Smith Media, LLC, successor to Smith Television aka Sunrise Television, was a broadcasting group co-based in Los Angeles, California and St. Petersburg, Florida, that formerly owned and operated several television stations across the United States. In 1986, it bought the three smaller television stations from publishing company Times Mirror Company.[1] In 2002, Sunrise sold six of the stations to LIN Television.[2]
Smith Television became Smith Media, LLC in 2004 at the death of Bob Smith, head of the family run organization. The family decided to re-capitalize their stations and sold the stations to Boston Ventures, which created Smith Media. [3] [4] The similarities in names have created much confusion.
During the early 2010s, Smith Media sold off its stations; on October 1, 2013, Smith Media reached a deal to sell its last remaining station, WKTV in Utica, New York, to Heartland Media, a company owned by former Gray Television executive Bob Prather, pending FCC approval.[5] [6] The sale was completed on March 20, 2014. [7]
- ^ "Changing hands: Proposed." Broadcasting, September 30, 1985, pg. 109.
- ^ Meikle, Brad (May 13, 2002). "LIN TV Tunes In To Public Market -". Buyouts. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
- ^ Boston Ventures and Smith Television Group Complete Recapitalization. | North America > United States from AllBusiness.com
- ^ "News".
- ^ Seyler, Dave (October 21, 2013). "Prather resurfaces in upstate New York". Television Business Report. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ Application For Consent To Assignment Of Broadcast Station Construction Permit Or License , Federal Communications Commission, October 21, 2013
- ^ Consummation Notice, CDBS Public Notice, Federal Communications Commission, Retrieved March 21, 2014.