Saga Communications is the whale in the small pond of Nielsen DMA #204, Victoria, TX. It has three of the big four network affiliates. No wait, make that four of four. It has signed to launch a CBS affiliate next month.
CBS announced that it has signed an affiliate agreement with Saga to make KXTS-LP a CBS station, effective September 12th. It is currently a MyNetworkTV affiliate.
“We’re proud to launch a new affiliate in Victoria, Texas. As the first CBS station to serve the viewers of Victoria, it’s a welcome opportunity to make CBS a vital part of the community and to continue growing our successful relationship with Saga Communications,” said Diana Wilkin, President, CBS Affiliate Relations.
“Given the success of our partnerships with CBS in Pittsburg, Kan.-Joplin, Mo., and Greenville, Miss., we’re excited to bring the quality entertainment, news and sports programming of America’s Most Watched Network to our audiences and advertisers in Victoria,” added Saga CEO Ed Christian.
In addition to KXTS in Victoria, Saga owns and/or operates KMOL-LP (NBC), KVCT-TV (Fox, plus Telemundo and This TV digital multicasts), KAVU-TV (ABC, plus NBC and 25 Now multicasts), KUNU-LP (Univision) and KVTX-LP (Telemundo).
RBR-TVBR observation: Time to paint another logo on the remote truck. The two full-power stations in this tiny market have long been owned by Saga and the daughter of Saga CEO Ed Christian, with Saga providing services to her station. Media critics inside the Beltway may howl about such arrangements, but it would be quite challenging for a second TV news operation to succeed in Victoria.
