This from the Sept. 24, 2013 edition of edhat

KEYT Parent Company to Co-Own KCOY

Also Purchasing Stations in Monterey and San Luis Obispo


Monday, September 23, 2013
By Tyler Hayden (Contact)

The parent company of KEYT announced Monday that, pending final approval from the Federal Communications Commission, it will soon co-own Santa Maria’s CBS affiliate KCOY and purchase FOX affiliate KKFX in San Luis Obispo. News-Press & Gazette Company (which is based in St. Joseph, Missouri, and has no relation to The Santa Barbara News-Press) will also buy up KMUV and KION in Monterey.

According to a statement from News-Press & Gazette Company, current KCOY owner Cowles Media will continue to take care of management and programming duties while News-Press will provide news, back office, engineering, and sales support services. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013. News-Press and Cowles Media representatives were not immediately available for comment.

The announcement comes around a year after the News-Press & Gazette Company bought KEYT from Smith Media for a reported $14.25 million. Since then, KEYT has added high-definition broadcasts, hired a number of new reporters, upgraded equipment, and launched a new website. During the transition, Mark Danielson took over the general manager position. News-Press & Gazette Company owns or co-owns 23 television stations and 4 radio stations throughout the country.