Broadcast expansion
HC2 entered into the field of broadcast television ownership in July 2017 with their purchase of a 50 percent stake in DTV America, which owned 50 low-power television (LPTV) stations in 42 markets in the United States;[79] this transaction became an outright purchase by October 2017.[80] Deals to purchase 38 low-power stations from Mako Communications and 14 low-power stations from Three Angels Broadcasting Network, followed in September and October, respectively.[81][82] By November 2017, HC2 acquired seven stations from OTA Broadcasting that didn't have their spectrum sold during the FCC's 2016 auction,[83] two stations from Abrahantes Communications,[84][85] 19 stations from Northstar Media, LLC (including two full-power stations)[86] and the Azteca América network from TV Azteca.[87] Seven Azteca América affiliates, including San Francisco market station KEMO-TV, were purchased from Jericho Partners LLC for $411,318 the following month.[88]
The string of purchases continued into 2018, with stations purchased from HERO Broadcasting,[89] Tyche Media LLC,[85] Joseph W Shaffer,[90] Prime Time Partners LLC, Tran Star LLC,[91] Iglesia Manmin Toda La Creacio USA Inc, Dallas De Mujer A Mujer International and the Benns Family, all for a combined $9.67 million.[92] KCEB in Longview, Texas, one of the two remaining stations in London Broadcasting Co.'s portfolio, was purchased in April 2018 for $225,000.[93] Additional stations were purchased by NRJ TV for $9.25 million and One Ministries Inc. for $2.15 million.[94] In June 2018, HC2 purchased stations from KM Communications for $1.85 million,
September 2018 saw the announcement of the purchase of WJFB in Lebanon, Tennessee from Radiant Life Ministries for $5.75 million.[100] HC2 also purchased Columbus, Ohio station WDEM-CD from Minority Brands for $850,000.[101] Also in September, a multi-station deal in Puerto Rico was announced with HC2 buying WOST, WQQZ-CD and WWKQ-LD from Corporate Media Consultants Group LLC for $2.85 million.[102] In October, HC2 purchased K20JX-D from Amazing Facts Inc for $800,000.[103]
In May 2019, HC2 Holdings announced they were acquiring a full-power station from Lowcountry Media for $2.6 million. WSCG of Baxley, Georgia serves the Savannah market.[104] The purchase of two low-power stations was announced in June 2019. WBEH-CD of Miami, Florida and WSPF-CD of St. Petersburg, Florida were sold by WPMF Miami LLC for $3.7 million.[105] The sales of these stations would fall through by the end of the year.[106][107][108] WSCG and WSPF would later be sold to TCT, while WBEH would later be acquired by the Word of God Fellowship, parent of the Daystar Television Network.
On October 21, 2022, INNOVATE Corp. announced that Azteca América would cease operations on December 31, after 22 years of operation as a competitor to leading Spanish networks Univision and Telemundo. Prior to the announcement, INNOVATE had been selling most of the full-power stations operated by Azteca América, and began notifying affiliates and advertising partners of the network's planned closure.[110]
