Green Bay’s oldest TV station is about to get its third owner in as many years. As Nexstar continues to divest stations it acquired in the deal to merge with Media General, it will sell Green Bay (market #68) ABC affiliate WBAY and Quad Cities (market #101) NBC affiliate KWQC to Gray TV. Gray will pay $270 million for the two stations.
Nexstar already owned Green Bay’s WFRV and Quad Cities WHBF, both CBS affiliates, necessitating the sale. Last week Nexstar sold off 5 other stations in 4 markets, including WSLS in Roanoke and WCWJ in Jacksonville which will be acquired by Graham Media Group.
WBAY had previously been managed by Gray when the station was owned by troubled Young Broadcasting, which merged with Media General in 2013.
In 2014, when LIN Media merged with Media General it was Green Bay’s FOX affiliate WLUK that was sold off to Sinclair Broadcast Group. With today’s news, Nexstar is selling off WBAY and keeping WFRV.
The deal is expected to be completed at the closing of the Nexstar / Media General transaction later this year, subject to FCC approval.