TV 7&4 Sold

March 2, 2013

TV 7&4 will soon have a new owner. The Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Thursday it’s buying the NBC affiliate, along with 29&8- the local ABC affiliate from Barrington Broadcasting.

The stations were among more than one dozen that will change hands between the companies nationwide, for a total of $370 million. Sinclair officials say the sale should be finalized by June.

7&4 declined to comment on the sale, or what it means for the station and staff.

Barrington Broadcasting bought 7&4 in 2006 from Raycom Media.

Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group currently owns 87 TV stations, mostly in smaller communities.

In other 7&4 news, morning anchor Melissa Smith is leaving the station after almost six years on air. In a Facebook post, she announced she’s taken a job anchoring the morning news in Davenport, Iowa and thanked everyone for their support over the years. Smith says her last day on the air will be March 8.

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