SJL Grabs ABC O&O Pair For $30 Million

SJL Broadcast Management is acquiring WTVG Toledo for $16.8 million and WJRT Flint for $13.2 million, according to an FCC filing. The seller is Disney and the deal is expected to close early in the new year.

Earlier this month, B&C reported that SJL, fronted by broadcasting veteran George Lilly, had worked out a deal to acquire the two ABC-owned stations. Lilly envisions WJRT and WTVG as flagships for a group of six to eight stations, comprised of Big Four affiliates that are market leaders or close seconds.

"If you're starting to build a group, what better stations to use as the flagship?" he told B&C earlier this month.

SJL is backed by Sankaty Advisors, an affiliate of Bain Capital.

Michael Malone

Michael Malone is content director at B+C and Multichannel News. He joined B+C in 2005 and has covered network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television, including writing the "Local News Close-Up" market profiles. He also hosted the podcasts "Busted Pilot" and "Series Business." His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The L.A. Times, The Boston Globe and New York magazine.