Denver’s Fox affiliate and CW outlet are merging operations. KDVR Fox 31 and KWGN Channel 2 will share nes, sales, operations and engineering services at KDVR’s facility under an agreement announced today by owners Local TV LLC and the Tribune Company, respectively.
The local marketing agreement, effective Oct. 1, is described as similar to the joint operating agreement of Denver’s newspapers.
Dennis Leonard, recently named general manager of KDVR (who was previously in that role at Fox affiliate WBRC-TV in Birmingham, Ala.), made the announcement at the CW Tuesday at the same time that Lynda King, senior vp sales and marketing for Local TV, made the announcement at KDVR.
In Denver, both stations will operate out of the KDVR Speer Avenue studios. Separate sales teams, separate newscasts but shared news resources will help “build on the brands” already established, Leonard said. The number of jobs to be lost at KWGN is under evaluation, Leonard said. One vice president in charge of sales for both stations and one national sales manager for both stations are to be announced.
“Both KDVR (FOX Channel 31) and KWGN (CW Channel 2) have a strong local presence in the morning,” Leonard said in a statement. “We will continue to go head to head on our morning newscasts and focus on delivering more options for news viewing in the noon, 5:30 and late news slots. Both of the stations have strong, loyal viewers. We will take the best of both newscasts and repackage it for each station.”
A similar shared services deal was announced for Tribune and Local TV stations in St. Louis.
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com
