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Liberty Corporation, Raycom announce merger

> Liberty Press Release
> Raycom Press Release
> Story from Liberty's WIS-TV (Columbia, SC)
>
> Anyone want to start speculating?
>

There will most definitely be a divestiture in Wilmington, NC. Raycom owns WECT, channel 6 (NBC) and WSFX, channel 26 (FOX), while Liberty owns WWAY, channel 3 (ABC). This merger basically puts all of Wilmington's full-power commercial stations under common ownership (Capitol Broadcasting of Raleigh owns low power CBS affiliate WILM, channel 10).
 
> There will most definitely be a divestiture in Wilmington,
> NC. Raycom owns WECT, channel 6 (NBC) and WSFX, channel 26
> (FOX), while Liberty owns WWAY, channel 3 (ABC). This
> merger basically puts all of Wilmington's full-power
> commercial stations under common ownership (Capitol
> Broadcasting of Raleigh owns low power CBS affiliate WILM,
> channel 10).

Okay, a few things...

1- When did Cosmos become Liberty?
2- I see it's now there, but for some reason, I thought Gray owned WWAY.
3- Will a Columbia station also have to be sold? (WIS and WACH IIRC)

- Trip<P ID="signature">______________
Visit my website, www.rabbitears.info! It's eventually going to be your one resource for television info! Digital television, histories, and technical information for the entire USA from one source!</P>
 
> There will most definitely be a divestiture in Wilmington,
> NC. Raycom owns WECT, channel 6 (NBC) and WSFX, channel 26
> (FOX), while Liberty owns WWAY, channel 3 (ABC). This
> merger basically puts all of Wilmington's full-power
> commercial stations under common ownership (Capitol
> Broadcasting of Raleigh owns low power CBS affiliate WILM,
> channel 10).


Wilmington's not alone:

Toledo, OH: WTOL (Liberty) and WNWO (Raycom)
Albany, GA: WALB (Liberty) and WFXL (Raycom)
Columbia, SC: WIS (Liberty) and WACH (Raycom)

Now in each case, as the markets are too small for duopoly status, Raycom/Liberty could 'sell' the lesser-performing stations to a front company, i.e. Southeastern Media Holdings, who would turn around and have Raycom/Liberty 'operate' the properties. WIS already produces a 10pm newscast for WACH.

Or, the merged company could actually sell off some stations to companies such as Gray or Media-General (two companies that already have a large portfolio of stations in the southeast).

In any case, SOMETHING definately has to go in Wilmington. <P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Stitch on 08/26/05 05:45 AM.</FONT></P>
 
>
> 1- When did Cosmos become Liberty?
> 2- I see it's now there, but for some reason, I thought Gray
> owned WWAY.
> 3- Will a Columbia station also have to be sold? (WIS and
> WACH IIRC)
>
> - Trip
>

Liberty is basically Cosmos under a name change. There was no actual buyout by a new company, just a change in title. Liberty Insurance has owned the Cosmos Broadcasting arm for years. Well, until this announcement was made.

As mentioned in the earlier post, Raycom/Liberty may 'sell' a station like WACH to Southeastern Media Holdings, which owns a few Fox affiliates in markets where Raycom already owns a station (cases in point: WECT-Raycom/WSFX-SMH; and in Columbus, GA: WTVM-Raycom and WXTX-SMH). SMH also owns WFXG in Augusta, but there's no Raycom TV property in the market.
 
Well in toledo it might have to be WNWO goes for sale..AGAIN
cause I dont think raycom (although the owner of WNWO) wants to get rid of a top news operation like WTOL (which is like KING of Toledo)
 
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