Pappas Telecasting
Pappas Telecasting Companies was a diversely organized broadcasting company headquartered in Visalia, California, United States. Founded in 1971, it was one of the largest privately held broadcasting companies in the country, with its stations reaching over 15% of all U.S. households and over 32% of Hispanic households. Apart from owning and/or operating many television stations, the company formerly had two radio stations in its possession, KTRB AM 860 and KMPH-AM 840—changed from KPMP in June 2006 to reflect its nearby sister/flagship television station, Fox affiliate KMPH-TV, both in Fresno, California.
 | |
| Industry | Media |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1971 |
| Defunct | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Visalia, California |
| Services | Broadcast television |
Bankruptcy
On May 10, 2008, thirteen of Pappas' stations filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. Pappas cited "the extremely difficult business climate for television stations across the country" in papers filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware. The company reported in court filings that it had more than $536 million in debt and $460 million in assets. Problems that led to the bankruptcy included poor performance of The CW network, its now-former involvement with Azteca America, and preparations for the 2009 analog shutdown. Stations involved in the bankruptcy were KMPH-TV, KFRE-TV, KPTM, KXVO, WCWG, KPTH, KMEG, KTNC-TV, KAZH, KDBC-TV, KREN-TV, KAZR-CA and KCWK. It was later ordered on September 10, 2008 that the affected stations must be sold off by February 15, 2009. [1] Its other stations, and the corporation itself, were not part of the bankruptcy. [2]
On May 14, 2008, company founder Harry J. Pappas filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy at the Delaware court, where a judge could order his personal assets sold to pay off creditors. [3]
On May 27, 2008, KCWK in Walla Walla, Washington (in the Yakima, Washington television market) ceased operations as a result of the bankruptcy. [4]
On September 17, 2008, bankruptcy trustee E. Roger Williams put KREN and its repeaters under contract to Entravision Communications for $4 million, which would double as a minimum bid for the station as it goes up for auction in late October. [5]
On December 17, 2008, New World TV Group (later renamed, Titan TV Broadcast Group; unrelated to New World Communications) agreed to acquire the remaining Pappas stations involved in the bankruptcy filing.[6][7] The sale was approved by the United States bankruptcy court on January 16, 2009.[8] The remaining stations that weren't involved in the initial bankruptcy filing were later placed in a liquidating trust in December 2011.[9]
KMPH Radio ceased operations September 1, 2010 due to lack of revenue. Two weeks later, KTRB went into receivership with Comerica Bank, under license from KTRB Trust. This marked the end of Pappas era.
Former Pappas-owned stations
Stations arranged alphabetically by state and by city of license.
| City of license / Market | Station | Channel TV (RF) |
Years owned | Current ownership status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opelika - Auburn - Columbus | WLGA | 66 (30) | 1996–2016 | Independent station owned by CNZ Communications, LLC |
| Yuma - El Centro | KSWT | 13 (13) | 2000–2014 | CBS affiliate, KYMA-DT, owned by Cox Media Group (Operated through a SSA by News-Press & Gazette Company) |
| Avalon - Los Angeles | KAZA-TV | 54 (47) | 2001–2018 1 | MeTV owned-and-operated station (O&O), owned by Weigel Broadcasting |
| Fresno - Visalia - Sanger | KMPH-TV | 26 (28) | 1971–2009 | Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
| KFRE-TV | 59 (36) | 2002–2009 | The CW affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
| Bakersfield | KBBV-CD | 19 (19) | 2001–2011 | Estrella TV affiliate owned by Jaco Communications, LLC |
| KBFX-LP (semi-satellite of KMPH) |
58 (29) | 1990–2005 | Fox affiliate, KBFX-CD, owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
| Fort Bragg - Concord - San Francisco - Oakland |
KTNC-TV | 42 (14) | 1996–2009 | Estrella TV affiliate owned by NRJ TV, LLC (Operated through a LMA by Titan TV Broadcast Group) |
| KUNO-TV (satellite of KTNC) |
8 (8) | 1997–2009 | Total Living Network affiliate, KQSL, owned by One Ministries, Inc. | |
| Sacramento - Stockton - Modesto | KRBK/KPWB | 31 (21) | 1994–1998 | The CW affiliate, KMAX-TV, owned by ViacomCBS |
| Vero Beach | WMMF-LP | 19 | 2006–2014 | Independent station owned by Vinions, LLC |
| Ames - Des Moines | KDMI | 19 (19) | 2006–2016 | Tri-State Christian Television owned-and-operated station (O&O) |
| KCWI-TV | 23 (23) | 2001–2016 | The CW affiliate owned by Tegna Inc. | |
| Sioux City | KMEG | 14 (39) | 2005–2009 2 | CBS affiliate owned by Waitt Broadcasting, Inc. (Operated through a LMA by Sinclair Broadcast Group) |
| KPTH | 44 (49) | 1999–2009 | Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
| Lincoln | KFXL-TV | 51 (51) | 2006–2016 3 | Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
| Grand Island | KTVG-TV (satellite of KFXL) |
17 (19) | 1996–2009 4 | defunct (Station ceased operations in April 2010). |
| Superior | KSNB-TV (satellite of KFXL) |
4 (4) | 1996–2009 5 | NBC affiliate owned by Gray Television |
| Kearney - Hastings | KHGI-TV | 13 (13) | 1996–2016 | ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
| Hayes Center | KWNB-TV (satellite of KHGI) |
6 (6) | 1996–2016 | ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
| North Platte | KHGI-CD (satellite of KHGI) |
13 (13) | 2006–2016 | ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
| Omaha - Council Bluffs | KXVO | 15 (38) | 1995–2009 6 | The CW affiliate owned by Mitts Telecasting Company (Operated through a LMA by Sinclair Broadcast Group) |
| KPTM | 42 (43) | 1986–2009 | Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
| KAZO-LP | 57 | 1999–2008 | defunct (Station ceased operations in May 2008, due to bankruptcy). | |
| Reno - Sparks | KREN-TV | 27 (26) | 1995–2009 | Univision affiliate owned by Entravision Communications |
| KAZR-CA | 46 (46) | 1995–2009 | UniMás affiliate, KRNS-CD, owned by Entravision Communications | |
| Lexington - Greensboro - High Point - Winston-Salem |
WCWG | 20 (19) | 1995–2009 | The CW affiliate owned by Hearst Television |
| Greenville - Spartanburg - Asheville - Anderson |
WHNS | 21 (21) | 1984–1988 | Fox affiliate owned by Meredith Corporation |
| WASV-TV | 62 (45) | 1995–2000 | The CW affiliate, WYCW, owned by Nexstar Media Group | |
| Austin | KXLK-CD | 23 (23) | 2003–2015 | Justice Network affiliate owned by Univision Communications |
| Corpus Christi | KXCC-CA | 45 | 2003–2015 | Dark station, KXCC-LD, Owned by Roseland Broadcasting, LLC[10] |
| El Paso | KDBC-TV | 4 (18) | 1999–2009 | CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
| Houston | KVVV/KAZH | 57 (41) | 1999–2009 | Independent station, KUBE-TV, owned by WRNN-TV Associates |
| KHMV-LP | 28 (28) | 1999–2007 | 3ABN affiliate, KUGB-CD, owned by HC2 Holdings | |
| KVVV-LP | 15 (15) | 1999–2013 | Independent station, KVVV-LD, owned by Abraham Telecasting Company, LLC | |
| Walla Walla - Yakima - Pasco - Richland - Kennewick |
KCWK | 9 | 2002–2008 | defunct (Station ceased operations in May 2008, due to bankruptcy). |
| KCWK-LP (satellite of KCWK) |
27 | |||
| Fond du Lac - Milwaukee - Green Bay - Appleton |
WMMF/WWAZ/WIWN | 68 (5) | 1995–2014 | Cozi TV affiliate, owned by CNZ Communications, LLC |
Notes:
- 1 80% was owned by Pappas; 20% was owned by TV Azteca from 2001 until 2018.
- 2 Owned by Waitt Broadcasting, Pappas operated KMEG under a local marketing agreement.
- 3 Owned by Lincoln Broadcasting from 2006-2015, Pappas operated KFXL under a local marketing agreement.
- 4 Owned by Hill Broadcasting, Pappas operated KTVG under a local marketing agreement.
- 5 Owned by Colins Broadcasting, Pappas operated KSNB under a local marketing agreement.
- 6 Owned by Mitts Telecasting Company, Pappas operated KXVO under a local marketing agreement.
Former Broadcast Network
References
- http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/09/24/daily.7/
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-05-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-19. Retrieved 2008-05-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2008-05-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Pappas Saga Turning Into Tragedy, TVNewsCheck, 24 September, 2008.
- http://www.stationindex.com/tv/
- Ellis, Sullivan Poised To Run Pappas TVs, TVNewsCheck, 17 December, 2008.
- Judge Approves Sale Of Pappas Stations, Broadcasting & Cable, 16 January, 2009.
- "Application for Consent to Assign Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License or to Transfer Control of Entity Holding Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License", CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, 21 December 2011, Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- Station Search Details - "KXCC-LP", CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, Retrieved 29 November, 2018.