Morgan Murphy Media

Summary

The Evening Telegram Company, d/b/a Morgan Murphy Media, is an American television and radio company based in Madison, Wisconsin. The company is named for publisher Morgan Murphy, who expanded the business after he took over from his grandfather, who founded the Superior Evening Telegram (now owned by Forum Communications).

Evening Telegram Company
Morgan Murphy Media
FormerlyMorgan Murphy Stations
Company typePrivate
IndustryBroadcast media
Headquarters,
U.S.
Area served
United States
ProductsTelevision stations

History edit

The company traces its roots to the founding of the Superior Evening Telegram in 1890 by John T. Murphy. He died in 1932, and the business passed to his son John Morgan Murphy, who acquired several other newspapers in the Upper Midwest and also expanded into broadcasting. The company sold off its print interests in 2003, leaving only its former broadcasting division. Nevertheless, it is still legally incorporated as the "Evening Telegram Company."[1]

The company was known as Morgan Murphy Stations until 2007, when its trade name was slightly changed to Morgan Murphy Media. [2]

On May 10, 2017, the company announced that it would acquire Saga Communications' television clusters in Joplin, Missouri, including KOAM-TV, and Victoria, Texas, including KAVU-TV. Saga will additionally acquire the assets of Fox affiliates in each market owned by Surtsey Media and operated by Saga under local marketing agreements, including KFJX in Joplin, Missouri and KVCT in Victoria, Texas. Those stations' license assets were acquired by SagamoreHill Broadcasting.[3] The sale was completed September 1.[4][5]

In September 2018, it was announced that the company would invest in Good Karma Brands to back its acquisition of the Milwaukee radio stations WKTI and WTMJ.[6]

On October 13, 2021, the company dropped its channels from Dish Network due to a programming dispute. This dispute is in addition to Dish's dispute with Tegna and is the 2nd time that a satellite TV company was involved with such conflicts (DIRECTV had a conflict with the companies' stations in December 2020). [7] [8]

In September 2023, the company acquired The Marks Group's Michigan broadcasting properties—WBKB-TV, WBKP, WBUP, and the Houghton and Iron River radio stations—for $13.375 million.[9] The deal was closed on December 4.[10]

Television stations edit

 
Morgan Murphy Media's headquarters building in Madison, Wisconsin, which is an extension of WISC-TV's studio facility.

Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state and city of license.

(**) - Indicates a station built and signed on by Morgan Murphy Media (then known as the Evening Telegram Company).

City of license / Market Station
Owned since Network affiliation
Joplin, MOPittsburg, KS KOAM-TV 7 (7) 2017 CBS
KFJX 14 (13) [a] Fox
Alpena, MI WBKB-TV 11 (11) 2023 CBS / NBC / ABC / Fox
Calumet - Marquette, MI WBKP 5 (5) 2023 CW+
Ishpeming - Marquette, MI WBUP 10 (10) 2023 ABC
Victoria, TX KMOL-LD 17 (17) 2017 NBC
KVCT 19 (11) [a] Fox
KUNU-LD 21 (27) 2017 Univision
KAVU-TV 25 (15) 2017 ABC
KQZY-LD 33 (33) 2017 Cozi TV
KXTS-LD 41 (26) 2017 CBS
KVTX-LD 45 (15) 2017 Telemundo
Spokane, WA KXLY-TV 4 (13) 1961 ABC
KXMN-LD 4 (9) 2007 ABC
Yakima, WA KAPP ** 35 (14) 1970 ABC
Kennewick, WA KVEW[A] ** 42 (27) 1970 ABC
La CrosseEau Claire, WI WKBT-DT 8 (8) 2000 CBS
Madison, WI WISC-TV ** 3 (11) 1956 CBS
  1. ^ Semi-satellite of KAPP.
  1. ^ a b Owned by SagamoreHill Broadcasting. Morgan Murphy Media operates these stations under a shared services agreement (SSA).

Former television stations edit

City of license / Market Station
Owned from Network affiliation Sold to Currently owned by
Fargo, North Dakota KTHI/KVLY-TV 11 (36) 1968–1995 ABC, then NBC after 1983 Meyer Broadcasting Gray Television

Other properties edit

Idaho edit

Radio edit

Michigan edit

Radio edit

Wisconsin edit

Radio edit

Print edit

  • Madison Magazine

Washington edit

Radio edit

  • Queen B Broadcasting (Spokane):
    • 700 KXLX - Sports
    • 920 KXLY - News/Talk
    • 92.9 KZZU - Adult Top 40
    • 94.5 KHTQ - Active Rock
    • 96.9 KEZE - Rhythmic Top 40
    • 99.9 KXLY-FM - Country

References edit

  1. ^ Company history
  2. ^ "Morgan Murphy Stations Rebranded as Morgan Murphy Media - Station News Story - WISC Madison". Archived from the original on November 26, 2007. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  3. ^ "Morgan Murphy Buying 6 Saga Stations". TVNewsCheck. May 10, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  4. ^ Consummation Notice, CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  5. ^ Consummation Notice, CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  6. ^ "Morgan Murphy Media Invests In Good Karma Brands' WTMJ-WKTI/Milwaukee Purchase". All Access. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  7. ^ "Viewers will continue to receive KAPP-KVEW TV while DISH negotiations continue". October 11, 2021.
  8. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Dish Network Update about Tegna blackout (October 12-November 8, 2021)". YouTube.
  9. ^ Venta, Lance (September 14, 2023). "Morgan Murphy Media Acquires Northern Michigan TV/Radio Combo". RadioInsight. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  10. ^ "Done Deal: Morgan Murphy Media Completes Purchase Of Marks Media Group Stations". Insideradio.com. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.

External links edit

  • Official site