The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved the license renewal and sale of KTVD-TV (Channel 20) to Gannett Co., owner of KUSA- TV (Channel 9) in Denver.
“By contract, we will close (the sale) sometime next week, then we will own it,” Roger Ogden, president and chief executive of Gannett, said Thursday.
Gannett, a multimedia giant with holdings in radio, television, newspaper publishing and outdoor advertising, reached agreement in December to buy Denver-based KTVD from Channel 20 TV Co. and Twenver Broadcast Inc., pending FCC approval. Terms were not given.
In January, it was announced that UPN, KTVD’s network affiliate, and WB, whose Denver outlet is KWGN (Channel 2), will combine to form The CW network. Some programming from UPN and WB will appear on The CW, whose local affiliate will be Channel 2, starting in September.
In anticipation, KTVD has begun laying off some of its 45 employees. “A lot of folks already have jobs lined up. We knew this was coming,” said Greg Armstrong, who is leaving as station president and general manager.
KUSA will produce a 9 p.m. newscast, anchored by Mark Koebrich and Bazi Kanani, for KTVD, in competition with KWGN and KDVR (Channel 31).
Gannett will have an affiliation with a Fox service called Mynetwork, providing two hours of programming, mainly soap operas, on weeknights.
Staff writer Dick Kreck can be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
