WLUK sold to facilitate LIN, Media General merger

Sinclair Broadcast Group will buy WLUK, Channel 11, and WCWF, Channel 14, both of Green Bay, as part of a range of deals to clear the way for a merger of LIN Media and Media General.

LIN Media owns WLUK and Media General owns WBAY, Channel 2, the ABC affiliate in Green Bay. Federal Communications Commission rules require the companies to divest overlapping stations. Green Bay is one of five markets with overlap.

LIN Media, Media General, Sinclair, Meredith Corp. and Hearst Corp. on Wednesday announced the buying and selling of stations in eight markets.

Sinclair Broadcast group is based in Hunt Valley, Md., and will own and operate, program or provide sales services to 162 television stations in 78 markets after the deals are complete.

Following the merger with LIN, Media General will own 71 stations in 48 markets. The merger is expected to be complete in early 2015.

Media General said that because LIN's WISH Indianapolis station lost its CBS affliation, it lowered the per-share price to LIN shareholders from $27.82 to $25.97.