It’s a transaction that is both historic and emblematic of the pending landscape changes for broadcast television ownership in the U.S., pending expected deregulation of the FCC’s current rules. The E.W. Scripps Co. has decided to sell its ABC affiliate serving Indianapolis to the company led by DuJuan McCoy that owns the market’s home for The CW Network and its MyNetwork TV-aligned sibling.
McCoy’s Circle City Broadcasting has agreed to purchase WRTV-6, using digital channel 25 to reach Indianapolis DMA viewers, from Scripps for $83 million.
Circle City is privately held by McCoy, who serves as its President/CEO. With the transaction, WRTV is poised to become a sibling of WISH-8 and WNDY-23 in Indianapolis, DMA No. 25. Circle City Broadcasting also operates Circulus Digital Media, a global digital marketing and technology company.
“As a native of Indianapolis and a career small business owner, I am excited to expand Circle City Broadcasting’s footprint with the acquisition of WRTV-ABC,” said McCoy. “This strategic transaction reinforces our long-term commitment to Indiana, enhances our current broadcast capabilities, and creates meaningful value for both our audiences and our advertisers across Indiana.”
McCoy added that ABC’s programming “pairs perfectly with WISH-TV’s more than 90 hours per week of live local news and entertainment. It also complements the 100-plus live local and regional sporting events on WNDY, along with WRTV’s local news programming. Together, these properties strengthen our position as a formidable, Indianapolis-based, locally owned and operated media company dedicated to serving all communities in Indiana with purpose-driven content.”
The transaction is expected to close following FCC regulatory approval.
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I wasn’t expecting to see Circle City Broadcasting, the parent company of WISH-8 and WNDY-23 to acquire WRTV-6 from Scripps Media. My thinking here would be a more reputable company, like Gray Media or Hearst Television acquiring WRTV (or WISH-WNDY). Or maybe (and this might sound far-fetched) CBS showing interest in acquiring its former long-time affiliate WISH, and moving CBS programming back to WISH and WTTV-4 reassume CW affiliation or maybe Fox moving to WTTV from WXIN-59.
I personally wouldn’t be surprised if we’re to see network affiliation switches down the line, with several more long-time network affiliates of ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox going Independent (similar to what WJXT, KRON, WCCB, WHDH, WPLG, WANF, etc.) have seen in the last 25 years, as well as perhaps more major ownership changes to local stations, and perhaps the 4 major networks wanting in on beefing up its local O&O portfolio, and perhaps CBS and Fox sniffing around stations in NFL markets (like Indianapolis, New Orleans, Kansas City, Buffalo, Nashville, Charlotte, Vegas, etc.).
This is one of those wait and see things.
The definition of REPUTABLE is “having a good reputation and able to be trusted.” Circle City Broadcasting and it’s predecessor Bayou City Broadcasting have enjoyed a nearly 20-year run of business success. An Indianapolis native, DuJuan McCoy has taken his career success and has made a huge investment in his home town. McCoy has earned his good reputation and worked tirelessly to earn the trust he so well-deserves. A negative comment, especially by someone who has chosen to remain anonymous, sounds like sour grapes from an individual who loves to pontificate, but lacks the gumption to “put his money where his mouth is…”
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