ACME Communications
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ACME Communications, Inc.
(Pink Sheets:ACME)
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2101 E. 4th St., Ste. 202A Santa Ana, CA 92705 CA Tel. 714-245-9499 Fax 714-245-9494 |
Type: Public
On the web:
http://www.acmecommunications.com
ACME Communications' relationship with Warner Bros. has nothing to do with a wily coyote, rockets, or any other explosives. The company owns and operates three television stations in midsized markets (KWBQ and KASY in Albuquerque/Santa Fe, New Mexico and WBUW in Madison, Wisconsin), most of which are affiliated with The CW Network, a joint venture between Time Warner's Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation. In addition to its stations, ACME Communications produces a syndicated morning program called The Daily Buzz that airs on about 150 TV stations throughout the country.
Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2010:
Sales: $14.6M
Net income: ($8.5)M
Officers:
Chairman and CEO: Jamie Kellner
President, COO, and Director: Douglas (Doug) Gealy
VP Promotion: Steve Bailey
Competitors:
Gray Television
LIN TV
Sinclair Broadcast Group
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ACME Communications
| Type | Public (OTC Pink: ACME) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television Broadcasting & Production |
| Headquarters | Santa Ana, CA, USA |
| Key people | Jamie Kellner (Chairman) Doug Gealy (President/CEO) John Hannon(EVP) Stan Gill (COO) |
| Employees | 141[1] |
| Website | ACMECommunications.com |
ACME Communications is a United States-based television broadcasting company. The company was co-founded by current Chairman and former CEO Jamie Kellner, who previously served as a Fox Television Network executive and was founding CEO of The WB Television Network. Kellner used the name Acme as a play on the Acme Corporation, featured in Warner Bros.' Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner animated film series and other animated Warner media.
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Contents
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Company profile
The ownership portfolio of ACME Communications has included television stations in medium-sized US media markets, all of which ACME obtained through acquisitions (save for one station in Knoxville that the company built from the ground up). After reaching a peak of 11 stations in the early 2000s, station sales would see ACME's station tally dwindle to just a 2-station duopoly in the Albuquerque market as of February 2012. ACME is also owner and producer of The Daily Buzz, a syndicated daily morning news and information program.
During the early 2010s, ACME set forth on a cost-cutting effort and admitted "exit strategy"[2] involving its assets, including the following:
- A licensing and consulting agreement with Fisher Communications for The Daily Buzz, announced in April 2010, that would see Fisher handle production of Buzz.[3]
- A June 2010 agreement with LIN TV Corporation (with intent to purchase) involving stations in 2 markets where the companies had common ownership (Dayton, and Green Bay-Fox Cities), where the LIN stations would provide operational, administrative, and joint sales services for the ACME stations. At the same time, LIN TV also entered into an agreement with the duopoly in Albuquerque, where they would help ACME cut operating costs by acting as a third-party accounting department.[4]
- A reduction and restructuring of its corporate staff, set forth in July 2010; the move saw Jamie Kellner remaining as company chairman but Doug Gealy taking over Keller's titles of President and CEO.[5]
- The sale of its Dayton, Green Bay, and Knoxville stations in Spring 2011[6][7][8] and its Madison station in February 2012.[9][10]
Current company assets
Television stations
| Market | Station - Channel (DT) | Network | Acquired | Notes |
| Albuquerque - Sante Fe - Roswell | KWBQ 19 (29) / KRWB-TV 21 |
The CW | 1999 | Owned & Operated by ACME Television of New Mexico LLC |
| KASY 50 (45) | MyNetworkTV | 2000 | Owned & Operated by ACME Television of New Mexico LLC |
Programming
- The Daily Buzz, a 3-hour-a-day morning news and information program geared toward a young adult audience. The show launched in 2002 from the studios of ACME-owned WBDT in Dayton, and since 2007 originates from the studios of Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. Fisher Communications handles daily operations for the show.
Formerly owned assets
Television stations
Note: All of these stations currently have primary affiliation with The CW Television Network and were affiliates of The CW or its predecessor, The WB, during ACME's ownership.
| Market | Station & Channel | Years Owned | Current Status |
| Fort Myers - Naples | WTVK 46 | 1998–2007 | WXCW, owned and operated by Sun Broadcasting, Inc. (News Share Agreement with Fort Myers Broadcasting-owned WINK-TV) |
| Decatur - Champaign/Urbana - Springfield | WBUI 23 | 1999–2007 | Owned and operated by GOCOM Media of Illinois, LLC |
| St. Louis | KPLR-TV 11 | 1997–2003 | Owned by Tribune Company (operated by Local TV LLC-owned KTVI through a LMA) |
| Springfield - Dayton | WBDT 26 | 1999–2011 | Owned by Vaughan Media LLC. (operated by LIN TV-owned WDTN through a LMA) |
| Salem - Portland, Oregon | KWBP 32 | 1997–2003 | KRCW-TV, owned and operated by Tribune Company (News Share Agreement with Belo-owned KGW) |
| Crossville - Knoxville | WBXX-TV 20 | 1997–2011 | Owned and operated by Lockwood Broadcasting Group (News Share Agreement with New Young Broadcasting-owned WATE-TV) |
| Salt Lake City - Ogden | KUWB 30 | 1999–2006 | KUCW, owned by High Plains Broadcasting (operated by Newport Television-owned KTVX through a SSA) |
| Suring - Green Bay - Appleton - Fox Cities | WCWF 14 | 1999–2011 | Owned and operated by LIN TV Corporation (was re-called from WIWB in September 2010) |
| Janesville - Madison | WBUW 57 | 2002–2012 | Owned and operated by Byrne Acquisition Group LLC |
References
- ^ "Company Profile for ACME Communications Inc (ACME)". http://www.zenobank.com/index.php?symbol=ACME&page=quotesearch. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
- ^ "ACME 3Q Station Revenue Falls 9%," from TVNewsCheck, 12/9/2011
- ^ Source: ACME Communications press release dated 4/21/2010
- ^ Source: ACME Communications press release dated 6/4/2010
- ^ "Acme Restructures, Moves Toward Exit Plan", from Broadcasting & Cable, 6/17/2010
- ^ Source: FCC Daily Digest of 4/7/2011
- ^ "Acme 4Q Station Revenue Rises 7%," from TVNewsCheck, 4/19/2011
- ^ Source: Press Release from ACME Communications, dated 5/24/2011
- ^ "Byrne Grabs Acme's Madison CW Station," from Broadcasting & Cable, 12/13/2011
- ^ "Acme to Byrne Madison TV deal is done". Television Business Report. February 22, 2012. http://www.rbr.com/tv-cable/tv_deals/acme-to-byrne-madison-tv-deal-is-done.html. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
External links
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