MIAMI—Sunbeam Television has reached a multiyear agreement with Findal Media & Technology Group to broadcast the new ABC Miami beginning Aug. 4.

The agreement comes months after Disney Entertainment and Sunbeam announced a new affiliation agreement, bringing ABC’s lineup of network shows, live sports and national news to a new home in South Florida, a multicast channel (Channel 7.2) of Sunbeam-owned Fox affiliate WSVN. ABC Miami will now be simulcast over Findal-owned low-power TV station WDFL-LD on Channel 18.1.

WSVN’s current newscasts, branded as 7 NEWS, will air on both WSVN and ABC Miami.

“We want to give viewers every possible avenue to watch ABC’s powerhouse programming along with the No. 1 local news, 7 NEWS,” said Paul Magnes, co-president of Sunbeam Television. “The agreement with Findal Media & Technology Group Inc. provides the perfect opportunity to grow the audience in our new home on Channel 18.”

Viewers will be able to watch ABC over-the-air in high definition on Channel 18.1 or 7.2 and on Channel 18 on cable and digital television providers in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale market, including Xfinity (Comcast), DirecTV, AT&T and Breezeline. ABC Miami will also be available on YouTube TV, Hulu, Fubo and DirecTV Stream.

“This agreement presents a natural alignment for our media company, as we too are locally owned and operated,” said Francois Leconte, chairman of Findal. “The opportunity to be associated with a trusted, known entity such as Sunbeam Television serves to strengthen our commitment to the community at large.”

Sunbeam Television will simulcast 7 NEWS on both ABC Miami Channel 18 and WSVN Channel 7. ABC Miami will air “Good Morning America (GMA)” and “World News Tonight with David Muir.” Viewers can continue to watch Fox programming and WSVN’s 13 hours per day of local news programming on Channel 7.1.

WPLG, the Berkshire Hathaway Media-owned station that has been Miami’s ABC affiliate for 70 years, will become an independent.

“We are excited about the opportunity to serve the Florida market and bring fresh, community-focused programming to viewers across the region,” Don Wiggins, president and director of operations at Findal, said.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLA.—On Wednesday afternoon, three tower workers were killed after scaffolding on the television tower for WSVN Channel 7 and WPLG TV Channel 10 collapsed, according to reports by Miami Patch and Local 10 News. The workers were from Texas-based Tower King II and were contracted to upgrade the transmission lines and antennas of the tower to comply with the FCC repack.

“They were removing gear at the top of the tower to install a new TV antenna for Channel 7,” said Steve Ellis, the assistant chief engineer for WPLG TV, in a live broadcast after the accident. “When they were removing this gear, bringing down the second piece—what they call the gin pole lifting device collapsed, sadly taking the life of it looks like three tower workers.” Ellis said that the gin pole was about 960 feet above ground.

Lt. Lay Felipe of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue estimated that the workers fell between 300 and 400 feet.

It is not yet known what caused the collapse, though WPLG TV reported that it observed frayed wires near the top of the tower from its Sky 10 helicopter. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is expected to visit the site on Thursday.

The tower was completed in 2009, per WPLG TV.

For more information on the repack, visit TV Technology's repack silo.

MIAMI—WSVN in Miami, a Fox affiliate, is taking to the skies as the TV station has announced that it will add a drone to its newsgathering tools. The station is able to do so with the new FAA rules that do not require a pilot to fly a drone for commercial use. It is the first Miami station to deploy a drone, and the station reports that it has plans to add more with the goal of improving severe weather and marine coverage.

Read the full story on TVT’s sister publication B&C.