Nexstar to Acquire KLAS Las Vegas For $145 Million

Nexstar has agreed to acquire KLAS from Landmark Media Enterprises for $145 million. KLAS is a market leading CBS affiliate in DMA No. 41.

The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, would bring Nexstar’s portfolio to 110 stations, reaching approximately 18% of U.S. television households. It is expected to close in the first half of 2015.

“Nexstar remains opportunistic in expanding our station platform for growth and the acquisition of KLAS in Las Vegas is consistent with our strategic focus on identifying, executing and integrating accretive transactions,” said Perry Sook, Nexstar president and CEO. “Pro-forma for expected synergies, including additional retransmission revenues, the purchase price for KLAS is less than 6.0 times the average 2015/2016 pro-forma projected cash flow. Under Nexstar’s ownership we intend to build on KLAS’s rich tradition of local programming and local community involvement.”

Landmark put WTVF Nashville and KLAS on the block in 2008, with Journal Communications snapping up WTVF for $215 million in 2012. The company, which had previously sold The Weather Channel, was waiting for the Vegas market to improve before divesting KLAS.

Michael Malone

Michael Malone, senior content producer at B+C/Multichannel News, covers network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television. He hosts the podcasts Busted Pilot, about what’s new in television, and Series Business, a chat with the creator of a new program, and writes the column “The Watchman.” He joined B+C in 2005. His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Playboy and New York magazine.