Brandon Leuallen, The Business Times

Two of Western Colorado’s television stations will soon have new owners, pending federal approval.

Gray Media has agreed to transfer KKCO, the region’s NBC affiliate, and KJCT-LP, the area’s ABC affiliate, to The E.W. Scripps Company as part of a multi-market station swap involving several states. The item appeared on the Nov. 5 Grand Junction City Council agenda, because the city must acknowledge the transfer of Gray’s existing lease agreement to Scripps when the deal closes.

According to the Scripps Media announcement, titled “Gray Media and Scripps Agree to Swap Television Stations,” the exchange includes stations in Colorado, Idaho, Michigan and Louisiana. Reporting in TV Technology, under the headline “Gray Media and Scripps Agree to Swap TV Stations,” confirmed the transaction is a strategic realignment between the two companies. Closing of the sale is expected before the end of the year.

KKCO originally was operated by Eagle III Broadcasting. Gray entered the Western Colorado market in 2004 when it announced plans to purchase KKCO for about $13.5 million. The sale was completed on Jan. 31, 2005, according to Gray’s SEC filing titled “Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)” from that year.

Gray did not acquire KJCT until 2014, when it purchased the station from Excalibur Broadcasting and related entities. 

After nearly 20 years of operating KKCO and more than a decade of operating KJCT-LP, Gray will now transfer control of both stations to The E.W. Scripps Company, a national broadcaster headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.

According to the Scripps announcement, the company operates 61 local television stations in 41 markets and owns several national networks, including ION, Court TV, Bounce, Grit, Laff and Scripps News.

In its July statement, Scripps said the added stations would support its plan to expand local news and sports coverage in fast-growing Western markets and deepen what it calls “community connected journalism.”

KKCO and KJCT play an important role in the region’s information network. The stations provide daily newscasts, breaking news alerts, weather coverage, fire updates, school and government reporting, and emergency communication during major incidents.

The Business Times contacted KKCO seeking comment. Jamie Satterfield, office manager/HR/national sales assistant at Gray Media, said she cannot provide any further information at this time.