Nexstar Ousts KLRT GM, Reveals Plans to Merge Facilities with KARK

By Kevin Eck 

Nexstar Broadcasting wasted little time in making changes to Mission Broadcasting’s newly acquired Little Rock stations KLRT (FOX) and KASN (CW).

KLRT general manager Chuck Spohn was let go the day the sale closed while Nexstar made public its plans to merge the stations facilities with its NBC affiliate KARK.

Spohn told TVSpy, “It has been a privilege and pleasure to have successfully managed the FOX16 team for the past 15+years. This team has produced a fantastic product – something we are all very proud of. I wish everyone there continued success as they move forward with this transition to new ownership.”

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Mission Broadcasting closed Thursday on a $60 million deal to buy both KLRT and KASN from Newport Television. Nexstar Broadcasting entered into an outside services agreement with Mission, essentially giving Nexstar control of the stations. Nexstar also owns KARK.

According to Arkansas Business, KARK general manager Mike Vaughn revealed he would take over KLRT and KASN and the three stations would eventually share facilities.

Changes are “developing as we speak,” Vaughn told Arkansas Business.”This will be really fun and exciting down the road.”

Most recently, Nexstar cut staffers and merged departments at its newly acquired stations in Salt Lake City.

[Arkansas TV News]

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