The transaction secured all necessary sign-offs from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this month, despite opposition from DIRECTV, Newsmax and a handful of public interest groups.
The stations that are covered by the deal include:
- WAND-TV (Channel 17, NBC) in Decatur, Illinois
- WBKI (Channel 51, the CW Network) in Louisville, Kentucky
- WDRB (Channel 41, Fox) in Louisville, Kentucky
- WLIO (Channel 8, NBC & Fox) in Lima, Ohio
- WOHL (Channel 35, ABC & CBS) in Lima, Ohio
The deal with Block Media is the latest transaction involving Gray Media acquiring or swapping local TV stations with others. Earlier this week, Gray Media announced it had finalized a transaction involving
nearly a dozen stations previously owned by Allen Media Group. Last year, Gray Media and the E. W. Scripps Company
agreed to exchange TV stations in markets where both companies already owned at least one outlet, thereby creating new market duopolies in those communities.