The television market in Springfield, MA, the nations 114th largest market, is about to get a whole lot smaller.
The Federal Communications Commission has approved the sale of WGGB-TV (ABC40 and FOX 6 Springfield) from Gormally Broadcasting to Meredith Corporation.
In Springfield, Meredith also owns the low-power CBS affiliate WSHM-LD CBS 3. They also own WFSB-TV CBS 3 in Hartford, CT where most of WSHM's operations are run out of.
Based in Des Moines, IA, the 112-year-old company also licenses 13 other broadcast stations in the United States. They also own 100 percent of voting stock of 15 stations in the Pacific Northwest.
This leaves only LIN Media's WWLP-TV NBC 22 as the only other news competition in the market.
Currently, WGGB produces news for both ABC 40 and FOX 6 Springfield. CBS 3 Springfield produces news, but only between 4pm-5pm, 6pm & 11pm on weekdays and at 11pm on weekends.
What this does to the local news market is not yet known, but there could be some job loss if Meredith decides to shift some operations to WFSB which is only about 30 minutes away.
The deal is expected to close soon.
You can view the application for consent to assignment of the WGGB license here
