WBIN-TV announced today that it has been sold to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in a recently completed auction. The total proceeds from the complex transaction are estimated to be nearly $100 million dollars.
In a process called the “Spectrum Auction”, the FCC is purchasing local TV stations and reselling their over-the-air rights, or spectrum, to mobile telephone and wireless communications companies. These airwaves will be used to create lightning fast 5G wireless internet.
WBIN-TV sold its television broadcast rights in the auction for $68.1 million dollars. Additionally, it entered into a sale of its remaining television license rights to a major television group for an undisclosed amount but estimated by insiders to be an additional $10-30 million dollars. The total proceeds from these transactions are estimated to be nearly $100 million dollars. WBIN-TV was purchased a little more than five years ago for $9 million dollars.
WBIN-TV and its television operations will cease broadcasting in the coming months. The proceeds from the sale will be used by the company to acquire other media assets in the digital, outdoor and radio areas as well as for continued investment in its 19 radio stations and its digital news web business NH1.com.
http://www.nh1.com/news/WBIN-TV-sold-in-FCC-Auction-NH1-News-to-invest-in-new-digital-platforms/