Broadcasters Foundation establishes the Philip J. Lombardo Memorial Fund in his honor.
The streaming service’s new agreements with Hearst, Citadel, Morris Network and others add more than 70 stations from top DMAs including Boston, Baltimore, Orlando and Pittsburgh.
The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University will recognize 12 Iowa individuals and groups with awards for exceptional character. The 2019 Iowa Character Awards ceremony will be […]
McDermott In The Station Game With WLNE, KLKN
Deb McDermott’s new Standard Media is buying the Providence, R.I., and Lincoln, Neb., ABC affiliates from Phil Lombardo for $83 million and she says she’s looking for more.
Dish Signs Deal To Keep WLNE Providence
Dish has reached a multi-year agreement with Citadel Communications for carriage of the ABC affiliate in Providence, R.I. The two sides had been working on a new agreement since late August when the old pact expired. Dish and Citadel signed a handful of temporary agreements to avoid a blackout.
Dish Extends Agreement For WLNE Providence
Exclusives
Dish Offers Free Antennas In Retrans Dispute
Dish said Wednesday it could lose the signal for ABC affiliate WLNE Providence, R.I., due to a dispute with its owner, Citadel Communications, over carriage fees.
While Phil Lombardo (left) and Ray Cole may be selling most of their Citadel Communications, they’ve still got work to do — running and improving WLNE Providence, R.I., and KLKN Lincoln, Neb., and perhaps using the two to grow another group.
Citadel: From Zero To Full HD Newscasts
Dan Ackerman, Citadel Communications’ director of engineering, explains what his company did to move its four stations (now five) from analog in 2009 to digital with full HD news operations by last September. He also talks about IP backpacks, his low-power solution to VHF reception problems and complying with the new loudness rules.
Syncbak Moving Forward With OTT Platform
CEO Jack Perry says in addition to developing the platform that stations will be able to use to deliver their programming via broadband to interconnected TV sets, tablets and smart phones in their markets, his company is also lining up national programming to supplement whatever programming the participating stations choose to put on the platform. Preliminary testing on stations is slotted for next month, with the goal of a commercial rollout by January’s CES.
The acquisition of ABC affiliate WLNE Providence, R.I., by Citadel Communications LLC was finalized Wednesday. Philip J. Lombardo, owner and CEO of Citadel, said in a statement: “The Federal Communications Commission approved the license transfer quickly and we are thrilled to take ownership. We are already in the process of converting the station to high-definition, a $1 million investment.” HD broadcast master control and production rooms are under construction, and plans are in the works to modify existing sets for local newscasts. The station hopes to be broadcasting in full HD by September.
Citadel Communications named Russ Hamilton vice president and general manager of its Des Moines, Iowa, ABC affiliate. Hamilton succeeds Ray Cole, president and chief operating officer of parent company Citadel, who had also been serving as GM of the station. Cole said WOI needed a full-time general manager after Citadel purchased a station in Providence, R.I., in March.
Kevin O’Brien still hasn’t given up on winning back control of the Providence, R.I., ABC affiliate. He will appeal the March 22 sale of the station in a court auction to the Rhode Island Supreme Court, according to his attorney. Citadel Communications took over management of WLNE on Sunday after buying the station at auction in a deal valued at $5.8 million, including $4 million in cash. The FCC must still approve the transaction.
Chris Tzianabos, who was general sales manager of Fox-owned WXFT for nine years, will take command of the ABC affiliate in Providence, R.I., on May 1. With bid of $4 million, Citadel bought the financially troubled station at auction last month. It will operate the station under an LMA until it closes on the purchase sometime this summer.
As many as nine staffers were sent packing on Friday and Saturday at the Rhode Island ABC affiliate that was recently acquired by Citadel Communications, including chief engineer Jim Brown and assignment editor Neil Remiesiewicz.
VP-General Manager Steve Doerr will leave the Providence, R.I., ABC affiliate at the end of this month. Doerr told the staff that after discussions with the new owner, Citadel Broadcasting, he would be stepping down.
Former Providence Mayor Joseph R. Paolino Jr. said his investment group plans to submit a counter-bid to the $4-million offer for WLNE, from Citadel Communications.
Others interested in bidding for the Providence, R.I., ABC affiliate have until March 18 to submit offers.
