Fisher Communications
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2013) |
Company type | Public |
---|---|
NASDAQ: FSCI | |
Industry | Broadcasting, Television, Radio |
Founded | 1910 |
Defunct | August 8, 2013 |
Fate | Acquired by Sinclair |
Successor | Sinclair Broadcast Group |
Headquarters | Seattle, Washington, United States |
Key people | Colleen Brown (President) & (CEO) Michael D. Wortsman (Chair) Robert I. (Rob) Dunlop (EVP) (Ops)[1] |
Revenue | $164.0M ( |
$36.4M ( | |
Number of employees | 784 ( |
Fisher Communications was a media company in the United States. Based in Seattle, Washington, the company primarily owned a number of radio and television stations in the Western United States. It was the last company in the Seattle area to own a local TV station before being acquired by Sinclair Broadcast Group in 2013.
History
[edit]- See also KNWN (AM)
Fisher Companies, Inc.'s Fisher Communications by 1998 owned 25 radio stations and 2 TV stations. Fisher Companies also owned a flour milling and food distribution company and real estate development subsidiary.[2]
In 1999 Retlaw Enterprises (a company owned by the relatives of Walt Disney) sold its remaining 11 television stations to Fisher Communications, including all of the related assets to those properties[3] for $215 million in cash.[2] Its broadcasting unit, until the 2000s, was Fisher Broadcasting. Also that year, Fisher is launching its own entertainment division, Fisher Entertainment, to be headed by Alan Winters, a syndication executive.[4]
Fisher began to sell many of its properties in the mid-2000s, including real estate, its longtime flour milling operation, and its stake in Safeco.[5] By 2011, Fisher Communications was down to 10 radio stations.[1] On April 11, 2013, Fisher (which by then owned 20 television stations and only three radio stations) announced that it would be acquired by the Sinclair Broadcast Group.[5] However, the deal was subject to financial scrutiny; the law firm Levi & Korsinsky notified Fisher shareholders with accusations that Fisher's board of directors were breaching fiduciary duties by "failing to adequately shop the Company before agreeing to enter into the transaction", and Sinclair was underpaying for Fisher's stock.[6] Shortly after the announcement, a lawsuit was filed by a Fisher shareholder;[7] the suit was settled in July 2013,[8] on August 6 Fisher's shareholders approved the merger.[9] The FCC granted its approval of the sale of August 7.[10] On August 8, Sinclair announced that the sale was completed.[11]
Final stations
[edit]Stations are arranged alphabetically by state and by city of license.
- (**) - Indicates a station built and signed-on by Fisher.
Radio
[edit]AM Station | FM Station |
---|
City of license / Market | Station | Years owned | Current status |
---|---|---|---|
Billings, MT | KBLG 910 | 1994–2006 | Owned by Desert Mountain Broadcasting |
KYYA 93.3 | 1994–2006 | KURL, owned by Elenbaas Media, Inc | |
KRKX 94.1 | 1994–2006 | Owned by Desert Mountain Broadcasting | |
KRZN 96.3 ** | 1998–2006 | Owned by Desert Mountain Broadcasting | |
Butte, MT | KXTL 1370 | 1994–2006 | Owned by Townsquare Media |
KAAR 92.5 | 1994–2006 | Owned by Townsquare Media | |
KMBR 95.5 | 1994–2006 | Owned by Townsquare Media | |
Great Falls, MT | KXGF 1400 | 1994–2011 | Owned by STARadio Corporation |
KQDI 1450 | –2011 | Owned by STARadio Corporation | |
KAAK 98.9 | 1994–2011 | Owned by Townsquare Media | |
KIKF 104.9 ** | 2001–2011 | Owned by STARadio Corporation | |
KQDI-FM 106.1 | –2011 | Owned by STARadio Corporation | |
KINX 107.3 ** | 2002–2011 | KIMO, owned by Montana Radio Company | |
Missoula, MT | KYLT 1340 | –2006 | Owned by Townsquare Media |
KGRZ 1450 | 1994–2006 | Owned by Townsquare Media | |
KGGL 93.3 | 1994–2006 | Owned by Townsquare Media | |
KXDR 98.7 | –2006 | KHKM, owned by Legacy Broadcasting, Inc. | |
KZOQ-FM 100.1 | –2006 | Owned by Townsquare Media | |
KBQQ 106.7 | 2003–2006 | KXDR, owned by Cherry Creek Radio | |
Portland, OR | KOTK 1090 | 1996–2003 | KFXX, owned by Audacy, Inc. |
KWJJ-FM 99.5 | 1996–2003 | Owned by Audacy, Inc. | |
Seattle–Tacoma, WA | KVI 570 | 1994–2013 | Owned by Lotus Communications |
KOMO 1000 ** | 1926–2013 | KNWN, owned by Lotus Communications | |
KOMO-FM 97.7 | [a] | KNWN-FM, owned by Lotus Communications | |
KPLZ-FM 101.5 | 1994–2013 | Owned by Lotus Communications | |
Wenatchee, WA | KWWX 1340 | –2006 | KYSP, owned by Townsquare Media |
KWWW-FM 96.7 | –2006 | Owned by Townsquare Media | |
KYSN 97.7 | 1994–2006 | Owned by Townsquare Media | |
KXAA/KAPP 99.5 | 1994–2006 | KAPL-FM, owned by Townsquare Media | |
KZPH 106.7 | 1997–2006 | KKWN, owned by Townsquare Media |
- ^ Owned by South Sound Broadcasting and operated by Fisher under an LMA.
Television
[edit]City of license / Market | Station | Channel | Years owned | Current status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bakersfield, CA[12] | KBAK-TV | 29 | 2008–2013 | CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
KBFX-CD | 58 | 2008–2013 | Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
Fresno–Visalia, CA | KJEO | 47 | 1999–2000[a] | CBS affiliate KGPE, owned by Nexstar Media Group |
Augusta, GA | WFXG | 54 | 1999–2003[a] | Fox affiliate owned by Lockwood Broadcast Group |
Columbus, GA | WXTX | 54 | 1999–2003[a] | Fox affiliate owned by American Spirit Media[b] |
Boise, ID | KBOI-TV | 2 | 1999–2013[a] | CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
KYUU-LD | 35 | 2006–2013 | The CW affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
Idaho Falls–Pocatello, ID | KIDK | 3 | 1999–2013[a] | Dabl affiliate owned by VistaWest Media, LLC[c] |
KXPI-LD | 34 | 2006–2013 | Fox affiliate owned by News-Press & Gazette Company | |
Lewiston, ID–Spokane, WA | KLEW-TV[A] | 3 | 1999–2013[a] | CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
Bend, OR | KABH-CA[B] | 15 | [d] | Defunct, license cancelled in 2015 |
Eugene–Coos Bay–Roseburg, OR | KVAL-TV | 13 | 1999–2013[a] | CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
KCBY-TV[C] | 11 | 1999–2013[a] | CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
KPIC[C] | 4 | 1999–2013[a] | CBS affiliate owned by South West Oregon TV Broadcasting[e] | |
KMTR | 16 | 2013[f] | NBC affiliate owned by Roberts Media, LLC[g] | |
KMCB[D] | 23 | 2013[f] | NBC affiliate owned by Roberts Media, LLC[g] | |
KTCW[D] | 46 | 2013[f] | NBC affiliate owned by Roberts Media, LLC[g] | |
Portland, OR–Vancouver, WA | KATU ** | 2 | 1962–2013 | ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
KUNP | 16 | 2006–2013 | Univision affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
Seattle–Tacoma, WA | KOMO-TV ** | 4 | 1953–2013 | ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
KUNS-TV | 51 | 2006–2013 | The CW affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
Yakima–Walla Walla, WA | KIMA-TV | 29 | 1999–2013[a] | CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group |
KEPR-TV[A] | 19 | 1999–2013[a] | CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
KUNW-CD | 2 | 2007–2013 | Univision affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
KVVK-CD[E] | 15 | 2007–2013 | Univision affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
KORX-CA[E] | 16 | 2007–2013 | Univision affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
KWWA-CA[E] | 49 | 2007–2008 | Defunct, ceased operations in 2008 |
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Acquired from Retlaw Enterprises.
- ^ Operated through an SSA by Gray Television.
- ^ Operated through an SSA by News-Press & Gazette Company.
- ^ Owned by WatchTV, Inc. and operated by Fisher under an LMA.
- ^ Jointly owned by Sinclair (50 percent) and COBI (50 percent).
- ^ a b c Owned by Roberts Media, LLC, and operated by Fisher under a SSA.
- ^ a b c Operated through an SSA by Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Contract Dispute
[edit]On December 17, 2008, Fisher Communications' contract expired with Dish Network. As a result of this contract dispute, stations owned by Fisher Communications were no longer available to Dish Network subscribers. Dish Network claimed that Fisher is asking for over an 80% increase.[13] The Fisher stations that returned to Dish Network are: KOMO and KUNS in Seattle.; KATU and KUNP in Portland.; KIMA in Yakima, Washington.; KVAL in Eugene, Oregon.; KBCI (now KBOI) in Boise, Idaho; KIDK in Idaho Falls, Idaho; and KBAK and KBFX in Bakersfield, California. Dish Network restored the service to their customers at 10:25 p.m. PST on June 10.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Fisher Communications." Company Profile. Hoover's, Inc., 2012. Answers.com July 20, 2012.
- ^ a b Vrana, Debrora (November 19, 1998). "Fisher Cos. Is Expected to Buy Retlaw's 11 TV Stations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ "8-K For 7/1/99". Fisher Communications Inc. filings. secinfo.com. Retrieved October 20, 2007.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (March 30, 1999). "Fisher taps Winters". Variety. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
- ^ a b Allison, Melissa (April 11, 2013). "KOMO owner Fisher Communications agrees to sale". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ "SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Notifies Investors of Claims of Breaches of Fiduciary Duty by the Board of Fisher Communications, Inc. in Connection With the Sale of the Company to Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc". Press release. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
- ^ "Fisher Communications, Inc. (FSCI) Investor Lawsuit to Stop Takeover by Sinclair Broadcast Group Announced by Shareholders Foundation". Press release. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
- ^ "Fisher Reaches Settlement In Shareholder Suit". All Access. July 29, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ^ "Fisher Shareholders Approve Sale To Sinclair". NetNewsCheck. August 6, 2013. Archived from the original on September 8, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ^ "Application Search Details: File Number: BTCCDT-20130425ACH". fcc.gov. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ^ "Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes On Fisher Communications Acquisition". All Access. August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
- ^ Fisher Communications Agrees to Purchase Two Bakersfield Television Stations
- ^ "Feud Between DISH Network and Fisher Communications Cuts Local Affiliate Stations". nbcrightnow.com. December 29, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ^ "KATU, Fisher stations return to DISH Network". KATU News. June 11, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- Defunct companies based in Seattle
- Economy of the Northwestern United States
- Defunct broadcasting companies of the United States
- Sinclair Broadcast Group
- Companies formerly listed on the Nasdaq
- 2013 disestablishments in Washington (state)
- Mass media companies disestablished in 2013
- 2013 mergers and acquisitions