Pappas Telecasting Companies
IndustryMedia
Founded1971 (1971)
Defunct2018 (2018)
FateStations sold
HeadquartersVisalia, California
ServicesBroadcast television

Pappas Telecasting Companies was a diversely organized broadcasting company headquartered in Visalia, California, United States. Founded in 1971, it was one of the largest privately held broadcasting companies in the country, with its stations reaching over 15% of all U.S. households and over 32% of Hispanic households. Apart from owning and/or operating many television stations, the company formerly had two radio stations in its possession, KTRB (860 AM) and KMPH (840 AM)—changed from KPMP in June 2006 to reflect its nearby sister/flagship television station, Fox affiliate KMPH-TV, both in Fresno, California.

Bankruptcy

On May 10, 2008, thirteen of Pappas' stations filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. Pappas cited "the extremely difficult business climate for television stations across the country" in papers filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware. The company reported in court filings that it had more than $536 million in debt and $460 million in assets. Problems that led to the bankruptcy included poor performance of The CW network, its now-former involvement with Azteca America, and preparations for the 2009 analog shutdown. Stations involved in the bankruptcy were KMPH-TV, KFRE-TV, KPTM, KXVO, WCWG, KPTH, KMEG, KTNC-TV, KAZH, KDBC-TV, KREN-TV, KAZR-CA and KCWK. It was later ordered on September 10, 2008, that the affected stations must be sold off by February 15, 2009. [1] Its other stations, and the corporation itself, were not part of the bankruptcy. [2] On May 14 of the same year, company founder Harry J. Pappas filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy at the Delaware court, where a judge could order his personal assets sold to pay off creditors. [3] 13 days later, on May 27, KCWK in Walla Walla, Washington (in the Yakima, Washington television market) ceased operations as a result of the bankruptcy. [4]

On September 17, bankruptcy trustee E. Roger Williams put KREN and its repeaters under contract to Entravision Communications for $4 million, which would double as a minimum bid for the station as it goes up for auction in late October. [5] New World TV Group (later renamed, Titan TV Broadcast Group; unrelated to New World Communications) agreed to acquire the remaining Pappas stations involved in the bankruptcy filing on December 17.[6][7] The sale was approved by the United States bankruptcy court on January 16, 2009.[8] The remaining stations that weren't involved in the initial bankruptcy filing were later placed in a liquidating trust in December 2011.[9]

KMPH Radio ceased operations September 1, 2010, due to lack of revenue. Two weeks later, KTRB went into receivership with Comerica Bank, under license from KTRB Trust. This marked the end of Pappas era.

Former Pappas-owned stations

Stations arranged alphabetically by state and by city of license.

City of license / Market Station
Years owned Current status
OpelikaAuburn, ALColumbus, GA
  • WSWS-TV/
  • WLGA
66 (30) 1996–2016 Independent WGBP-TV owned by CNZ Communications, LLC
Yuma, AZEl Centro, CA KSWT 13 (13) 2000–2014 CBS/NBC affiliate KYMA-DT owned by Imagicomm Communications[lower-alpha 1]
AvalonLos Angeles, CA KAZA-TV[lower-alpha 2] 54 (47) 2001–2018 MeTV affiliate owned by Weigel Broadcasting
FresnoVisaliaSanger, CA KMPH-TV 26 (28) 1971–2009 Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
KFRE-TV 59 (36) 2002–2009 The CW affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Bakersfield, CA KBBV-CD 19 (19) 2001–2011 TeleXitos affiliate owned by Jaco Communications, LLC
KBFX-LP[upper-alpha 1] 58 (29) 1990–2005 Fox affiliate KBFX-CD owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Fort BraggConcord
San FranciscoOakland, CA
KTNC-TV 42 (14) 1996–2009 Tri-State Christian Television owned-and-operated (O&O)
KUNO-TV[upper-alpha 2] 8 (8) 1997–2009 Total Living Network affiliate KQSL owned by One Ministries, Inc.
SacramentoStocktonModesto, CA KRBK/KPWB 31 (21) 1994–1998 Independent KMAX-TV owned by CBS News and Stations
Vero Beach, FL WMMF-LP 19 2006–2014 Independent owned by Vinions, LLC
AmesDes Moines, IA KDMI 19 (19) 2006–2016 Tri-State Christian Television owned-and-operated (O&O)
KCWI-TV 23 (23) 2001–2016 The CW affiliate owned by Tegna Inc.
Sioux City, Iowa KMEG 14 (39) 2005–2009[lower-alpha 3] Dabl affiliate owned by Waitt Broadcasting, Inc.[lower-alpha 4]
KPTH 44 (49) 1999–2009 Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Lincoln, NE KFXL-TV 51 (51) 2006–2016[lower-alpha 5] Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Grand Island, NE KTVG-TV[upper-alpha 3] 17 (19) 1996–2009[lower-alpha 6] Defunct; ceased operations in 2010
Superior, NE KSNB-TV[upper-alpha 4] 4 (4) 1996–2009[lower-alpha 7] NBC affiliate owned by Gray Television
KearneyHastings, NE KHGI-TV 13 (13) 1996–2016 ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Hayes Center, NE KWNB-TV[upper-alpha 5] 6 (6) 1996–2016 ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
North Platte, NE
13 (13) 2006–2016 ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Omaha, NECouncil Bluffs, IA KXVO 15 (38) 1995–2009[lower-alpha 8] The CW affiliate owned by Mitts Telecasting Company[lower-alpha 9]
KPTM 42 (43) 1986–2009 Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
KAZO-LP 57 1999–2008 Defunct; ceased operations in 2008
RenoSparks, Nevada KREN-TV 27 (26) 1995–2009 Univision affiliate owned by Entravision Communications
KAZR-CA 46 (46) 1995–2009 UniMás affiliate KRNS-CD owned by Entravision Communications
LexingtonGreensboroHigh Point
Winston-Salem, NC
WCWG 20 (19) 1995–2009 The CW affiliate owned by Hearst Television
GreenvilleSpartanburg, SC
Asheville, NC
WHNS 21 (21) 1984–1988 Fox affiliate owned by Gray Television
WASV-TV 62 (45) 1995–2000 CW station WYCW, owned-and-operated (O&O) by Nexstar Media Group
Austin, TX KXLK-CD 23 (23) 2003–2015 Justice Network affiliate owned by Univision Communications
Corpus Christi, TX KXCC-CA 45 2003–2015 Dark station KXCC-LD owned by Roseland Broadcasting, LLC[10]
El Paso, TX KDBC-TV 4 (18) 2004–2009 CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Houston, TX KVVV/KAZH 57 (41) 1999–2009 ShopHQ affiliate KUBE-TV owned by WRNN-TV Associates
KHMV-LP 28 (28) 1999–2007 3ABN affiliate KUGB-CD owned by HC2 Holdings
KVVV-LP 15 (15) 1999–2013 Independent KVVV-LD owned by Sovryn Holdings, Inc.
Walla WallaYakimaPasco
RichlandKennewick, WA
KCWK 9 2002–2008 Defunct; ceased operations in 2008
KCWK-LP[upper-alpha 7] 27
Fond du LacGreen BayAppleton, WI
68 (5) 1995–2014 Cozi TV affiliate owned by CNZ Communications, LLC
  1. Operated through an SSA by News-Press & Gazette Company.
  2. 80% was owned by Pappas; 20% was owned by TV Azteca from 2001 until 2018.
  3. Owned by Waitt Broadcasting, Pappas operated KMEG under a local marketing agreement.
  4. Operated through a LMA by Sinclair Broadcast Group.
  5. Owned by Lincoln Broadcasting from 2006-2015, Pappas operated KFXL under a local marketing agreement.
  6. Owned by Hill Broadcasting, Pappas operated KTVG under a local marketing agreement.
  7. Owned by Colins Broadcasting, Pappas operated KSNB under a local marketing agreement.
  8. Owned by Mitts Telecasting Company, Pappas operated KXVO under a local marketing agreement.
  9. Operated through a LMA by Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Notes

  1. Translator of KMPH-TV.
  2. Satellite of KTNC-TV.
  3. Satellite of KFXL-TV.
  4. Satellite of KFXL-TV.
  5. Satellite of KHGI-TV.
  6. Satellite of KHGI-TV.
  7. Translator of KCWK.

Former broadcast network

References

  1. "Web Page Under Construction".
  2. "Some Pappas Telecasting companies file for Ch. 11 Bankruptcy protection". Archived from the original on May 22, 2008. Retrieved May 14, 2008.
  3. "FresnoBee.com: Local: Pappas forced to file Ch. 7". Archived from the original on May 19, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
  4. "TV station files for bankruptcy | Yakima Herald-Republic Online". Archived from the original on June 4, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
  5. Pappas Saga Turning Into Tragedy, TVNewsCheck, September 24, 2008.
  6. "Complete List of TV Stations - Station Index".
  7. Ellis, Sullivan Poised To Run Pappas TVs, TVNewsCheck, December 17, 2008.
  8. Judge Approves Sale Of Pappas Stations, Broadcasting & Cable, January 16, 2009.
  9. "Application for Consent to Assign Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License or to Transfer Control of Entity Holding Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License", CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, December 21, 2011, Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  10. Station Search Details - "KXCC-LP", CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, Retrieved November 29, 2018.
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