Sinclair Closes on Freedom Group

Sinclair Broadcast Group has closed on its $385 million acquisition of the Freedom Communications stations.

Sinclair had been operating the stations since Dec. 1, pursuant to a local marketing agreement, as it awaited FCC approval.

The stations are WPEC West Palm Beach, WWMT Grand Rapids (Mich.), WRGB-WCWN Albany (N.Y.), WTVC Chattanooga (Tenn.), WLAJ Lansing (Mich.), KTVL Medford (Ore.) and KFDM Beaumont (Texas).

Sinclair now owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 74 television stations in 45 markets, and reaches approximately 26.3% of U.S. television households.

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.