In June 2023, more than 18 months after a deal had been struck, Forum Communications Company revealed that it was longer buying the FOX affiliates serving Duluth, Minn., and Fargo, N.D.; and two full-time satellite stations tied to the Fargo operation.
The acquisition would have created a duopoly in the Fargo-Moorhead market, as Forum is the owner of ABC affiliate WDAY-6. As such, a “Big Four” waiver request from the FCC was needed to get the deal done; that never came. Now, a new owner has emerged for the TV stations.
KVRR-15 in Fargo and full-time satellites KJRR-7 in Jamestown, N.D.; KBRR-10 in Thief River Falls, Minn.; and FOX-affiliated sibling KQDS-21 in Duluth, Minn.-Superior, Wisc., are now being sold by Kathy Lau and John Exline-led Red River Broadcast Co. to Coastal Television.
That’s the licensee of “FOX 4” KTBY and ABC affiliate KYUR in Anchorage, Alaska, and station in Juneau and Fairbanks. The company is known for its “Your Alaska Link” brand.
Additionally, Coastal Television operates TV stations in Wyoming, New York, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Indiana.
“We think Coastal will be a good fit for carrying on the important work and commitment of our stations in our communities,“ Red River Chief Operating Officer Lau said in a statement shared by KVRR on Monday.
A LMS filing with the FCC providing deal details is forthcoming; an assignment amendment withdrawal was most recently filed on November 28, and this is linked to the now-scuttled Forum transaction, which was valued at $24 million.
The Forum deal saw Kalil & Co. serve as the seller’s broker of record. They are also the broker of record in this deal, but cannot share any information until the filing appears in the LMS, Jason Kalil tells RBR+TVBR.
