 1001 Winning Bids" (PDF).
  6. McAdams, Deborah D. (July 21, 2017). "OTA Sells KMIR, KPSE in Palm Springs for $21 Million". TVTechnology. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  7. Staff, FCC Internet Services. "Application View ... Redirecting". licensing.fcc.gov.
  8. "Nexstar Media Group acquiring non-license assets of Providence CW affiliate". WPRI-TV. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  9. "Expanding Weigel Buys Into S.F., Seattle". TVNewsCheck.com. October 25, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  10. "Application For Consent To Assignment Of Broadcast Station Construction Permit Or License". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. October 27, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  11. "OTA Sheds TV Properties That Didn't Move In Incentive Auction - Radio & Television Business Report". www.rbr.com.
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