Broadcasting & Cable
Citing evidence of a bleak financial picture and no prospective out-of-market buyer, the FCC has agreed to waive its duopoly rule and has granted the sale of KPXJ Minden, La. to Minden Television.
Minden already owns KTBS Shreveport, and since the sale would leave fewer than eight independently owned TV’s in the market, the deal would ordinarily run afoul of the FCC’s station ownership limits.
But the FCC makes an exception in the case of “failing stations,” and CW affiliate KPXJ filled the till.
According to evidence submitted to the FCC, the station has lost money for the last three years, over most of which time it averaged a 1 share of audience with the exception of two
sweeps ratings books, and was never over 4%.
The FCC requires low audience share and poor financial condition as two of its four criteria for a waiver. More…