Denali Media Holdings Acquires Three Alaska Stations

Local telecommunications biggie buys into broadcast

By Michael Malone -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/13/2012 10:09:55 AM

Denali Media Holdings, a subsidiary of General Communication Inc. (GCI), has agreed to acquire three Alaska broadcast stations: CBS affiliate KTVA Anchorage and NBC affiliates KATH Juneau and KSCT Sitka. Alaska Broadcasting Company/Media News Group is selling KTVA, while North Star Broadcasting is selling KATH and KSCT.

Terms of the deal were not revealed. It is subject to FCC approval, which is anticipated to come in the first quarter.

GCI is a telecommunications giant in Alaska.

"Our intention is to invest our resources and transform KTVA, KATH and KSCT into a news and entertainment leader unparalleled in Alaska," said Ron Duncan, GCI president. "We look at these purchases as the first step toward providing a new statewide platform for news and information, as well as providing unique content and value for GCI's video subscribers."

John Tracy will be the lead consultant in the rebuilding of the news departments. Tracy was news director at KTUU Anchorage from 1989 to 2008.

KTVA Anchorage is the ratings and revenue runner up to Schurz's KTUU in DMA No. 145.

"This is not unfamiliar territory," said Tracy. "Denali Media Holdings is committed to investing significant resources to provide Alaskans with a new choice for quality news programming and high-definition offerings. I welcome the challenge of helping restore KTVA to the community leader it once was and building on KATH and KSCT's reputations."