Information On Jointly Operated TV Stations Around The US
by ABC-7 Reporter/Meteorologist Andrew Chung
The shared services agreement between KTSM and KDBC is something that has already taken effect at numerous other television stations across the country.
Note that a joint marketing agreement is different from a duopoly. In a duopoly, a broadcast company owns two television stations within the same market.
In a joint marketing agreement, also called a local marketing agreement (LMA) or shared services agreement, the parent company of one station in a city may manage certain aspects of another station in that same city, such as news operations and sales, even though the latter station is owned by another company.
Listed below are several examples of television stations around the country engaged in LMAs or duopolies:
LMAs IN TEXAS
In Lubbock, Nexstar Broadcasting Group owns KLBK (CBS) and operates KAMC (ABC) under a Local Marketing Agreement. The two stations have a combined news and sales operation but have separate newscasts and branding with separate on-air talent.
In Abilene, Nexstar Broadcasting Group owns KTAB (CBS) and operates KRBC (NBC) under a Local Marketing Agreement. The two stations operate out of the same building but maintain separate on-air news staff.
In San Angelo, Nexstar Broadcasting Group owns KLST (CBS) and operates KSAN (NBC) under a Local Marketing Agreement, but maintains separate on-air news staff for both stations.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM (DUOPOLY)
LIN Television owns KRQE (CBS) and KASA (FOX) in Albuquerque as a duopoly. KRQE produces a 9pm newscast for KASA, using KRQE’s staff.
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JACKSONVILLE, FL (DUOPOLIES)
Jacksonville- WTLV (NBC) and WJXX (ABC) were two separate stations until 2000. WTLV is owned by Gannett while WJXX until 2000 was owned by Albritton Communications Group. Gannett bought WJXX from Albritton and merged the two news operations together, laying off staffers from the ABC station. The newscasts and the branding are similar, and the two stations share anchors and reporters.
WTEV became the CBS affiliate in Jacksonville in 2002 after the then-CBS affiliate, WJXT, became an independent station. Newport Television owns WTEV and WAWS (FOX), and the two stations share on-air staff and resources, with similar branding.
FORT MYERS / NAPLES, FL (LMA)
Ft. Myers/Naples, FL- WBBH (NBC) and WZVN (ABC) were two separate stations until the early 1990s. Waterman Broadcasting owns WBBH and operates WZVN under a local marketing agreement. Management oversees both stations, but the two have separate newscasts and branding. However, the stations will share resources (such as anchors and reporters) in times of breaking news or weather.
FORT WAYNE, IN (DUOPOLY)
In Fort Wayne, WPTA (ABC) and WISE (NBC) were two separate stations until three or four years ago. Granite Broadcasting acquired WISE and merged the station with WPTA. WISE’s staff was let go, and the branding is basically the same on both stations.
JOPLIN, MO / PITTSBURG, KS (LMA)
In Joplin, Missouri / Pittsburg, Kansas, Nexstar Broadcasting Group owns KSNF (NBC) and operates KODE (ABC) under a Local Marketing Agreement, but maintains separate on-air news staff for both stations.
LOS ANGELES, CA (DUOPOLIES)
FOX Television stations owns both KTTV (FOX) and KCOP (MyNetwork TV) in Los Angeles, constituting a duopoly. KCOP had a separate news operation which was discontinued when KTTV’s parent company bought KCOP, resulting in the loss of staff. In addition to its own newscasts, KTTV produces newscasts for KCOP.
CBS owns both KCBS (CBS) and KCAL, an independent station, which also constitutes a duopoly. Both stations are housed in the same building and share on-air news staff and branding.
WEST MICHIGAN (DUOPOLY)
WOTV (ABC) in Battle Creek, MI had its own news operation until it was bought by LIN Television, which owns WOOD (NBC) in Grand Rapids, MI. WOTV currently simulcasts most of WOOD’s newscasts.
