GM Jim Lutton Says WWMT Sees Positive Changes Under Sinclair Ownership

By Merrill Knox 

Sinclair Broadcast Group officially closed the $385 million acquisition of Freedom Communications eight-station group yesterday, and the stations — which have been operated by Sinclair since December — are already seeing changes.

Jim Lutton, who will continue as vice president and general manager of WWMT in Grand Rapids, told mlive.com that Sinclair wants the station “to be successful.”

Lutton said WWMT has been equipped with new “live stream” technology, which increases the number of areas WWMT can broadcast from using cellular and Web-based devices. The station has also hired new employees.

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“It has allowed us to fill some open positions that have been on hold while we were owned by Freedom,” he said. “So we’ve actually increased staffing.”

The former Freedom Communications stations also include WPEC in West Palm Beach, WRGB-WCWN in Albany, WTVC in Chattanooga, WLAJ in Lansing, KTVL in Medford and KFDM in Beaumont, TX.

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