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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE: July 14, 2008
Bonten Media
Group to Acquire CBS Affiliate WTVF-TV, Nashville, from Landmark
Communications Inc.
New York, NY
- Bonten
Media Group Inc. today announced that it has entered into a definitive
agreement to acquire NewsChannel 5 Network, LLC, the owner and operator
of CBS affiliate WTVF-TV in Nashville, TN, from entities owned by
Landmark Communications. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Bonten Media
Group is a leading television broadcasting company that currently
operates sixteen* full power, low power and digital television stations
in eight markets across the United States. Bonten Media Group was
formed in 2006 by Diamond Castle Holdings, LLC, a New York based
private equity firm with $1.85 billion of capital under management,
and Randall D. (Randy) Bongarten, a veteran broadcasting executive
and former President of Emmis Television, as a platform to acquire
and operate local television stations.
"We are thrilled
to add WTVF, a market-leading CBS affiliate, to Bonten Media Group's
portfolio of high performing television stations," said Randy Bongarten,
Chairman and CEO of Bonten Media Group. "This acquisition reflects
our confidence in the future of WTVF in particular and of local
television in general. We are strong believers in television as
the most powerful advertising medium to reach local audiences. WTVF's
management team and employees have done a fantastic job developing
and managing a strong operation that is well-positioned for continued
success."
David Wittels,
co-Founder and Senior Managing Director of Diamond Castle, said,
"The acquisition of WTVF, our third acquisition since we formed
Bonten Media Group, fits perfectly with our strategy of acquiring
leading network affiliated stations in attractive markets with strong
news positions and opportunities for growth. We have been delighted
with our partnership with Randy and his team and look forward to
continuing to grow our portfolio of stations, both organically as
well as through additional acquisitions."
Lehman Brothers
has agreed to provide the debt financing for the transaction. The
equity portion of the purchase price has been committed by Diamond
Castle Partners IV, L.P. and related entities. UBS Investment Bank
acted as financial advisor to Bonten Media Group. The acquisition
is subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission
and other customary conditions, and is expected to close within
90 days.
About Bonten
Media Group
Bonten Media
Group was formed in November 2006 by Diamond Castle Holdings, LLC
and Randy Bongarten for the purpose of acquiring and operating local
television stations in the United States. Bonten Media Group currently
operates sixteen* full power, low power and digital television stations
in eight markets, including: WCYB (NBC), WEMT* (FOX) and CW-4 (CW-DT),
Tri-Cities, TN/VA; WCTI (ABC), WFXI/WYDO* (FOX) and ENC-TV (IND-DT),
Greenville-New Bern, NC; KRCR (ABC), Chico-Redding, CA; KTXS (ABC),
KTES-LP (Telemundo) and CW Abilene (CW-DT), Abilene, TX; KECI/KCFW
(NBC), Missoula, MT; KTVM (NBC), Butte-Bozeman, MT; KTXE-LP (ABC),
San Angelo, TX; and KAEF (ABC), Eureka, CA.
About Diamond
Castle Holdings, LLC
Diamond Castle
Holdings, LLC is a private equity firm with over $1.85 billion of
committed capital under management. Founded in 2004, Diamond Castle
specializes in leveraged buyouts, growth capital and equity-like
investments in both public and private companies. Diamond Castle
targets investments in the following industry sectors: media and
communications, energy and power, financial services, healthcare
and diversified industries. Diamond Castle has 25 employees located
in New York, New York. For more information please visit http://www.dchold.com.
Contact: Randall
D. (Randy) Bongarten
Phone: (212) 710-7770
Email: rbongarten@bontenmedia.com
*Bonten Media
Group operates WEMT and WFXI/WYDO via JSA/JOA agreements with Esteem
Broadcasting.
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