Journal Broadcast Group’s plan to acquire a second television station in the Tucson market has received the FCC’s blessings. The pairing was unopposed but still required special FCC permission. The station is KWBA-TV (Ch. 58, CW), coming from Cascade Broadcasting Group for $11.885M. It’ll pair up with KGUN-TV (Ch. 9, ABC). It passed all four prongs of the FCC failed station test, including low ratings, financial distress, the ability of the buyer to serve the public interest and the lack of an alternative buyer. Broker Larry Patrick of Patrick Communications told the FCC his company was unable to find anybody other than Journal despite contacting over 35 potential suitors. Journal also has four radio stations in the Tucson area.
