Tucker Broadcasting, new owner of WGTU/WGTQ TV 29&8 signs agreements with Barrington Broadcasting Group, owner of WPBN/WTOM TV 7&4.
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Tucker Broadcasting of Traverse City, Inc. in Michigan announced Tuesday that it has completed a transaction to acquire WGTU/WGTQ TV 29&8, the ABC and CW affiliates serving the Traverse City-Cadillac, Michigan market.
Tucker Broadcasting has entered into a series of agreements with Barrington Broadcasting Group LLC, based out of Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Barrington’s subsidiary, which owns the TV 7&4, will provide support services to the operations of WGTU/WGTQ.
K. James Yager, Chief Executive Officer of Barrington, stated, “Our management team, under the guidance of Chris Cornelius, Chief Operating Officer, and Jill Saarela, Vice President and General Manager of WPBN/WTOM, will provide new opportunities for local news, local partnerships and growth at WGTU/WGTQ. We look forward to working with the WGTU/WGTQ team in the Traverse City-Cadillac market.”
Jill Saarela, Vice-President and General Manager of WPBN/WTOM TV stated, “WPBN and WGTU have similar business philosophies. Both strive to bring viewers news, weather, community information and quality programming, and to provide the best results for our advertising clients. This is a tremendous opportunity for local businesses to work with the two best television staffs in the market, with the best programming.”
While the WGTU staff continues to manage operations from their current business office in downtown Traverse City, WPBN will begin renovating their business office on M-72 West, Traverse City, to accommodate both staffs. Renovations should be complete late summer.
Barrington was formed in 2003 to acquire and operate television stations in smaller markets across the United States. Barrington currently owns and operates twenty network affiliated television stations and operates a twenty first station under a local marketing agreement as well as two stations under a joint sales agreement and shared services agreement. Barrington is owned and controlled by Pilot Group, with management as its partner. Pilot Group is a non-traditional private investment firm founded in 2003 by a group of operating executives who actively help its management partners achieve their goals.
