Block Communications

Block Communications Inc. (also known as Blade Communications) is an American privately held holding company of various assets, mainly in the print and broadcast media, based in Toledo, Ohio. The company was founded in 1900 in New York City when Paul Block, a German-Jewish immigrant who came to the United States fifteen years prior, formed an ad representation firm for newspaper the Block empire grew to encompass many newspapers on the east coast of the US, however with the Great Depression in the 1930s came the loss of all but three properties: the ad representation firm, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and the Toledo Blade (where Block eventually settled the company upon its purchase in 1927). After Block's death in 1941, his children took over the company and later his grandchildren (one of whom, Allan Block, is company President, CEO & chairman).

Logo of Block/Blade Communications

Company holdings

Newspapers

Television

On November 29, 2008, it was announced that Metro Video Productions, owners of Lima, Ohio low-powered network affiliates WOHL-CA (Fox/MyNetworkTV), WLQP-LP (ABC) and WLMO-LP (CBS), would sell these stations to West Central Ohio Broadcasting, Inc.; one of the company's heads, Allan J. Block, is the chairman of Block Communications, owner of WLIO.[1] Those three stations have since consolidated at WLIO's studios and carry simulcasts of the station's newscasts, with WCOB holding the license interests of the stations.[2]

Cable Systems

Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC)

Cable Television Networks

Non-Media Holdings

  • Metro Fiber & Cable Construction Company (a Toledo-based contractor of fiber optic installation)

Formerly owned

References
  1. "Phipps flips Lima low-power cluster". Television Business Report. November 29, 2008. Archived from the original on June 1, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  2. Sowinski, Greg (December 2, 2008). "WLIO owner buys Fox affiliate, other stations for $2.4 million". The Lima News. Archived from the original on 2008-12-06. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
  3. http://www.telesystem.us/newsroom/press-releases/block-communications-agrees-to-acquire-line-systems/
  4. Archived January 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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