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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[edit] 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 a total of 4 signals in two markets, Albuquerque and Madison. ACME is also owner and producer of The Daily Buzz, a syndicated daily morning news and information program.
During 2010 and 2011, ACME has 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. Additionally, LIN would provide third-party accounting and engineering services for ACME's Albuquerque duopoly.[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 3 of its stations (in Dayton, Green Bay, and Knoxville), which were consummated in May 2011,[6][7][8] along with a proposed sale of its Madison station announced in December 2011[9] and consummated in February 2012.[10]
[edit] Current company assets
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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.
[edit] Formerly owned assets
[edit] 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) |
| Champaign - Urbana - Decatur - 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) |
| Dayton - Springfield | WBDT 26 | 1999–2011 | Owned by WBDT Television, LLC. (operated by LIN TV-owned WDTN through a LMA) |
| Portland - Salem | KWBP 32 | 1997–2003 | KRCW-TV, owned and operated by Tribune Company (News Share Agreement with Belo-owned KGW) |
| 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) |
| Green Bay - Appleton - Fox Cities | WCWF 14 | 1999–2011 | Owned and operated by LIN TV Corporation (was re-called from WIWB in September 2010) |
| Madison | WBUW 57 | 2002–2012 | Owned and operated by Byrne Acquisition Group LLC |
[edit] 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.
[edit] External links
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