KPSP and KESQ Merge Operations in Palm Springs

By Merrill Knox 

CBS-affiliate KPSP is merging news operations with ABC-affiliate KESQ in Palm Springs, the two stations announced today. The merger is effective immediately.

In announcing the merger, KPSP owner James Houston said the station was a “labor of love” for his wife, Jackie Lee Houston, who died in September.

“With her passing, we have now made the difficult decision to find a new owner for our television operation,” he said. “While a number of options were carefully considered, a merger with the Bradley family, owners of Gulf-California (KESQ-TV) was ultimately chosen as the best opportunity.”

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Gulf-California Broadcast company also owns three more stations in the market: Fox-affiliate KDFX, CW-affiliate KCWQ and Telemundo-affiliate KUNA. All four stations are headquartered in the same facilities in Palm Desert.

Station sources say KPSP staffers were told of the merger this morning. David Bradley, the CEO of Gulf-California’s parent company, said that as many KPSP employees will be kept as possible.

 

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