Mar
27
2006

Raycom and Barrington Announce Deal For Twelve Television Stations

March 27, 2006 — Montgomery, AL, Hoffman Estates, IL, and New York, NY

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Raycom Media, Inc. and Barrington Broadcasting Corporation announced today that they have entered into an agreement for Barrington to acquire twelve Raycom television stations in nine markets for a combined purchase price of $262 million. The transaction is subject to FCC approval and DOJ approval. Barrington Broadcasting Corporation is the broadcast television platform for the Pilot Group, a non-traditional private equity firm.

The stations being acquired by Barrington include five NBC affiliates (WNWO-TV, Toledo, OH; WSTM-TV, Syracuse, NY; WPBN-TV and WTOM-TV, Traverse City-Cheboygan, MI; and WLUC-TV, Marquette, MI), three FOX affiliates (WACH-TV, Columbia, SC; KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO; and WFXL-TV, Albany, GA), two UPN affiliates (WSTQ, Syracuse, NY and KXTU, Colorado Springs, CO), one CBS affiliate (KGBT-TV, Harlingen, TX) and one ABC affiliate (KTVO-TV, Kirksville, MO).

In making the joint announcement, K. James Yager, President of Barrington Broadcasting Corporation stated, “We look forward to building upon the foundation that Raycom’s management has established with these stations and working with the Raycom employees and managers at the stations we are acquiring. We believe these properties are a natural extension of our existing portfolio of stations in similarly-sized markets.”

Chris Cornelius, Chief Operating Officer of Barrington Broadcasting Corporation, added, “It is our plan to continue offering high quality local news programming and the community service efforts established by Raycom at these television stations.”

“Raycom is pleased to have completed this transaction with a long term broadcaster such as Barrington, and know that they will continue the fine traditions these stations have established in their markets,” stated Paul McTear, Raycom President and CEO.

Raycom, an employee-owned company, is one of the nation’s largest broadcasters and currently owns and operates 49 television stations in 22 states. Raycom stations cover more than 12.7 % of U.S. television households and employ 4200 individuals in full and part-time positions.

In addition to television stations, Raycom owns Raycom Sports (a marketing, production and events management and distribution company in Charlotte, North Carolina); Raycom Post (a post production facility in Burbank, CA), Broadview Media (a post production/telecommunications company based in Montgomery, AL), and CableVantage (a cable advertising sales group based in Columbia, SC).

Barrington Broadcasting Corporation was formed in 2003 by the Pilot Group and members of management to acquire and operate television stations in mid-sized markets across the country. Among the Pilot Group members are Robert W. Pittman, Howard Lipson, Mayo Stuntz, and Robert B. Sherman. Since 2004, Barrington, with funding from the Pilot Group, purchased seven other network-affiliated stations and one construction permit. After the consummation of the proposed transaction, Barrington stations will cover more than 3.4% of U.S. television households.
For further information contact:

K. James Yager
Barrington Broadcasting
President
847-884-1877

Paul McTear
Raycom Media, Inc.
President and CEO
334-206-1450



The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Certain information contained herein or in any other written or oral statements made by, or on behalf of Raycom or Barrington, is or may be viewed as forward looking. The words “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate” or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

Although Raycom and Barrington have used appropriate care in developing any such forward-looking information, forward-looking information involves risks and uncertainties that could significantly impact actual results. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: changes in national and local markets for television advertising; changes in general economic conditions, including the performance of financial markets and interest rates; competitive, regulatory, or tax changes that affect the cost of or demand for the Company’s products; delays in completion of the proposed sale due to delays in securing necessary consents and regulatory approvals, and adverse litigation results. Raycom and Barrington undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

Mar
16
2006

CW Affiliate Announced for Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, MI

March 16, 2006

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America’s Fifth Broadcast Network Increases National Coverage To More Than 66% Of The Country

The CW announced today that it has signed exclusive, long-term affiliation agreements with stations in Wilkes Barre-Scranton, Lexington, Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, Wichita-Hutchinson, Toledo, Tri-Cities, Evansville, Tyler-Longview, Sioux Falls, Augusta, Lafayette (LA), Palm Springs, Alexandria (LA), Rapid City, Bend, St. Joseph, San Juan and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The addition of these 18 stations increases The CW’s national coverage to more than 66% of the country, including 19 of the Top 20 markets and 26 of the Top 30.

The newly signed affiliates are:

* WSWB-TV Wilkes Barre-Scranton, PA, owned by KB Prime Media LLC and operated by Pegasus Broadcast Television.

* WKYT-DT (& WYMT-DT) Lexington (& Hazard), KY, owned by Gray Television, Inc.

* WBSF-TV Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, owned by Barrington Broadcasting.

* KWCV-TV Wichita-Hutchinson, KS, owned by Banks Broadcasting Inc.

* WTO5 (Cable) Toledo, OH, owned by Block Communications.

* WB4 (Cable + DT) Tri-Cities, TN-VA, owned by BlueStone TV Holdings Inc.

* WAZE-TV Evansville, IN, owned by South Central Communications Corporation.

* KCEB-TV Tyler-Longview, TX, owned by Dimension Broadcasting.

* KWSD-TV (& KWSD-DT) Sioux Falls, SD, owned by Rapid Broadcasting Company,

* WAGT-DT Augusta, GA, owned by Schurz Communications Inc.

* KLWB-TV Lafayette, LA, owned by Dimension Broadcasting.

* KESQ-DT Palm Springs, CA, owned by News-Press & Gazette Broadcasting Company.

* KBCA-TV Alexandria, LA, owned by Dimension Broadcasting.

* KWBH-TV Rapid City, SD, owned by Rapid Broadcasting Company.

* KTVZ-DT Bend, OR, owned by News-Press & Gazette Broadcasting Company.

* WBJO (Cablevision), St. Joseph, MO, owned by News-Press & Gazette Cable, Inc.

* WSJP-TV San Juan, Puerto Rico, owned by Storefront TV LLC.

* WCVI-TV U.S. Virgin Islands, owned by Virgin Blue, Inc.

These stations are in the 54th, 63rd, 65th, 67th, 70th, 91st, 100th, 111th, 114th, 115th, 124th, 153rd, 176th, 177th, 196th and 201st largest markets in the country, respectively, and represent 4.01% of total U.S. TV households. (Nielsen does not assign a DMA rank or percentage of total U.S. TV households to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.)

WSWB-TV, WBSF-TV, KWCV-TV, WTO5, WB4, WAZE-TV, KCEB-TV, KWSD-TV, KLWB-TV, KESQ-TV, KBCA-TV, KWBH-TV and St. Joseph Cablevision are currently affiliates of The WB. WKYT-DT (& WYMT-DT) and WCVI-TV are currently UPN affiliates. WSJP-TV is currently a dual UPN-WB affiliate. WAGT-DT and KTVZ-DT are the digital channels of the NBC affiliates in Augusta and Bend.

“These newest members of The CW affiliate family represent an outstanding group of broadcasters and we’re very pleased to enter into these long-term affiliations with each of them,” said John Maatta, Chief Operating Officer, The CW. “They join a growing line-up of stations that will reap the rewards of being a part of America’s newest full-service network – a network which has the unique advantage of launching with well-known, star-driven, successful and eminently saleable programs that are magnets for our target demographics. And supporting that sterling schedule will be the unsurpassed multi-media marketing muscle of two world-renowned companies.”

On January 24, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment announced their intent to form a new 5th network, The CW, to be launched in the fall of 2006. The new broadcasting network will be a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation, with each company owning 50%.

In an important strategic move that secures major market distribution for The CW, it was also announced on January 24th that Tribune Broadcasting and the CBS Corporation’s UPN affiliates have agreed separately to sign 10-year affiliation agreements with the new network. The combination of Tribune’s 16 major market stations (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Houston, Miami, Denver, St. Louis, Portland, Indianapolis, San Diego, Hartford, New Orleans and Albany) and the 11 CBS-owned UPN major market affiliates (Philadelphia, San Francisco, Atlanta, Detroit, Tampa, Seattle, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, West Palm Beach, Norfolk and Providence) cover the top 13 television markets, 20 of the top 25 television markets and have a total coverage area of more than 47% of the country.

The remainder of the network’s distribution system will be a combination of selected current UPN and The WB stations.

The CW will incorporate The WB’s current scheduling model, which consists of a 6 night-13 hour primetime lineup including Monday through Friday nights from 8-10 (EST/PST); Sundays from 7-10 (EST/PST); Sunday from 5-7 (EST/PST) outside of primetime as well as a Monday thru Friday afternoon block from 3-5 (EST/PST) and a 5-hour Saturday morning animation block. Together, the network will program 30 hours a week over seven days for its affiliated stations.

CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and UPN), cable television (Showtime), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Paramount Television and King World), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), theme parks (Paramount Parks), digital media (CBS Digital Media Group and CSTV Networks) and consumer products (CBS Consumer Products). For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com

Warner Bros. Entertainment, a fully-integrated, broad-based entertainment company, is a global leader in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of all forms of entertainment and their related businesses. Warner Bros. Entertainment, a Time Warner Company, stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry, from feature films to television, home video/DVD, animation, comic books, interactive entertainment and games, product and brand licensing, international cinemas and broadcasting.

Press Contact:
Paul McGuire
The CW
818-977-0040

Jul
27
2005

Barrington Announces Transaction for Myrtle Beach Television Station

July 27, 2005 — Hoffman Estates, Illinois

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Barrington Broadcasting Corporation announced today that it has agreed to purchase all of the assets of WPDE-TV, the ABC affiliate serving Myrtle Beach-Florence, South Carolina from Diversified Communications of Portland, Maine. The transaction is subject to FCC approval.

David Lowell, President and CEO of Diversified Communications, said: “WPDE is a terrific property with a deeply committed and hardworking staff. I’m particularly pleased that WPDE is being turned over to an experienced broadcasting company whose leadership has specific knowledge of the Myrtle Beach – Florence market and an ongoing commitment to the local community.”

In making the announcement, K. James Yager, Chief Executive Officer of Barrington, said “Myrtle Beach -Florence is a dynamic market with great potential. As part of Diversified, WPDE-TV has had a strong commitment to local news, weather and sports. Barrington intends to continue and enhance that tradition as the station completes its 25th year of service to the area.”

Yager, a former General Manager of WIS-TV in Columbia, South Carolina in the 1970′s and former Chief Operating Officer of Spartan Communications which purchased WBTW-TV in Myrtle Beach- Florence, South Carolina in 1984, went on to say that “the ABC network has its most successful lineup in recent years and we believe that ABC’s growth will translate to increased momentum for WPDE-TV. We look forward to building upon the great strides that WPDE-TV’s General Manager, Billy Huggins, and his staff have made with the station.”

Barrington Broadcasting Corporation was formed in 2003 to acquire and operate television stations in mid-sized markets across the country. Since 2004, Barrington has announced the purchase of five other network-affiliated stations and one construction permit. The Barrington station portfolio includes WEYI- TV, an NBC affiliate in the Flint-Saginaw, Michigan market; WHOI-TV, an ABC affiliate in the Peoria- Bloomington, Illinois market; KRCG-TV, a CBS affiliate in the Columbia-Jefferson City, Missouri market; KVII-TV, an ABC affiliate serving the Amarillo, Texas market; and KHQA-TV, a CBS affiliate in the Quincy, Illinois and Hannibal, Missouri television market, in addition to WBSF-TV, a start-up WB affiliate in the Flint-Saginaw, Michigan market.

Larry Wood of Cincinnati-based brokerage firm Wood & Company, Inc. represented the Seller in arranging the transaction.
For more information, contact:

Mary L. Flodin
Barrington Broadcasting
Senior Vice President, Administration and Finance
847-884-1877

Apr
6
2005

Barrington Announces Transaction for Amarillo Television Stations

Barrington Announces Transactions for Amarrill Television Stations (PDF)

Nov
12
2004

Barrington Announces Transaction for Jefferson City Television Station

Barrington Announces Transaction for Jefferson City Television Station (PDF)

Jan
13
2004

LIN TV and Barrington Broadcasting Announce Sale of Flint Television Station

LIN TV and Barrington Broadcasting Announce Sale of Flint Television Station (PDF)

Jan
8
2004

Barrington Announces Transactions for Two Televison Stations

Barrington Announces Transactions for Two Television Stations (PDF)