Federal Communications Commission DA 22-443 DA 22-443 Released: April 21, 2022 MEDIA BUREAU ESTABLISHES PLEADING CYCLE FOR APPLICATIONS TO TRANSFER CONTROL OF TEGNA INC., TO STANDARD GENERAL, L.P., AND PERMIT-BUT-DISCLOSE EX PARTE STATUS FOR THE PROCEEDING MB Docket No. 22-162 Petition to Deny Date: May 23, 2022 Opposition Date: June 7, 2022 Reply Date: June 17, 2022 On March 10, 2022, applications were filed proposing to transfer all outstanding equity interests in TEGNA Inc. (TEGNA), the ultimate parent of the licensees of 64 full-power television stations, two full-power radio stations, and other related FCC licenses, to an indirect subsidiary of SGCI Holdings III LLC (SGCI Holdings), whose Managing Member is Soohyung Kim, the Managing Partner of Standard General L.P. (Standard General). A list of the Applications can be found in the Attachments to the Public Notice. The parties amended the Applications on March 23, and April 1, 2022. One application covering 10 stations was inadvertently accepted for filing through the Licensing and Management System (“LMS”) on March 15, 2022. This Public Notice will determine the pleading cycle for all stations listed in the Attachments, including those that incorrectly have a public notice date automatically issued through LMS. In addition, applications were filed contemporaneously for a series of related transactions. First, Standard General affiliate Community News Media LLC proposes to transfer control of its four full-power television stations KBSI(TV), Cape Girardeau, MO; KLKN(TV), Lincoln, NE; WDKA(TV), Paducah, KY; and WLNE-TV, New Bedford, MA. to a subsidiary of CMG Media Corporation (CMG), which the Bureau previously determined to be under the de facto control of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (AGM). Terrier Media Buyer, Inc., Declaratory Ruling, 34 FCC Rcd 10544, 10549, paras. 14-15 (MB 2019). Second, CMG seeks to transfer control of WFXT(TV), Boston, MA, to SGCI Holdings. Finally, immediately upon consummation of the merger, post-merger TEGNA (New Tegna) proposes to assign the licenses of four full-power television stations KVUE(TV), Austin, TX; KMPX(TV), Decatur, TX; KHOU(TV), Houston, TX; and KTBU(TV), Conroe, TX. to indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of CMG. In addition to selling several stations to CMG, the parties plan to finance the transaction in part through sale of nonvoting Series A Preferred Securities to, among others, affiliates of AGM. As set forth in detail in a term sheet submitted as an amendment to the applications, “[f]or so long as the Series A Preferred Securities remain outstanding, without the prior written consent of the Series A Preferred Majority Holder, [New TEGNA] will not” engage in certain specifically listed corporate actions. Term Sheet, Section 10. Certain entities in the post-closing ownership structure will need specific approval under Section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934 and Section 1.5001(i) of the Commission’s rules. 47 U.S.C. § 310(b)(4); 47 CFR § 1.5001(i). A petition for declaratory ruling has been filed in connection with this proceeding. The staff will issue a separate pleading cycle for the declaratory ruling proceeding by public notice. The Applicants assert that AGM affiliates will not have an attributable interest in New TEGNA. Comprehensive Exhibit, at 4. The National Television Ownership Rule prohibits a single entity from owning television stations that, in the aggregate, reach more than 39 percent of the total television households in the United States after taking into account the 50 percent discount applied to UHF stations (UHF Discount). See 47 CFR § 73.3555(b)(e)(1) and (2). The parties report that the proposed transaction would result in New TEGNA having a national audience reach of 28.46% of U.S. television households if one includes the UHF discount, an ownership share in compliance with the national cap. Comprehensive Exhibit at 2-3. The parties assert that CMG would have a national audience reach of 10.43% with the UHF discount. Id. The Local Television Ownership Rule allows an entity to own two television stations licensed in the same Designated Market Area (DMA) if: (1) the digital noise limited service contours of the stations (as determined by section 73.622(e) of the Commission's rules) do not overlap; or (2) at the time the application to acquire or construct the station(s) is filed, at least one of the stations is not ranked among the top-four stations in the DMA, based on the most recent all-day (9 a.m.-midnight) audience share, as measured by Nielsen Media Research or by any comparable professional, accepted audience ratings service. 47 CFR § 73.3555(b)(1). According to the Applicants, the transactions will not create new combinations in any DMA, and the existing station combinations would not violate the Local Television Ownership Rule. Id. at 1, 2, 33. The Applicants also state that the transactions do not involve the creation of any new joint sales, option, or time brokerage agreements between CMG’s and New TEGNA’s stations. EX PARTE STATUS OF THIS PROCEEDING In order to assure the staff’s ability to discuss and obtain information needed to resolve the issues presented by this Public Notice and pursuant to section 1.1200(a) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 1.1200(a). we establish a docket for this proceeding and announce that the ex parte procedures applicable to permit-but-disclose proceedings will govern our consideration of these applications. See id. § 1.1206. The proceeding in this Public Notice shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. 47 CFR § 1.1200 et seq. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda, or other filings in the proceeding, then the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). 47 CFR § 1.1206(b) Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. Id. We strongly urge parties to use the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) to file ex parte submissions. All ex parte filings must be clearly labeled as such and must reference MB Docket No. 22-162. GENERAL INFORMATION The applications for transfer of control of licenses referred to in this Public Notice have been accepted for filing upon initial review. The Commission reserves the right to return any application if, upon further examination, it is determined to be defective and not in conformance with the Commission’s rules or policies. Interested persons must file petitions to deny no later than May 23, 2022. Oppositions to petitions to deny must be filed no later than June 7, 2022. Replies must be filed no later than June 17, 2022. Persons and entities that file petitions to deny become parties to the proceeding. To allow the Commission to consider fully all substantive issues regarding the applications in as timely and efficient a manner as possible, petitioners and commenters should raise all issues in their initial filings. Replies may only address matters raised in oppositions. Id. § 1.45(c). A party or interested person seeking to raise a new issue after the pleading cycle has closed must show good cause why it was not possible for it to have raised the issue previously. See id. §§ 1.46(a) and 73.3584(e). Submissions after the pleading cycle has closed that seek to raise new issues based on new facts or newly discovered facts should be filed within 15 days after such facts are discovered. Absent such a showing of good cause, any issues not timely raised may be disregarded by the Commission. All filings concerning matters referenced in this Public Notice should refer to MB Docket No. 22162, as well as the specific file numbers of the individual applications or other matters to which the filings pertain. Submissions in this matter may be filed electronically (i.e., through ECFS) or by filing paper copies. · Electronic Filers: Documents may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Filings in response to this Public Notice may be sent by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. · Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. · U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554. · Effective March 19, 2020, and until further notice, the Commission no longer accepts any hand delivered or messenger delivered filings. This is a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety of individuals, and to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. FCC Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-Delivery Policy, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 2788 (OMD 2020). https://www.fcc.gov/fcc-closes-headquarters-open-window-and-changes-hand-delivery-policy In addition, one copy of each submission must be sent to the following: · David Brown, Video Division, Media Bureau, e-mail David.Brown@fcc.gov · Jeremy Miller, Video Division, Media Bureau, e-mail Jeremy.Miller@fcc.gov · Chris Robbins, Video Division, Media Bureau, e-mail Chris.Robbins@fcc.gov · Jim Bird, Transaction Team, Office of General Counsel, e-mail Jim.Bird@fcc.gov Any submission that is e-mailed to David Brown, Jeremy Miller, Chris Robbins, and Jim Bird should include in the subject line of the e-mail: (1) MB Docket No. 22-162; (2) the name of the submitting party; (3) a brief description or title identifying the type of document being submitted (e.g., MB Docket No. 22-162, TEGNA/Standard Media, Ex Parte Notice). People with Disabilities. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). The applications are also available electronically through ECFS, which will provide hyperlinks to the applications in CDBS. ECFS may be accessed on the Commission’s Internet website at http://www.fcc.gov. For further information, contact David Brown at (301) 908-5926, Jeremy Miller at (202) 4181507, or Chris Robbins at (202) 418-0685. For press inquiries, contact Janice Wise at (202) 418-8165. By: Chief, Media Bureau Attachment TEGNA Merger Applications Call Sign Community of License Application File Nos. Licensee Facility ID WUPL(TV) Slidell, LA 0000186355 Belo TV, Inc. 13938 WBXN-CD New Orleans, LA 0000186356 Belo TV, Inc. 70419 KTHV(TV) Little Rock, AR 0000186358 Cape Publications, Inc. 2787 KFSM-TV Fort Smith, AR 0000186359 Cape Publications, Inc. 66469 WZZM(TV) Grand Rapids, MI 0000186369 Combined Communications of Oklahoma, LLC 49713 KENS(TV) San Antonio, TX 0000186371 KENS-TV, Inc. 26304 KFMB-TV San Diego, CA 0000186372 KFMB-TV, LLC 42122 KING-TV Seattle, WA 0000186389 KING Broadcasting Company 34847 KREM(TV) Spokane, WA 0000186391 KING Broadcasting Company 34868 KTVB(TV) Boise, ID 0000186394 KING Broadcasting Company 34858 K15IO-D McCall & New Meadows, ID 0000186397 KING Broadcasting Company 34869 K16JE-D Glenns Ferry, ID 0000186393 KING Broadcasting Company 188132 K17KF-D Cambridge, ID 0000186392 KING Broadcasting Company 188131 K21CC-D Lewiston, ID 0000186390 KING Broadcasting Company 50532 K23KY-D Council, ID 0000186399 KING Broadcasting Company 11446 K29NB-D Cascade, ID 0000186396 KING Broadcasting Company 34884 K30QA-D Coeur D’Alene, ID 0000186398 KING Broadcasting Company 34861 KTFT-LD Twin Falls, ID 0000186395 KING Broadcasting Company 167056 KONG(TV) Everett , WA 0000186373 KONG-TV, Inc. 35396 KSKN(TV) Spokane, WA 0000186387 KSKN Television, Inc. 35606 KTTU(TV) Tucson, AZ 0000186400 KTTU-TV, Inc. 11908 KWES-TV Odessa, TX 0000186401 KWES Television, LLC 42007 KXTV(TV) Sacramento, CA 0000186403 KXTV, LLC 25048 KBMT(TV) Beaumont, TX 0000186374 LSB Broadcasting, Inc. 10150 KCEN-TV Temple, TX 0000186384 LSB Broadcasting, Inc. 10245 KIDY(TV) San Angelo, TX 0000186376 LSB Broadcasting, Inc. 58560 KIII(TV) Corpus Christi, TX 0000186379 LSB Broadcasting, Inc. 10188 KXVA(TV) Abilene, TX 0000186377 LSB Broadcasting, Inc. 62293 KYTX(TV) Nacogdoches, TX 0000186385 LSB Broadcasting, Inc. 55644 KUIL-D Beaumont, TX 0000186380 LSB Broadcasting, Inc. 168234 KAGS-LD Bryan, TX 0000186378 LSB Broadcasting, Inc. 10246 KIDB-LD Sweetwater, TX 0000186375 LSB Broadcasting, Inc. 53545 KIDU-LD Brownwood, TX 0000186383 LSB Broadcasting, Inc. 58559 KIDV-LD Albany, TX 0000186381 LSB Broadcasting, Inc. 58571 KVHP-LD Jasper, TX 0000186382 LSB Broadcasting, Inc. 168235 WGRZ(TV) Buffalo, NY 0000186402 Multimedia Entertainment, LLC 64547 KARE(TV) Minneapolis, MN 0000186415 Multimedia Holdings Corporation 23079 KNAZ-TV Flagstaff, AZ 0000186416 Multimedia Holdings Corporation 24749 KPNX(TV) Mesa, AZ 0000186424 Multimedia Holdings Corporation 35486 K06AE-D Prescott, AZ 0000186422 Multimedia Holdings Corporation 35274 K26OD-D Globe, AZ 0000186421 Multimedia Holdings Corporation 35487 KPSN-LD Payson, AZ 0000186417 Multimedia Holdings Corporation 63396 KTVD(TV) Denver, CO 0000186423 Multimedia Holdings Corporation 68581 KUSA(TV) Denver, CO 0000186419 Multimedia Holdings Corporation 23074 WJXX(TV) Orange Park, FL 0000186420 Multimedia Holdings Corporation 11893 WTLV(TV) Jacksonville, FL 0000186418 Multimedia Holdings Corporation 65046 KSDK(TV) St. Louis, MO 0000186404 Multimedia KSDK, LLC 46981 WATL(TV) Atlanta, GA 0000186406 Pacific and Southern, LLC 22819 WLTX(TV) Columbia, SC 0000186407 Pacific and Southern, LLC 37176 WMAZ-TV Macon, GA 0000186409 Pacific and Southern, LLC 46991 WXIA-TV Atlanta, GA 0000186408 Pacific and Southern, LLC 51163 WBNS(AM) Columbus, OH 0000186364 RadiOhio, Incorporated 54901 WBNS-FM Columbus, OH 0000186363 RadiOhio, Incorporated 54701 WHAS-TV Louisville, KY 0000186405 Sander Operating Co. I LLC D/B/A WHAS Television 32327 KGW(TV) Portland, OR 0000186444 Sander Operating Co. III LLC D/B/A KGW Television 34874 K16ML-D Corvallis, OR 0000186450 Sander Operating Co. III LLC D/B/A KGW Television 34851 K17HA-D Astoria, OR 0000186449 Sander Operating Co. III LLC D/B/A KGW Television 130923 K19LT-D Prineville, etc., OR 0000186445 Sander Operating Co. III LLC D/B/A KGW Television 34864 K25KS-D The Dalles, OR 0000186452 Sander Operating Co. III LLC D/B/A KGW Television 34844 K28MJ-D Tillamook, OR 0000186446 Sander Operating Co. III LLC D/B/A KGW Television 189303 K29AZ-D Newport, OR 0000186448 Sander Operating Co. III LLC D/B/A KGW Television 34865 K35HU-D Grays River, WA 0000186451 Sander Operating Co. III LLC D/B/A KGW Television 34870 KGWZ-LD Portland, OR 0000186447 Sander Operating Co. III LLC D/B/A KGW Television 30810 KMSB(TV) Tucson, AZ 0000186388 Sander Operating Co. V LLC D/B/A KMSB Television 44052 KCWI-TV Ames, IA 0000186425 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 51502 WCCT-TV Waterbury, CT 0000186430 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 14050 WNEP-TV Scranton, PA 0000186427 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 73318 WOI-DT Ames, IA 0000186435 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 8661 WPMT York, PA 0000186439 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 10213 WQAD-TV Moline, IL 0000186438 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 73319 WTIC-TV Hartford, CT 0000186428 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 147 WZDX(TV) Huntsville, AL 0000186429 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 28119 W07DC-D Allentown/ Bethlehem, PA 0000186437 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 73325 W10CP-D Towanda, PA 0000186431 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 73320 W14CO-D Clarks Summit, etc., PA 0000186432 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 73326 W15CO-D Towanda, PA 0000186436 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 73324 W20AD-D Williamsport, PA 0000186433 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 73321 W26CV-D Mansfield, PA 0000186426 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 129499 W29FQ-D Pottsville, PA 0000186434 TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC 73327 WTSP(TV) St. Petersburg, FL 0000186365 Tegna East Coast Broadcasting, LLC 11290 WLBZ(TV) Bangor, ME 0000186368 Tegna East Coast Broadcasting, LLC 39644 WCSH(TV) Portland, ME 0000186366 Tegna East Coast Broadcasting, LLC 39664 WGCI-LD Skowhegan, ME 0000186367 Tegna East Coast Broadcasting, LLC 39642 WATN-TV Memphis, TN 0000186411 TEGNA Memphis Broadcasting, Inc. 11907 WLMT(TV) Memphis, TN 0000186412 TEGNA Memphis Broadcasting, Inc. 68518 WTHR(TV) Indianapolis, IN 0000186414 VideoIndiana, Inc. 70162 WALV-CD Indianapolis, IN 0000186413 VideOhio, Inc. 70161 WBIR-TV Knoxville, TN 0000186443 WBIR-TV, LLC 46984 WBNS-TV Columbus, OH 0000186362 WBNS-TV, Inc. 71217 WCNC-TV Charlotte, NC 0000186440 WCNC-TV, Inc. 32326 W17EE-D Lilesville/ Wadesboro, NC 0000186441 WCNC-TV, Inc. 32316 W36FB-D Briscoe, NC 0000186442 WCNC-TV, Inc. 32317 WFAA(TV) Dallas, TX 0000186453 WFAA-TV, Inc. 72054 WFMY-TV Greensboro, NC 0000186454 WFMY Television, LLC 72064 WKYC(TV) Cleveland, OH 0000186455 WKYC-TV, LLC 73195 WTOL(TV) Toledo, OH 0000186456 WTOL Television, LLC 13992 WUSA(TV) Washington, D.C. 0000186457 WUSA-TV, Inc. 65593 WVEC(TV) Hampton, VA 0000186459 WVEC Television, LLC 74167 WJHJ-LP Currently in the process of being acquired by TEGNA licensee WVEC Television, LLC. See LMS File No. 0000187978 Newport News, Etc., VA ** WVEC Television, LLC 35137 WYSJ-CD Currently in the process of being acquired by TEGNA licensee WVEC Television, LLC. See LMS File No. 0000187977 Yorktown, VA ** WVEC Television, LLC 35134 WWL-TV New Orleans, LA 0000186352 WWL-TV, Inc. 74192 Texas Stations to Be Acquired by CMG Call Sign Community of License Application File Nos. Licensee Facility ID KHOU(TV) Houston, TX 0000186461 KHOU-TV, Inc. 34529 KTBU(TV) Conroe, TX 0000186460 KHOU-TV, Inc. 28324 KMPX(TV) Decatur, TX 0000186462 WFAA-TV, Inc. 73701 KVUE(TV) Austin, TX 0000186458 KVUE Television, Inc. 35867 Community News Media Transfers Call Sign Community of License Application File Nos. Licensee Facility ID KLKN(TV) Lincoln, NE 0000186354 KLKN Lincoln License LLC 11264 WLNE-TV New Bedford, MA 0000186357 WLNE Providence License LLC 22591 WDKA(TV) Paducah, KY 0000186361 Paducah Television License LLC 39561 KBSI(TV) Cape Girardeau, MO 0000186360 Paducah Television License LLC 19593 WFXT Sale Call Sign Community of License Application File Nos. Licensee Facility ID WFXT(TV) Boston, MA 0000186353 Teton Opco Corp. 6463 2