Pappas Telecasting


Pappas Telecasting Companies was a diversely organized broadcasting company headquartered in Visalia, California, United States. Founded in 1971, it was one of the largest privately held broadcasting companies in the country, with its stations reaching over 15% of all U.S. households and over 32% of Hispanic households. Apart from owning and/or operating many television stations, the company formerly had two radio stations in its possession, KTRB AM 860 and KMPH-AM 840—changed from KPMP in June 2006 to reflect its nearby sister/flagship television station, Fox affiliate KMPH-TV, both in Fresno, California.

Bankruptcy

On May 10, 2008, thirteen of Pappas' stations filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. Pappas cited "the extremely difficult business climate for television stations across the country" in papers filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware. The company reported in court filings that it had more than $536 million in debt and $460 million in assets. Problems that led to the bankruptcy included poor performance of The CW network, its now-former involvement with Azteca America, and preparations for the 2009 analog shutdown. Stations involved in the bankruptcy were KMPH-TV, KFRE-TV, KPTM, KXVO, WCWG, KPTH, KMEG, KTNC-TV, KAZH, KDBC-TV, KREN-TV, KAZR-CA and KCWK. It was later ordered on September 10, 2008 that the affected stations must be sold off by February 15, 2009. Its other stations, and the corporation itself, were not part of the bankruptcy.
On May 14, 2008, company founder Harry J. Pappas filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy at the Delaware court, where a judge could order his personal assets sold to pay off creditors.
On May 27, 2008, KCWK in Walla Walla, Washington ceased operations as a result of the bankruptcy.
On September 17, 2008, bankruptcy trustee E. Roger Williams put KREN and its repeaters under contract to Entravision Communications for $4 million, which would double as a minimum bid for the station as it goes up for auction in late October.
On December 17, 2008, New World TV Group agreed to acquire the remaining Pappas stations involved in the bankruptcy filing. The sale was approved by the United States bankruptcy court on January 16, 2009. The remaining stations that weren't involved in the initial bankruptcy filing were later placed in a liquidating trust in December 2011.
KMPH Radio ceased operations September 1, 2010 due to lack of revenue. Two weeks later, KTRB went into receivership with Comerica Bank, under license from KTRB Trust. This marked the end of Pappas era.

Former Pappas-owned stations

Stations arranged alphabetically by state and by city of license.
City of license / MarketStationChannel
TV 		Years ownedCurrent ownership status
Opelika - Auburn - ColumbusWLGA66 1996–2016Independent station owned by CNZ Communications, LLC
Yuma - El CentroKSWT13 2000–2014CBS affiliate, KYMA-DT, owned by Cox Media Group
Avalon - Los AngelesKAZA-TV54 2001–2018 1MeTV owned-and-operated station, owned by Weigel Broadcasting
Fresno - Visalia - SangerKMPH-TV26 1971–2009Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Fresno - Visalia - SangerKFRE-TV59 2002–2009The CW affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
BakersfieldKBBV-CD19 2001–2011Estrella TV affiliate owned by Jaco Communications, LLC
BakersfieldKBFX-LP
'		58 1990–2005Fox affiliate, KBFX-CD, owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Fort Bragg - Concord -
San Francisco - Oakland		KTNC-TV42 1996–2009Estrella TV affiliate owned by NRJ TV, LLC
Fort Bragg - Concord -
San Francisco - Oakland		KUNO-TV
'		8 1997–2009Independent station, KQSL, owned by Chang Media Group
Sacramento - Stockton - ModestoKRBK/KPWB31 1994–1998The CW affiliate, KMAX-TV, owned by ViacomCBS
Vero BeachWMMF-LP192006–2014Independent station owned by Vinions, LLC
Ames - Des MoinesKDMI19 2006–2016Tri-State Christian Television owned-and-operated station
Ames - Des MoinesKCWI-TV23 2001–2016The CW affiliate owned by Tegna Inc.
Sioux CityKMEG14 2005–2009 2CBS affiliate owned by Waitt Broadcasting, Inc.
Sioux CityKPTH44 1999–2009Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
LincolnKFXL-TV51 2006–2016 3Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Grand IslandKTVG-TV
'		17 1996–2009 4defunct
.
SuperiorKSNB-TV
'		4 1996–2009 5NBC affiliate owned by Gray Television
Kearney - HastingsKHGI-TV13 1996–2016ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Hayes CenterKWNB-TV
'		6 1996–2016ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
North PlatteKHGI-CD
'		13 2006–2016ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Omaha - Council BluffsKXVO15 1995–2009 6The CW affiliate owned by Mitts Telecasting Company
Omaha - Council BluffsKPTM42 1986–2009Fox affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Omaha - Council BluffsKAZO-LP571999–2008defunct
.
Reno - SparksKREN-TV27 1995–2009Univision affiliate owned by Entravision Communications
Reno - SparksKAZR-CA46 1995–2009UniMás affiliate, KRNS-CD, owned by Entravision Communications
Lexington - Greensboro - High Point -
Winston-Salem		WCWG20 1995–2009The CW affiliate owned by Hearst Television
Greenville - Spartanburg -
Asheville - Anderson		WHNS21 1984–1988Fox affiliate owned by Meredith Corporation
Greenville - Spartanburg -
Asheville - Anderson		WASV-TV62 1995–2000The CW affiliate, WYCW, owned by Nexstar Media Group
AustinKXLK-CD23 2003–2015Justice Network affiliate owned by Univision Communications
Corpus ChristiKXCC-CA452003–2015Dark station, KXCC-LP, Owned by Roseland Broadcasting, LLC
El PasoKDBC-TV4 1999–2009CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
HoustonKVVV/KAZH57 1999–2009Independent station, KUBE-TV, owned by NRJ TV, LLC
HoustonKHMV-LP28 1999–20073ABN affiliate, KUGB-CD, owned by HC2 Holdings
HoustonKVVV-LP15 1999–2013Independent station, KVVV-LD, owned by Abraham Telecasting Company, LLC
Walla Walla - Yakima - Pasco -
Richland - Kennewick		KCWK92002–2008defunct
.
Walla Walla - Yakima - Pasco -
Richland - Kennewick		KCWK-LP
'		272002–2008defunct
.
Fond du Lac - Milwaukee - Green Bay -
Appleton		WMMF/WWAZ/WIWN68 1995–2014Cozi TV affiliate, owned by CNZ Communications, LLC

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