NCJ Daily Online

Deal Struck for Sale of Local TV Stations

Local television stations KIEM (Channel 3) and KVIQ (Channel 14) — both owned by Cox Media Group — are being sold to Imagicomm Communications, an affiliate of “general entertainment cable network” INSP, under an agreement announced March 30 by the companies, which describe the transaction as furthering “the strategic evolution of CMG’s broadcast station portfolio and marks INSP’s expansion into broadcast television.”

The transaction, details of which were not disclosed, includes 11 other markets across the country and is expected to close “in the second half of 2022,” the announcement states.

INSP, which describes itself as “home to timeless and original western TV series, movies and documentaries” and provides “a trusted viewing experience and family friendly TV,” is owned by Inspirational Ministries, which describes itself as “Christian Ministry & TV Network that broadcasts the message of Jesus Christ around the world through its media outlets,” which rose out the ashes of the PTL network.

North Coast Congressmember Jared Huffman issued a tweet March 31 saying he is urging the Federal Communication Commission to reject the sale.

“The corporation that took over the PTL empire from televangelist grifters Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker wants to buy our local TV stations in Eureka,” he wrote. “Media consolidation is bad for democracy & communities.”

KIEM is an NBC affiliate and the home of Redwood News while its sister network KVIQ is a CBS affiliate.

“These are important local journalism and community service brands powered by incredible media professionals and journalists who work tirelessly to inform, entertain, and elevate the communities they serve,” Dan York, CMG’s president and CEO, said in the announcement. “We are pleased to advance the strategic evolution of our portfolio, are proud of our team members at these stations, and are confident they will continue to excel in their important work as part of the Imagicomm / INSP family.”

Other markets in the deal include stations KMVU and KFBI-LD in Medford, Oregon, Spokane, Washington station KAYU, Yakima, Washington stations KCYULD and KFFX and KPVI in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

According to Axios, the deal is part of a larger shift among religious-based net-

Seal Steal Thwarted

Submitted Eureka police officers saved a baby seal from a couple who took the pup from an area near the Samoa Bridge, put it into an aquarium in their car and attempted to drive away April 2. The couple face fines of up to $11,000, up to a year in jail and forefeiture of their

vehicle. POSTED 04.05.22

works away from a reliance on the faithbased content that has been their bread and butter to draw a broader viewership.

“We are excited to be entering the broadcast television market with this strong collection of brands that are integral to informing and entertaining the communities they serve,” David Cerullo, chairman & CEO of INSP, said in the announcement. “We look forward to working with the stations’ talented staff and building upon their rich legacy of journalism and serving their communities, advertisers, and audiences. This acquisition is part of our broad corporate strategy to expand our media ownership across multiple entertainment platforms.” — Kimberly Wear POSTED 03.31.22

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FPPC Weighs in on Arcata Mayor: The Fair Political Practices Commission has officially notified Arcata Mayor Stacy Atkins-Salazar and the city that she has a financial conflict of interest that prohibits her from participating in discussions and votes about the proposed Gateway Area Plan, which targets 183 acres for high-density residential infill and mixed-use development. POSTED 04.01.22 State to Limit Slavery Reparations: California’s reparations task force voted recently that only Black Californians who can prove a direct lineage to enslaved ancestors will be eligible for the statewide — and first-in-the-nation — initiative to address the harms and enduring legacy of slavery. The task force is expected to release a final reparations proposal in June of

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Suspicious Death Investigation: The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the suspicious death of a 28-year-old woman found at a home in Kneeland on March 3 and looking for a man, possibly named “Austin,” who reportedly fled the scene in the woman’s car and was the target of an unsuccessful manhunt in Arcata Community Forest.

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2023. POSTED 03.30.22

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Digitally Speaking

39 The current percentage of normal the state’s snowpack currently sits at, threatening to exacerbate the state’s drought as snowpack traditionally provides a third of the state’s water supply.

They Said It

“Without the snow, once things dry out, it’s just going to be catastrophic again.”

— Andrew Schwartz of the University of California at Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab on the early snowmelt eating away at the state’s snowpack, which could lead to an early start to fire season.

Comment of the Week

“C’mon people why so judgy? What if it was a selkie, a human child, maybe even their own child!!!, turned into a seal pup, like by an angry mermaid?”

— Emily Ficklin Wood on the Journal’s Facebook page, responding to commenters highly critical of the couple under investigation for attempting to take a seal pup from near the Samoa Bridge.