SJL Broadcast Acquiring KITV Honolulu from Hearst TV

UPDATED:

SJL is acquiring KITV Honolulu from Hearst Television. Terms of the deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, were not disclosed. It is expected to close later this year.

“Hearst Television is proud of its ownership of KITV over the past 18 years and of our KITV colleagues,” said Hearst TV in a statement. “We’ll continue to work with the KITV team during the transition.”

George Lilly, SJL principal, told B&C he is "delighted" to do the deal for KITV. "Stations of this market size fit nicely with other midsize stations in our group," he said.

Lilly also noted that he's owned a TV property in Honolulu before, and it was "a very positive experience."

KITV is an ABC affiliate. Honolulu’s Star-Advertiser had previously reported the sale.

SJL sold WTVG and WJRT Flint to Gray TV for $128 million last year.

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.