Pappas Telecasting

Defunct American media company

This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (January 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

Pappas Telecasting Companies

Industry| Media
Founded| 1971 (1971)
Defunct| 2018 (2018)
Fate| Stations sold
Headquarters| Visalia, California
Services| Broadcast 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[edit]

This section is in list format but may read better as prose. You can help by converting this section, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (February 2013)

|

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][citation needed] 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[edit]

Stations arranged alphabetically by state and by city of license.

City of license / Market | Station  |

* Channel
* TV (RF)

| Years owned  | Current status

|
|
|
|

Opelika–Auburn, AL–Columbus, GA |

* WSWS-TV/
* WLGA

| 66 (30)  | 1996–2016  | Independent WGBP-TV owned by CNZ Communications, LLC
Yuma, AZ–El Centro, CA | KSWT  | 13 (13)  | 2000–2014  | CBS/NBC affiliate KYMA-DT owned by Imagicomm Communications[a]
Avalon–Los Angeles, CA | KAZA-TV[b] | 54 (47)  | 2001–2018  | MeTV affiliate owned by Weigel Broadcasting
Fresno–Visalia–Sanger, 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[A] | 58 (29)  | 1990–2005  | Fox affiliate KBFX-CD owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Fort Bragg–Concord–
San Francisco–Oakland, CA | KTNC-TV | 42 (14)  | 1996–2009  | Tri-State Christian Television owned-and-operated (O&O)
KUNO-TV[B] | 8 (8)  | 1997–2009  | Total Living Network affiliate KQSL owned by One Ministries, Inc.
Sacramento–Stockton–Modesto, 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
Ames–Des 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[c] | Dabl affiliate owned by Waitt Broadcasting, Inc.[d]
KPTH | 44 (49)  | 1999–2009  | Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Lincoln, NE | KFXL-TV | 51 (51)  | 2006–2016[e] | Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Grand Island, NE | KTVG-TV[C] | 17 (19)  | 1996–2009[f] | Defunct; ceased operations in 2010
Superior, NE | KSNB-TV[D] | 4 (4)  | 1996–2009[g] | NBC affiliate owned by Gray Television
Kearney–Hastings, NE | KHGI-TV | 13 (13)  | 1996–2016  | ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Hayes Center, NE | KWNB-TV[E] | 6 (6)  | 1996–2016  | ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
North Platte, NE |

* WSWS-LD/
* KHGI-CD[F]

| 13 (13)  | 2006–2016  | ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Omaha, NE–Council Bluffs, IA | KXVO | 15 (38)  | 1995–2009[h] | The CW affiliate owned by Mitts Telecasting Company[i]
KPTM | 42 (43)  | 1986–2009  | Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
KAZO-LP | 57  | 1999–2008  | Defunct; ceased operations in 2008
Reno–Sparks, 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
Lexington–Greensboro–High Point–
Winston-Salem, NC | WCWG | 20 (19)  | 1995–2009  | The CW affiliate owned by Hearst Television
Greenville–Spartanburg, 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 Walla–Yakima–Pasco–
Richland–Kennewick, WA | KCWK | 9  | 2002–2008  | Defunct; ceased operations in 2008
KCWK-LP[G] | 27
Fond du Lac–Green Bay–Appleton, WI |

* WMMF/WWAZ/
* WIWN

| 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[edit]

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[edit]

* TuVisión

## References[edit]

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.

## External links[edit]

* Biography of Harry J. Pappas