Nexstar Broadcasting is reportedly set to merge the news operations of two stations in the Evansville market.
According to the Evansville Courier & Press, the company plans to combine the news departments of WEHT–the ABC-affiliate that it just purchased–and WTVW–the former Fox-affiliate that Nexstar is unloading on Mission Broadcasting, a station group that serves as a sort of holding company for Nexstar-operated stations.
Sources tell the Courier & Press that WTVW’s operations, currently located in downtown Evansville, will move to the studios of WEHT, located in Henderson, KY. Perry Sook, Nexstar’s president and CEO, and Timothy Busch, the company’s co-COO, were reportedly in Henderson on Wednesday speaking with WEHT staff.
As a result of the planned merger, Nexstar is expected to require employees to reapply for their jobs.
Following a contentious battle with Fox Broadcasting over retrans fees, Nexstar lost WTVW’s Fox-affiliation this summer and, wanting to maintain its presence in the market with a network affiliated station, the company agreed to buy WEHT from Gilmore Broadcasting in August.
Requests for comment from Nexstar have not yet been returned. >Update: A Nexstar spokesperson responded to TVSpy with “no comment.”