Smith Media

Smith Media, LLC, successor to Smith Television aka Sunrise Television, was a broadcasting group co-based in Los Angeles, California and St. Petersburg, Florida, that formerly owned and operated several television stations across the United States. In 1986, it bought the three smaller television stations from publishing company Times Mirror Company.[1] In 2002, Sunrise sold six of the stations to LIN Television.[2]

Smith Television became Smith Media, LLC in 2004 at the death of Bob Smith, head of the family run organization. The family decided to re-capitalize their stations and sold the stations to Boston Ventures, which created Smith Media. [3] [4] The similarities in names have created much confusion.

During the early 2010s, Smith Media sold off its stations; on October 1, 2013, Smith Media reached a deal to sell its last remaining station, WKTV in Utica, New York, to Heartland Media, a company owned by former Gray Television executive Bob Prather, pending FCC approval.[5] [6] The sale was completed on March 20, 2014. [7]

Former stations

Stations are arranged alphabetically by state and by city of license.

  • With the exception of KATN, KEYT, KJUD, KYUR, WFFF, & WKTV, the second incarnation of Smith Media never owned these stations. Smith Media, LLC was successor to Smith Television, Inc. who owned the following:
City of license / Market Station Channel Years owned Current status
Anchorage, AK KIMO 13 1995–2010 ABC affiliate KYUR, owned by Vision Alaska, LLC
Fairbanks, AK KATN[upper-alpha 1] 2 2001–2010 ABC affiliate owned by Vision Alaska, LLC
Juneau, AK KJUD[upper-alpha 1] 8 2001–2010 ABC affiliate owned by Vision Alaska, LLC
Salinas–Monterey–Santa Cruz, CA KSBW 8 1995–1998 NBC affiliate owned by Hearst Television
Santa Barbara–San Luis Obispo, CA KEYT-TV 3 1987–2012 ABC affiliate owned by News-Press & Gazette Company
KSBY 6 1995–1996[lower-alpha 1] NBC affiliate owned by the E. W. Scripps Company
Hutchinson–Wichita, KS KWCH-TV 12 1989–1992 CBS affiliate owned by Gray Television
Ensign–Dodge City, KS KBSD-TV[upper-alpha 2] 6 1989–1992 CBS affiliate owned by Gray Television
Goodland, KS KBSL-TV[upper-alpha 2] 10 1989–1992 CBS affiliate owned by Gray Television
Hays, KS KBSH-TV[upper-alpha 2] 7 1989–1992 CBS affiliate owned by Gray Television
Flint, MI WEYI-TV 25 1997–2002 NBC affiliate owned by Howard Stirk Holdings[lower-alpha 2]
Reno, NV KOLO-TV 8 2000–2002 ABC affiliate owned by Gray Television
Binghamton, NY WBGH-LP 20[lower-alpha 3] 1997–2000 NBC affiliate WBGH-CD, owned by Nexstar Media Group
Buffalo, NY WGRZ-TV 2 1986–1988 NBC affiliate owned by Tegna Inc.
Elmira, NY WETM-TV 18 1986–2004[lower-alpha 4] NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Rochester, NY WROC-TV 8 1996–1999 CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Utica, NY WKTV 2 1993–2014 NBC affiliate owned by Heartland Media
Watertown, NY WWTI-TV 50 1990–2000 ABC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
W25AB/
WNYF-LP		 28[lower-alpha 5] 1995–2002[lower-alpha 6] Fox affiliate WNYF-CD, owned by Gray Television
Bismarck, ND KFYR-TV 5 1997–2002 NBC affiliate owned by Gray Television
Dickinson, ND KQCD-TV[upper-alpha 3] 7 1997–2002 NBC affiliate owned by Gray Television
Minot, ND KMOT[upper-alpha 3] 10 1997–2002 NBC affiliate owned by Gray Television
Williston, ND KUMV-TV[upper-alpha 3] 8 1997–2002 NBC affiliate owned by Gray Television
Fargo, ND KVLY-TV 11 1997–2002 NBC affiliate owned by Gray Television
Dayton, OH WDTN 2 1998–2002 NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Steubenville, OH WTOV-TV 9 1996–2000 NBC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Toledo, OH WUPW 36 1999–2002 Fox affiliate owned by American Spirit Media[lower-alpha 7]
Harrisburg, PA WHTM-TV 27 1986–1994 ABC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Johnstown, PA WJAC-TV 6 1996–2000 NBC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Providence, RI WPRI-TV 12 2001–2002 CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
WNAC-TV 64 1997–2001 Fox affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting[lower-alpha 8]
Abilene, TX KRBC-TV 9 1998–2002 NBC affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting[lower-alpha 9]
San Angelo, TX KACB-TV 3 1998–2002 NBC affiliate KSAN-TV, owned by Mission Broadcasting[lower-alpha 9]
Burlington, VT–Plattsburgh, NY WPTZ 5 1998 NBC affiliate owned by Hearst Television
WFFF-TV 44 1999–2013[lower-alpha 10] Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
WVNY 22 2005–2013[lower-alpha 11] ABC affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting[lower-alpha 9]
Hartford, VT–Hanover, NH WNNE[upper-alpha 4] 31 1998 The CW affiliate owned by Hearst Television[lower-alpha 12]
  1. Semi-satellite of KIMO.
  2. Satellite of KWCH-TV.
  3. Satellite of KFYR-TV.
  4. Semi-satellite of WPTZ.
  1. Acquired along with KSBW but divested almost immediately due to Smith's ownership of KEYT.
  2. Operated through an SSA by Sinclair Broadcast Group.
  3. Operated on channel 8 under Smith's ownership.
  4. From 2000-2004, The Ackerley Group, and later Clear Channel Communications would operate this station through a LMA.
  5. Operated on channel 25 until 2001.
  6. Operated by United Communications under a LMA from 2001 to 2002.
  7. Operated through an SSA by Tegna Inc.
  8. Operated through an LMA by Nexstar Media Group.
  9. Operated through an SSA by Nexstar Media Group.
  10. From 1998 to 1999, Smith operated WFFF through an LMA until purchasing it outright in 1999.
  11. Owned by Lambert Broadcasting, operated by Smith through an LMA.
  12. Relicensed to Montpelier, Vermont.

References
  1. "Changing hands: Proposed." Broadcasting, September 30, 1985, pg. 109.
  2. Meikle, Brad (May 13, 2002). "LIN TV Tunes In To Public Market -". Buyouts. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  3. Boston Ventures and Smith Television Group Complete Recapitalization. | North America > United States from AllBusiness.com
  4. "News".
  5. Seyler, Dave (October 21, 2013). "Prather resurfaces in upstate New York". Television Business Report. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  6. Application For Consent To Assignment Of Broadcast Station Construction Permit Or License , Federal Communications Commission, October 21, 2013
  7. Consummation Notice, CDBS Public Notice, Federal Communications Commission, Retrieved March 21, 2014.
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