TOLEDO, OH (THE BLADE) - WTVG-TV, Channel 13, Toledo's ABC station affiliate, is being sold to SJL Broadcasting of San Luis Obispo, Calif., pending federal approval.
The station is owned by the ABC Owned Television Stations Group, which is part of the Walt Disney Co. No purchase price was disclosed, although the deal included SJL's acquisition of WJRT-TV, Channel 12 in Flint, Mich.
David Zamichow, Channel 13 station president and general manager, said WTVG will keep its ABC affiliation, and the station doesn't plan to change on-air talent or programming. The station employs 100.
SJL President and Chief Executive Officer George Lilly owned the Toledo and Flint stations 15 years ago before selling them to ABC, and had been working in recent years to buy back the stations, Mr. Zamichow said.
"We're looking forward to giving them a chance," Mr. Zamichow said.
The Federal Communications Commission must approve the sale. Mr. Zamichow said he expects SJL to file for approval within 10 days, and said the FCC decision likely would be made within 90 days of the filing.
Mr. Lilly said in a statement that the Toledo and Flint station acquisitions are "tremendously important to SJL Broadcasting's strategy.
"We are pleased to once again be associated with both stations, which have remained market leaders under ABC's diligent community-driven management. We look forward to a continued relationship with the ABC television network."
Toledo and Flint represented two of the smallest markets out of ABC's 10 corporate-owned stations, which include Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Houston.
Rebecca Campbell, president of ABC Owned Television Stations, said in a statement the sale "makes strategic sense for the future direction of the ABC Owned Television Stations group as we sharpen our focus on larger markets with greater growth potential."
In 2008, industry analyst David Miller of Caris & Co. speculated in a report that Disney ABC might consider selling all 10 of its ABC-owned TV stations as it unloads its distribution assets and invests more in media content, such as Disney's acquisitions of Pixar Animation Studios and kids' online virtual world Club Penguin.
Disney immediately dismissed the speculation.
WTVG has been a strong performer for Disney ABC.
In results from Nielsen's May sweeps ratings, WTVG captured first place in four newscasts slots for the Toledo market and tied for first in the other two.
The Nielsen weekday numbers gave Channel 13 wins in the 5 to 6 a.m., 6 to 7 a.m., and 5 to 6 p.m. news blocks, and the 6 p.m. half-hour newscast. The station was first with the 25 to 54-year-old demographic and with all area viewers in those four news slots.
