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Formerly |
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Type | Subsidiary |
Industry | |
Predecessor |
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Founded | 1931 | (as Hearst Broadcasting)
Headquarters | , United States |
Area served | United States (Nationwide) |
Key people |
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Products | Broadcast television |
Number of employees | approx. 3000 (full-time) |
Parent | Hearst Communications |
Divisions | Hearst Media Production Group |
Website | hearst |
Hearst Television, Inc. (formerly Hearst-Argyle Television) is a broadcasting company in the United States owned by Hearst Communications. From 1998 to mid-2009, the company traded its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HTV."
Hearst-Argyle was formed in 1997 with the merger of Hearst Corporation's broadcasting division and stations owned by Argyle Television Holdings II, [1] which is partially related to the company of the same name who (in 1994) sold its stations to New World Communications, stations that eventually became Fox-owned stations (Hearst itself, unusual for any American broadcast group, has never held a Fox affiliation on any of its stations). Hearst's involvement in broadcasting dates to the 1920s.
In terms of audience reach, Hearst is the third-largest group owner of ABC-affiliated stations, behind the E. W. Scripps Company and Sinclair Broadcast Group, and ahead of Tegna Inc., and the second-largest group owner of NBC affiliates, behind Tegna.
Hearst-owned ABC affiliates in National Football League markets simulcast Monday Night Football games from ESPN that involve these teams - ESPN is 20% owned by Hearst, the rest being owned by ABC's parent, The Walt Disney Company. Other Hearst-owned stations also carry ESPN-aired NFL games, even though they are affiliated with other networks (like WBAL-TV, Baltimore's NBC affiliate). Hearst also holds some joint ventures for syndicated programming with NBCUniversal Television Distribution.
On June 3, 2009, the Hearst Corporation announced that it would purchase substantially all of the stock not held by Hearst. Hearst-Argyle Television then dropped "Argyle" from its name and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation. [2]
In February 2009, Hearst-Argyle announced that its stations (except for KITV and its satellites in Hawaii, which had already completed their transition to digital, and WPTZ in Plattsburgh, New York and WNNE in Hartford, Vermont, which followed the other Champlain Valley in transitioning on February 17, 2009) would comply with the new DTV transition date of June 12, 2009.
Currently, Hearst owns a total of 34 overall television stations but considers two groups of four stations and an NBC station with an ABC digital subchannel joint operations, bringing its count down to 31 under that consideration: eleven NBC affiliates, fifteen ABC affiliates (one as a subchannel of an NBC affiliate, and one which acts as a two-station simulcast), two CBS affiliates, six CW affiliates (two traditional, two subchannel (which are part of a two-station simulcast), and two channel shares), one MyNetworkTV affiliate, and one independent station. Most of the company's subchannel stations broadcast either Weigel Broadcasting's MeTV or NBC's Cozi TV through national affiliation deals, along with being charter carriers of Weigel's two newest concepts, Heroes & Icons, and Story Television. Since December 1, 2014, Des Moines CBS affiliate KCCI has used its third subchannel as an H&I affiliate carrying MyNetworkTV programming in primetime. Hearst also owns two radio stations in Baltimore, the last remaining from the company divesting most of their radio assets after the Telecommunications Act of 1996 went into effect. As already mentioned above, none of Hearst's stations have ever held a Fox affiliation, with the exception of two WMUR translators in the northern part of New Hampshire dis-affiliating with the network upon Hearst's assumption of ownership of WMUR.
Some Hearst-owned stations use the "Commitment (Year)" banner for all political news coverage leading up to the local, national, and statewide elections in lieu of a localized version of their associated network's political branding. This started in 2000. Hearst also maintains a Washington, D.C. bureau to assist its stations in coverage of national politics, including on-air reporters and facilities and equipment assistance for local stations. Many Hearst stations license the "Operation High School" branding for coverage of local high school sports. In 2007, Hearst-Argyle became one of the first television broadcasting groups to post its news stories on YouTube. WCVB, KCRA, WTAE, WBAL and WMUR were the first stations in Hearst-Argyle's station group to do this.
In 1980, the Hearst Broadcasting division had purchased WDTN in Dayton from Grinnell College, a price estimated to be $45–48 million. [3]
Until 2009, three of Hearst's television stations (KCWE, WMOR-TV, and WPBF) and its two radio stations (WBAL radio and WIYY) were owned by Hearst Broadcasting, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation through which Hearst ultimately controlled Hearst-Argyle Television, as opposed to Hearst-Argyle itself; Hearst-Argyle still operated these stations under a management services agreement. These stations were transferred to Hearst Television shortly after its privatization. [4] [5] Hearst's television and radio cluster in Baltimore additionally serves as the flagship stations and operation bases for the Baltimore Ravens radio and television networks, and as the flagship/operations base for the Baltimore Orioles Radio Network.
On August 20, 2014, it was announced that Hearst Television would acquire WVTM in Birmingham, Alabama and WJCL in Savannah, Georgia from Media General, which divested those stations under FCC advisement as part of its acquisition of LIN Media. [6] [7]
On January 6, 2017, Hearst acquired majority control of Charleston, South Carolina-based syndicator Litton Entertainment, which has control of four of the five E/I-compliant Saturday morning blocks on the five major broadcast networks, along with being a syndicator of traditional programming. The deal closed on February 1. [8]
In 2021, Hearst began to carry the home shopping network Shop LC on several its stations under a revenue-sharing agreement with that network's owners. In most markets, Hearst will not pursue cable or satellite carriage for Shop LC, as the network already pays providers nationwide to carry its network on several channel slots per system.
On September 20, 2021, Hearst launched Very Local, an over-the-top media service which consists of news programming from its television stations as well as nationally produced content such as Chronicle and Matter of Fact. [9] [10]
Hearst Television also produces the weekly public-affairs program Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien , which in fall 2018 entered its fourth season. Outside of the Hearst stations and A&E, the show is distributed in national broadcast syndication by Sony Pictures Television.
In 2019, former Today consumer affairs reporter Jeff Rossen joined Hearst as a multi-platform consumer affairs reporter, whose reports (which as of April 2020, include COVID-19 pandemic consumer issue Q&A segments) are syndicated throughout the chain, in addition to full-scale semi-annual consumer specials that are also carried by Hearst Television stations. [11]
Hearst once owned Hearst-Argyle Television Productions, a rebranding of the original Hearst Broadcasting Productions in 1997, which was merged with Kelly News & Entertainment chain, which Hearst bought it out, along with KCRA-TV in 1998. [12] In 2001, the inventory was sold off to NBC Enterprises. [13]
Stations are listed alphabetically by state and city of license.
AM Station | FM Station |
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City of license / Market | Station | Owned since | Current format |
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Baltimore, MD | WBAL 1090 [lower-alpha 11] | 1935 | News–talk |
WIYY 97.9 | 1960 | Active rock/Alternative rock/Classic rock |
City of license / Market | Station |
|
| Current ownership status |
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Honolulu, HI | KITV | 4 (40) | 1995–2015 [lower-alpha 2] | ABC affiliate owned by Allen Media Broadcasting |
Hilo, HI | KHVO [lower-alpha 12] | 4 (18) | 1995–2015 [lower-alpha 2] | ABC affiliate owned by Allen Media Broadcasting |
Wailuku, HI | KMAU [lower-alpha 13] | 4 (29) | 1995–2015 [lower-alpha 2] | ABC affiliate owned by Allen Media Broadcasting |
Grand Rapids–Kalamazoo–Battle Creek, MI | WZZM | 13 (13) | 1995–1997 [lower-alpha 2] [lower-alpha 10] | ABC affiliate owned by Tegna Inc. |
Buffalo, NY | WGRZ | 2 (33) | 1995–1997 [lower-alpha 2] [lower-alpha 10] | NBC affiliate owned by Tegna Inc. |
Dayton, OH | WDTN | 2 (50) | 1981–1998 [lower-alpha 5] | NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group [lower-alpha 14] |
Providence, RI–New Bedford, MA | WNAC-TV [lower-alpha 15] | 64 (12) | 1995–1998 [lower-alpha 2] [lower-alpha 5] | Fox affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting [lower-alpha 16] |
Clarksburg–Weston, WV | WBOY-TV | 12 (12) | 2001 | NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group |
New England | NECN | N/A | 1992–2009 [lower-alpha 17] | Cable-only regional news channel owned by NBCUniversal |
In addition to the above, Hearst-Argyle never owned WZZM or WGRZ. Those two stations were divested by one of the company's predecessors, Argyle Television Holdings II, several months prior to the merger with Hearst Broadcasting. The "years owned" information reflects the years of ownership by Argyle Television Holdings II. And WDTN was the only formerly owned television station that was owned directly by Hearst prior to the merger.
(a partial listing)
AM Station | FM Station |
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City of license / Market | Station | Years owned | Current ownership |
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Phoenix, AZ | KTAR 620 | 1999–2001 | Owned by Bonneville International |
KMVP 860 | 1999–2001 | KNAI, owned by Farmworker Educational Radio Network | |
KKLT 98.7 | 1999–2001 | KMVP-FM, owned by Bonneville International | |
Los Angeles, CA | KEHE 780 | 1935–1939 | KABC 790, owned by Cumulus Media |
San Francisco, CA | KYA 1260 | 1934–1942 | KSFB, owned by Relevant Radio |
Louisville, KY | WLKY 970 | 1999–2000 | WGTK, owned by Salem Media Group |
New York City, NY | WGBS/WINS 1010 | 1931–1946 | Owned by Audacy, Inc. |
WXII 830 | 1999–2000 | WTRU, owned by Truth Broadcasting Corporation | |
Oklahoma City, OK | KOMA 1480 | 1936–1939 | KOKC 1520, owned by Tyler Media Group |
Pittsburgh, PA | WCAE/WRYT/WTAE 1250 | 1931–1997 | WPGP, owned by Salem Media Group |
| 1960–1997 | WKST-FM, owned by iHeartMedia | |
San Juan, PR | WAPA 680 | 1961–1991 | WBQN, owned by Wifredo G. Blanco Pi |
Austin, TX | KNOW 1500 | 1936–1939 | KJFK 1490, owned by Township Media, LLC |
San Antonio, TX | KTSA 550 | 1936–1939 | Owned by Alpha Media |
Waco, TX | WACO 1420 | 1936–1939 | KCLE 1460, owned by M&M Broadcasters |
Milwaukee, WI | WISN 1130 | 1928–1997 | Owned by iHeartMedia |
| 1961–1997 | WRNW, owned by iHeartMedia |
WMTW is a television station licensed to Poland Spring, Maine, United States, serving the Portland area as an affiliate of ABC. It is owned by Hearst Television alongside CW affiliate WPXT. Both stations share studios on Ledgeview Drive in Westbrook, while WMTW's transmitter is located in West Baldwin, Maine.
KITV is a television station in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, serving the Hawaiian Islands as an affiliate of ABC. It is owned by Allen Media Group alongside multicultural independent station KIKU. The two stations share studios on South King Street in downtown Honolulu; KITV's main transmitter is located atop the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu.
WDTN is a television station in Dayton, Ohio, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which provides certain services to Springfield, Ohio–licensed WBDT, a de facto owned-and-operated station of The CW, under a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Vaughan Media. The two stations share studios on South Dixie Drive in Moraine. However, master control and some internal operations for WDTN and WBDT are based within centralcasting facilities at sister stations and CBS/Fox affiliates WTTV/WXIN in Indianapolis, Indiana.
WVTM-TV is a television station in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, affiliated with NBC. Owned by Hearst Television, the station maintains studios and transmitter facilities atop Red Mountain, between Vulcan Trail and Valley View Drive in southeastern Birmingham, adjacent to the Vulcan Statue and next to the studios of Fox affiliate WBRC.
WLWT is a television station in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, affiliated with NBC and owned by Hearst Television. The station's studios are located on Young Street, and its transmitter is located on Chickasaw Street, both in the Mount Auburn neighborhood of Cincinnati.
WPTZ is a television station licensed to Plattsburgh, New York, United States, serving as the NBC affiliate for the Burlington, Vermont–Plattsburgh, New York market. It is owned by Hearst Television alongside Montpelier, Vermont–licensed CW affiliate WNNE. WPTZ and WNNE share studios on Community Drive in South Burlington, Vermont, with a secondary studio and news bureau on Cornelia Street in Plattsburgh; through a channel sharing agreement, the two stations transmit using WPTZ's spectrum from an antenna on Vermont's highest peak, Mount Mansfield.
WLKY is a television station in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with CBS. The station is owned by Hearst Television, and maintains studios on Mellwood Avenue on Louisville's east side; its transmitter is located in rural northeastern Floyd County, Indiana.
WBAL-TV is a television station in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is the flagship property of Hearst Television, which has owned the station since its inception, and is sister to the company's sole radio properties, WBAL and WIYY. The three outlets share studios and offices on Television Hill in the Woodberry section of Baltimore, near the transmission tower that WBAL-TV also shares with WIYY and several other Baltimore television and radio stations.
WMUR-TV is a television station licensed to Manchester, New Hampshire, United States, broadcasting ABC programming to most of New Hampshire. Owned by Hearst Television, the station maintains studios on South Commercial Street in downtown Manchester, and its transmitter is located on the south peak of Mount Uncanoonuc in Goffstown.
WESH is a television station licensed to Daytona Beach, Florida, United States, serving the Orlando area as an affiliate of NBC. It is owned by Hearst Television alongside Clermont-licensed CW affiliate WKCF. Both stations share studios on North Wymore Road in Eatonville, while WESH's transmitter is located near Christmas, Florida.
WBDT is a television station licensed to Springfield, Ohio, United States, serving the Dayton area as a de facto owned-and-operated station of The CW. It is owned by Vaughan Media, which maintains a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Nexstar Media Group, owner of NBC affiliate WDTN and majority owner of The CW, for the provision of certain services. The two stations share studios on South Dixie Drive in Moraine. However, master control and some internal operations for WBDT and WDTN are based within centralcasting facilities at sister stations and CBS/Fox affiliates WTTV/WXIN in Indianapolis, Indiana.
WFFF-TV is a television station licensed to Burlington, Vermont, United States, serving as the Fox affiliate for the Burlington, Vermont–Plattsburgh, New York market. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which provides certain services to ABC affiliate WVNY under a shared services agreement (SSA) with Mission Broadcasting. Both stations share studios on Mountain View Drive in Colchester, Vermont, while WFFF-TV's transmitter is located on Vermont's highest peak, Mount Mansfield. However, master control and some internal operations are based at Springfield, Massachusetts–licensed Nexstar sister station and NBC affiliate WWLP's studios in Chicopee.
WPRI-TV is a television station in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, affiliated with CBS and MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which provides certain services to dual Fox/CW affiliate WNAC-TV under a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Mission Broadcasting. Both stations share studios on Catamore Boulevard in East Providence, Rhode Island, while WPRI-TV's transmitter is located on Pine Street in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. However, master control and some internal operations are based at Springfield, Massachusetts–licensed Nexstar sister station and NBC affiliate WWLP's studios in Chicopee.
WNAC-TV, branded on-air as Fox Providence, is a television station in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, affiliated with Fox and The CW. It is owned by Mission Broadcasting, which maintains a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Nexstar Media Group, owner of dual CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliate WPRI-TV, for the provision of certain services. Both stations share studios on Catamore Boulevard in East Providence, Rhode Island, while WNAC-TV's transmitter is located on Homestead Avenue in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. However, master control and some internal operations are based at Springfield, Massachusetts–licensed Nexstar sister station and NBC affiliate WWLP's studios in Chicopee.
KSBW is a television station licensed to Salinas, California, United States, serving the Monterey Bay area as an affiliate of NBC and ABC. Owned by Hearst Television, the station has studios on John Street in downtown Salinas, and its transmitter is located on Fremont Peak in the Gabilan Mountains. The call letters KSBW stand for "Salad Bowl of the World," which is the nickname of the city of Salinas.
New England Cable News (NECN) is a regional 24-hour cable news television network owned and operated by NBCUniversal serving the New England region of the United States. It focuses on regional news, though in some low priority timeslots, paid programming and programming from WNBC such as Talk Stoop and Open House are seen.
WMAZ-TV is a television station in Macon, Georgia, United States, affiliated with CBS and The CW Plus. The station is owned by Tegna Inc., and maintains studios on Gray Highway on the northeast side of Macon; its transmitter is located on GA 87/US 23/129 ALT along the Twiggs–Bibb county line.
WNNE, branded on air as The Valley CW, is a television station licensed to Montpelier, Vermont, United States, serving the Burlington, Vermont–Plattsburgh, New York market as an affiliate of The CW Plus. It is owned by Hearst Television alongside Plattsburgh-licensed NBC affiliate WPTZ. WNNE and WPTZ share studios on Community Drive in South Burlington, Vermont, with a secondary studio and news bureau on Cornelia Street in Plattsburgh; through a channel sharing agreement, the two stations transmit using WPTZ's spectrum from an antenna on Vermont's highest peak, Mount Mansfield.
KHBS is a television station in Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States, affiliated with ABC and The CW Plus. It is simulcast full-time over satellite station KHOG-TV in Fayetteville. Owned by Hearst Television and jointly branded as "40/29", the two stations maintain studios on Ajax Avenue in Rogers, with a secondary studio and news bureau on North Albert Pike Avenue/North 42nd Street in Fort Smith. KHBS' transmitter is located on Cavanal Hill in northwestern Le Flore County, Oklahoma, while KHOG-TV's transmitter is based near Ed Edwards Road in rural northeastern Washington County, Arkansas, just southeast of the Fayetteville city limits.
WBOY-TV is a television station licensed to Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States, serving North Central West Virginia as an affiliate of NBC and ABC. Owned by Nexstar Media Group, the station maintains studios on West Pike Street in downtown Clarksburg, and its transmitter is located east of downtown and US 50.