Ben Tucker, former Fisher Communications president and CEO,
will own the license of KTTU Tucson following Gannett's completion of its
acquisition of Belo. Gannett is barred from owning additional stations in five
markets; JackSander, a former Belo group chief, will own the licenses for most of the
Belo stations in those markets, including KMSB Tucson, while Tucker will own
the license for MyNetworkTV affiliate KTTU.
Gannett will provide services, for a fee, to the Belo
stations it cannot own. Terms of its arrangements with Sander and Tucker were
not revealed.
Gannettagreed to acquire Belo for $2.2 billion, including $715 million in existing
Belo debt, June 13. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.
Tucker is a former chairman of the NAB
Television Board. He was also VP of Retlaw Enterprises from 1991-99, chairman of
the Network Affiliate Station Alliance 1994-95 and chairman of the CBS Affiliate
Advisory Board 1987-89. He ran Fisher prior to Colleen Brown ascending to
president and CEO.
