American Spirit Media
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Formerly called
|
Ottumwa Media Holdings, LLC |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcast media |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States |
| Owner | Thomas B. Henson |
American Spirit Media, LLC is a broadcasting company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded by Thomas B. Henson in 2003 as Ottumwa Media Holdings, it owns television stations in several cities in the Southeastern United States.
In 2003, Raycom Media acquired the Wiatt Media stations (that included KYOU-TV in the Ottumwa, Iowa DMA). As Raycom already owned KTVO (licensed in Kirksville, Missouri, on the same DMA) and it could not legally keep both stations because the market has too few channels to legally permit a duopoly, KYOU was sold to then named Ottumwa Media Holdings (created on that year) for $4 million. The company entered into a shared services agreement and studio lease agreement with Raycom to operate KYOU and Raycom would have an option to purchase KYOU.
In August 2006, Ottumwa Media Holdings changed its name to American Spirit Media. On the same month, in August 11, KTVO was sold to Barrington Broadcasting as part of a$262 million deal for twelve stations, however Raycom retained its shared services agreement with KYOU.
In 2011, Community Newspaper Holdings sold Southern Media Holdings and its 4 stations to Thomas Henson (which later transferred on the same year its shares to American Spirit Media, wich he owns) for $24 million and the assumption of $50 million in debt.
On January 11, 2012, it was reported that LIN Media would sell WUPW to American Spirit Media for $22 million. As part of the acquisition, WUPW entered into a shared services agreement with Raycom's WTOL. The acquisition was completed on April 20, 2012.
In July 2012, the company agreed to acquire WDBD and WXMS-LP from Roundtable Broadcasting. As part of the deal, the station's operations would be taken over by Rayvom's WLBT. American Spirit also agreed to acquire WUFX and WBMS-CA from Vicksburg Broadcasting, but spin off the WUFX license to Tougaloo College for $1 (though it will operate that station under a joint sales agreement). Both transactions were consummated on November 13.
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