ATLANTA—Gray Media has struck a deal to acquire Allen Media Group television stations in 10 markets for $171 million. Byron Allen’s AMG had announced plans to sell its 21 network affiliate stations in June.
The transaction would bring Gray into three new markets: Columbus-Tupelo, Miss.; Terre Haute, Ind.; and West Lafayette, Ind.
Gray expects the transaction to strengthen its presence and public service committments in the seven other markets by creating new duopolies that would allow it to expand local news, weather and sports programming, the company said.
The deal indicates growing confidence among broadcasters that the Federal Communications Commission will lift current broadcast-station ownership caps.
The deal includes the following stations:
- DMA 75: WAAY, Huntsville, Ala. (ABC)
- DMA 90: WSIL, Paducah-Cape Girardeau-Harrisburg, Mo. (ABC)
- DMA 109: WEVV, Evansville, Ind. (CBS/Fox)
- DMA 110: WWFT, Fort Wayne, Ind. WFFT (Fox)
- DMA 121: WCOV, Montgomery, Ala. (Fox)
- DMA 124: KADN, Lafayette, La. (Fox/NBC)
- DMA 134: WTVVA, Columbus-Tupelo, Miss. (ABC/NBC)
- DMA 137: WREX, Rockford, Ill. (NBC)
- DMA 159: WTHI, Terre Haute, Ind. (CBS/FOX)
- DMA 189 WLFI, West Lafayette, Ind. (CBS)
