Lilly Broadcasting
{{short description|American broadcasting company}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Lilly Broadcasting, LLC
| logo = Lilly Logo.png
| logo_size = 150px
| type = private limited liability company
| industry = TV broadcasting
| subsid = SJL Broadcasting
| homepage = {{URL|lillybroadcasting.com}}
| founded = {{start date and age|1999|09}}
| hq_location_city = Erie, Pennsylvania
| hq_location_country = United States
}}
Lilly Broadcasting, LLC is a privately owned American broadcasting company owned and operated by the Lilly Brothers.
The company was formed in September 1999 with the purchase of WENY-TV (ABC) and WENY-FM & AM radio. In 2002, Kevin Lilly purchased WSEE-TV (CBS) in Erie, Pennsylvania and have since added the CBS and The CW affiliates in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and ABC in the Virgin Islands.
Brian and Kevin Lilly are the sons of George Lilly, whose SJL Broadcast Management (also previously known as the Montecito Broadcast Group) was founded in 1984 and based in Montecito, California. SJL owns WICU-TV in Erie and the two Companies purchased three TV stations from Gateway Communications in 2000, and four stations from Emmis Communications in 2005.
Lilly Broadcasting most recently with Sankaty Advisors purchased KITV (ABC) in Hawaii. Lilly sold the station to Byron Allen's Allen Media Broadcasting in 2021.
History
File:Lilly Broadcasting Erie Studios.jpg
WJRT-TV was sold to SJL Broadcast Management in 1989.{{cite web|title=WJRT|url=http://www.michiguide.com/dials/tv/wjrt.html|work=Station Listings|publisher=Michiguide.com|accessdate=21 September 2012}} In 1991, a SJL affiliated partnership,[http://transition.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/News_Releases/nrmm5076.txt Report No. MM 95-60] Media Communications Partners Limited Partnership, purchased WTVG.[http://www.michiguide.com/dials/tv/wtvg.html WTVG TV Channel 13 Toledo, OH]. Michigan Television Dial Guide. Michiguide.com. Retrieved on July 17, 2013.
SJL announced the sale of WJRT-TV and WTVG to Capital Cities/ABC for $155 million in October 1994{{efn-lg|{{inflation|US|155000000|1994|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US}}}}{{cite news |date=August 30, 1995 |title=Capital Cities-ABC Completes Buy of Two TV Stations |work=Associated Press News |url=https://apnews.com/0f7931c0a0cab27df0160c2abdd6f6dd |url-status=live |access-date=April 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101145345/https://apnews.com/0f7931c0a0cab27df0160c2abdd6f6dd |archive-date=January 1, 2019}} after CBS signed a long-term deal with Meredith Corporation, owner of Flint's NBC affiliate, WNEM-TV.{{Cite news |last=Mattern |first=Hal |date=June 30, 1994 |title=Eye say! Channel 5 called up to majors: Homeless CBS picks longtime independent |pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33051073/cbs-calls-up-channel-5-to-televisions/ A7] |work=The Arizona Republic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33050928/eye-say-channel-5-called-up-to-majors/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630063710/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33050928/eye-say-channel-5-called-up-to-majors/ |archive-date=June 30, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} NBC was rumored to be courting WJRT-TV as a possible replacement for WNEM,{{Cite news |last=Pullen |first=Doug |date=September 2, 1994 |title=Channel 5 Adds Weathercaster; Channel 25 Focuses On Health |pages=C16, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/pullen/dwbhjavzlbzsntrhsztvcgjkexwniher_wma-gateway013_1682708957344 C25] |work=Flint Journal |location=Flint, Michigan |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/channel-5-adds-weathercaster-channel-25-focuses-health/jdtphadztqeswjboraoghcothftdaugf_wma-gateway019_1682709195140 |url-status=live |access-date=April 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429041005/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/channel-5-adds-weathercaster-channel-25-focuses-health/jdtphadztqeswjboraoghcothftdaugf_wma-gateway019_1682709195140 |archive-date=April 29, 2023 |via=GenealogyBank}} prompting Capital Cities/ABC to buy the stations outright.{{Cite news |date=October 16, 1994 |title=Notes: Scramble for affiliates |page=2 |work=The Journal Times Spectrum Sunday |location=Racine, Wisconsin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-times-notes-scramble-for-af/123694007/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429041004/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-times-notes-scramble-for-af/123694007/ |archive-date=April 29, 2023}} The deal resulted in WTVG converting from an NBC affiliate to ABC.
In 2000, it purchased the Gateway Communications stations for $96 million.{{efn-lg|{{inflation|US|96000000|2000|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US}}}}{{Cite news|last=Holmes|first=Alisa|last2=A. Rathburn|first2=Elizabeth|date=2000-09-18|title=Changing Hands|work=Broadcasting & Cable|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/00-OCR/BC-2000-09-18-OCR-Page-0039.pdf|access-date=2021-10-27}} In 2002, SJL sold off WOWK-TV to West Virginia Media Holdings for $40.5 million.{{efn-lg|{{inflation|US|40500000|2002|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US}}}}{{Cite news|date=2002-03-04|title=Changing Hands|work=Broadcasting|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/02-OCR/BC-2002-03-04-OCR-Page-0033.pdf|access-date=2021-10-27}} In April 2006, SJL sold off WBNG-TV to Granite Broadcasting for $45 million,{{efn-lg|{{inflation|US|45000000|2006|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US}}}}{{Cite news |work=Buffalo Business First |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2006/07/24/daily24.html|access-date=2021-10-27|title=Granite closes on Southern Tier TV station}} this was followed on July 26, 2006 by selling WTAJ-TV and the licensee assets of WLYH-TV to Nexstar Broadcasting Group for $56 million,{{efn-lg|{{inflation|US|56000000|2006|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US}}}} completely undoing the Gateway/SJL deal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2006/12/25/daily35.html|access-date=2021-10-27|work=Dallas Business Journal |title=Nexstar completes station purchase}}
On July 24, 2007, Montecito announced the sale of all of its remaining stations except WICU (KHON-TV, KOIN, KSNW and KSNT) to New Vision Television, ending the partnership between SJL and The Blackstone Group.[http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6462752.html New Vision Buys Montecito Stations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804024447/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6462752.html |date=2008-08-04 }} Broadcasting & Cable July 24, 2007 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted approval of this sale in late-October of that year, and ownership was officially transferred on November 1.
On March 1, 2009, the last station formally owned by SJL, WICU, transferred its copyrights to Lilly Broadcasting when it merged its news operations with crosstown sister station WSEE-TV. Though SJL still technically exists (and still ostensibly owns WICU), its visible operations have now been subsumed by Lilly Broadcasting.
On November 3, 2010, Broadcasting & Cable magazine announced that SJL Broadcasting made an agreement with Disney to buy back WJRT-TV and WTVG, the two smallest stations in ABC's O&O portfolio.{{cite news|last=Grego|first=Melissa|title=EXCLUSIVE: Disney to Sell Two Stations |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/459382-EXCLUSIVE_Disney_to_Sell_Two_Stations.php |accessdate=21 September 2012|newspaper=Broadcasting & Cable|date=November 3, 2010}} The sale was completed on April 1, 2011 with both stations general manager exiting their positions at change of ownership.[http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/466051-Exclusive_New_GMs_For_Former_ABC_O_Os_in_Flint_Toledo.php Exclusive: New GMs For Former ABC O&Os in Flint, Toledo] Broadcasting & Cable. March 31, 2011. Lilly announced on July 24, 2014, that it would sell both WJRT and WTVG to Gray Television in a $128 million transaction.{{efn-lg|{{inflation|US|128000000|2014|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US}}}}[http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/77940/gray-buys-stations-in-flint-toledo-for-128m "Gray Buys Stations in Flint, Toledo for $128M,"] from TVNewsCheck, 7/24/2014 In 2016, Gray announced that it would operate its bureau in Washington, DC, in cooperation with Lilly.{{cite news|last1=McAdams|first1=Deborah D.|title=Gray Opens Washington, D.C. News Bureau|url=http://www.tvtechnology.com/news/0086/gray-opens-washington-dc-news-bureau/274355|accessdate=September 21, 2016|work=TV Technology|publisher=NewBay Media|date=February 2, 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923020256/http://www.tvtechnology.com/news/0086/gray-opens-washington-dc-news-bureau/274355|archivedate=September 23, 2016}}
On May 13, 2015, Hearst Television announced that it would sell KITV in Honolulu, Hawaii, and its satellites (KHVO in Hilo and KMAU in Wailuku) to SJL; the deal marks the return of the company to Hawaii, following its prior ownership of KHON-TV.{{cite news|last1=Engle|first1=Erika|title=Local TV station sold|url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/20150513_Local_TV_station_sold.html?id=303672211|accessdate=May 14, 2015|work=Hawaii Star-Advertiser|date=May 13, 2015}} The sale was approved by the Federal Communications Commission on July 10, 2015{{cite web|title=Assignment of License|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1677592|work=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=September 10, 2015|date=July 10, 2015}} and completed on September 1, 2015.{{cite web|title=Consummation Notice|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1686862&Service=DT&Form_id=905&Facility_id=64548|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=September 10, 2015|date=September 10, 2015}}
Lilly Broadcasting re-entered radio in 2019 by purchasing the three-station cluster in Warren, Pennsylvania, that had previously been owned by Frank Iorio's Radio Partners; Iorio sold off his only other broadcast asset, Pittsburgh's WJAS, to another buyer in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/201938/wjas-pittsburgh-sold-price-for-wfun-f-st-louis-spi|title = WJAS/Pittsburgh Sold; Price for WFUN-F/St. Louis Spin-Off $8 Million}} Lilly had previously owned and operated radio stations in Elmira before selling those off a few years after acquiring that cluster.{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/176092/lilly-broadcasting-acquires-northwest-pennsylvania-trio/|title=LILLY BROADCASTING ACQUIRES NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA TRIO|work=RadioInsight.com|first=Lance|last=Venta|date=April 12, 2019|accessdate=April 15, 2019}}
Stations
= Current stations =
- Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state and city of license.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Stations currently owned by Lilly Broadcasting ! scope="col" | Media market ! scope="col" | State ! scope="col" | Station ! scope="col" | Purchased ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes | ||
| rowspan="2" | Tamuning | rowspan="2" | Guam
! scope="row" | KTGM | 2023 | {{efn|Owned by Sorensen Media Group.|name=Sorensen}} |
| scope="row" | KEQI-LD
| 2023 || {{efn|name=Sorensen}} | ||
|---|---|---|
| Marquette | Michigan
! scope="row" | WZMQ | 2017 | |
| Elmira | rowspan="2" | New York
! scope="row" | WENY-TV | 2000 | |
| Ithaca
! scope="row" | W07BJ | 2018 | {{efn|Operated by WENY as NY Local Ithaca.{{Cite web|url=https://ithacavoice.com/2018/11/new-local-television-station-opens-in-downtown-ithaca/|title = New local television station opens in Downtown Ithaca|date = 17 November 2018}}}} | |
| rowspan="3" | Erie | rowspan="6" |Pennsylvania
! scope="row" | WICU-FM | 2019 | |
| scope="row" | WICU-TV
| 1996 || | ||
| scope="row" | WSEE-TV
| 2002 || {{efn|Operates under a shared services agreement with WICU.}} | ||
| rowspan="3" |Warren, PA
! scope="row" | WICU | 2019 | ||
| scope="row" | WNAE
| 2019 || | ||
| scope="row" | WRRN
| 2019 || | ||
| Christiansted | U.S. Virgin Islands
! scope="row" | WCVI-TV | 2019 |
{{notelist}}
= Non-broadcast =
- WNY News Now—Jamestown, NY, via a joint operations agreement with The WNY Media Company{{Cite web |date=12 July 2021 |title=Erie News Now & WNY News Now Partner, Strengthening Regional Coverage |url=https://wnynewsnow.com/2021/07/12/erie-news-now-wny-news-now-partner-strengthening-regional-coverage/}}
- One Caribbean Television
= Former stations =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Stations formerly owned by Lilly Broadcasting ! scope="col" | Media market ! scope="col" | State ! scope="col" | Station ! scope="col" | Purchased ! scope="col" | Sold ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes | |||
| San Luis Obispo | California
! scope="row" | KSBY | 1996 | 2002 | |
| rowspan="2" | Hilo | rowspan="7" | Hawaii
! scope="row" | KHAW-TV | 2006 | 2007 | {{efn-ua|Satellite of KHON-TV.|name=KHON}} |
| scope="row" | KHVO
| 2015 || 2021 || {{efn-ua|Satellite of KITV.|name=KITV}} | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2" | Honolulu
! scope="row" | KHON-TV | 2006 | 2007 | ||
| scope="row" | KITV
| 2015 || 2021 || | |||
| Kauai
! scope="row" | K55DZ | 2006 | 2007 | {{efn-ua|Satellite of KHON-TV.|name=KHON}} | |
| rowspan="2" | Maui–Wailuku
! scope="row" | KAII-TV | 2006 | 2007 | {{efn-ua|Satellite of KHON-TV.|name=KHON}} | |
| scope="row" | KMAU
| 2015 || 2021 || {{efn-ua|Satellite of KITV.|name=KITV}} | |||
| rowspan="2" | Garden City–Dodge City | rowspan="8" | Kansas
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | KSNG | 1988 | 1995 | rowspan="2" | {{efn-ua|Satellite of KSNW.|name=KSNW}} |
| 2006 | 2007 | ||
| rowspan="2" | Great Bend–Hays–Salina
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | KSNC | 1988 | 1995 | rowspan="2" | {{efn-ua|Satellite of KSNW.|name=KSNW}} | |
| 2006 | 2007 | ||
| rowspan="2" | Topeka
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | KSNT | 1988 | 1995 | rowspan="2" | | |
| 2006 | 2007 | ||
| rowspan="2" | Wichita–Hutchinson
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | KSNW | 1988 | 1995 | rowspan="2" | | |
| 2006 | 2007 | ||
| rowspan="2" | McCook | rowspan="2" | Nebraska
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | KSNK | 1988 | 1995 | rowspan="2" | {{efn-ua|Satellite of KSNW.|name=KSNW}} |
| 2006 | 2007 | ||
| rowspan="2" | Flint | rowspan="2" | Michigan
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | WJRT-TV | 1989 | 1995 | rowspan="2" | |
| 2011 | 2014 | ||
| Joplin | Missouri
! scope="row" | KOAM-TV | 1991 | 1995 | |
| Billings | rowspan="4" | Montana
! scope="row" | KTVQ | 1984 | 1994 | |
| Butte
! scope="row" | KXLF-TV | 1984 | 1986 | ||
| Great Falls
! scope="row" | KRTV | 1984 | 1986 | ||
| Missoula
! scope="row" | KPAX-TV | 1984 | 1986 | ||
| Binghamton | rowspan="3" | New York
! scope="row" | WBNG-TV | 2000 | 2006 | |
| Buffalo
! scope="row" | WGRZ-TV | 1986 | 1988 | ||
| Syracuse
! scope="row" | WSTM-TV | 1986 | 1992 | ||
| rowspan="2" | Toledo | rowspan="2" | Ohio
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | WTVG | 1991 | 1995 | rowspan="2" | |
| 2011 | 2014 | ||
| Portland | Oregon
! scope="row" | KOIN | 2006 | 2007 | |
| Altoona | rowspan="2" | Pennsylvania
! scope="row" | WTAJ-TV | 2000 | 2006 | |
| Harrisburg
! scope="row" | WLYH-TV | 2000 | 2006 | {{efn|Owned by SJL, but operated by Clear Channel Communications.}} | |
| Huntington–Charleston | West Virginia
! scope="row" | WOWK-TV | 2000 | 2002 |
{{notelist-ua}}
{{notelist}}
Notes
{{notelist-lg}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.lillybroadcasting.com/ Lilly Broadcasting] Corporate Website
{{Lilly Broadcasting}}
Category:Television broadcasting companies of the United States
Category:Radio broadcasting companies of the United States
Category:Mass media companies established in 1984