SF Broadcasting
Encyclopedia
SF Broadcasting was an owner and operator of American television stations from March 1994, when it was created to 1997. It was formed from the purchase of Burnham Broadcasting.
as minority owner and majority owner Savoy Pictures
, a minority-owned firm. The initial capital of $100 million US was supplied as follows: $58 million came from Fox, $41 million from Savoy, and $1 million from the chairmen of Savoy Pictures, Victor A. Kaufman and Lewis J. Korman. Kaufman and Korman held all the voting stock (had Fox owned any voting stock, it would have been considered as owner of the stations SF bought, counting them against Federal Communications Commission
ownership rules).
All of the stations were NBC affiliates, except for ABC-affiliated WVUE. They were all switched to the Fox network during a time when, in the wake of their acquisition of broadcast rights to NFC
football, it sought to upgrade its affiliate stations in major NFC markets. The acquisitions in Green Bay
and New Orleans
were part of this strategy.
In 1997, SF exited broadcasting when it sold all of its stations to Emmis Communications
. Emmis, in turn, exited broadcasting in the mid-2000s. All of the stations were sold off to different owners: KHON went to Montecito Broadcast Group
then New Vision Television
; WALA and WLUK were sold to LIN TV
; and WVUE, after years of delays induced by Hurricane Katrina, was sold to local ownership.
Ownership structure
The company was a joint venture between the Fox television networkFox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
as minority owner and majority owner Savoy Pictures
Savoy Pictures
Savoy Pictures Inc. was an independent motion picture company in operation from 1992 to 1997.-History:Victor A. Kaufman became chairman and chief executive officer of Savoy Pictures in 1992 along with vice chairman executive, Lewis J. Korman...
, a minority-owned firm. The initial capital of $100 million US was supplied as follows: $58 million came from Fox, $41 million from Savoy, and $1 million from the chairmen of Savoy Pictures, Victor A. Kaufman and Lewis J. Korman. Kaufman and Korman held all the voting stock (had Fox owned any voting stock, it would have been considered as owner of the stations SF bought, counting them against Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
ownership rules).
Stations
SF owned four stations:- KHON-TVKHON-TVKHON-TV is a Fox-affiliated television station in Honolulu, Hawaii. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 2.In addition to its Honolulu broadcast facilities, KHON has relays on all the major Hawaiian Islands to rebroadcast programs outside of metropolitan Honolulu: KHAW-TV in Hilo; KAII-TV in...
channel 2, Honolulu, HawaiiHonolulu, HawaiiHonolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
(and satellites) - WALA-TVWALA-TVWALA-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Southern Alabama, Southeastern Mississippi, and the Western Florida Panhandle that is licensed to Mobile. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter in Spanish Fort, Alabama...
channel 10, Mobile, AlabamaMobile, AlabamaMobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest... - WLUK-TVWLUK-TVWLUK-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for the Fox River Valley area and Northeastern Wisconsin. Licensed to Green Bay, Wisconsin, the station broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11 from a transmitter on Scray's Hill in Ledgeview; the station also broadcasts in...
channel 11, Green Bay, WisconsinGreen Bay, WisconsinGreen Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,... - WVUE-TV channel 8, New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
All of the stations were NBC affiliates, except for ABC-affiliated WVUE. They were all switched to the Fox network during a time when, in the wake of their acquisition of broadcast rights to NFC
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
football, it sought to upgrade its affiliate stations in major NFC markets. The acquisitions in Green Bay
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and New Orleans
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
were part of this strategy.
In 1997, SF exited broadcasting when it sold all of its stations to Emmis Communications
Emmis Communications
Emmis Communications is a media conglomerate based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company owns radio stations and magazines in the United States, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria.-History:...
. Emmis, in turn, exited broadcasting in the mid-2000s. All of the stations were sold off to different owners: KHON went to Montecito Broadcast Group
Montecito Broadcast Group
Lilly Broadcasting, L.L.C. is a privately owned American broadcasting company owned and operated by the father-and-son team of George Lilly and Brian Lilly ....
then New Vision Television
New Vision Television
New Vision Television is a broadcast company based in Los Angeles, California. The company owns or manages 18 television stations in medium sized markets.-New Vision I:...
; WALA and WLUK were sold to LIN TV
LIN TV
LIN TV Corporation is an American holding company that operates 31 television stations.-History:LIN TV's roots trace back to the founding of its former parent, LIN Broadcasting Corporation, in 1961. LIN Broadcasting was engaged in radio, television, direct marketing, information and learning, music...
; and WVUE, after years of delays induced by Hurricane Katrina, was sold to local ownership.