FCC approves sale of local Cox Media Group properties to Terrier Media

The Federal Communications Commission has approved the sale of Cox Media Group’s media properties to Terrier Media.

Those properties include WHIO-TV, WHIO Radio, K99.1 FM, WZLR, the Dayton Daily News, Springfield News-Sun, Journal-News and Dayton.com.

However, the FCC approval prohibits Terrier from owning daily print newspapers and broadcast properties in the same market. The company has previously said its goal is to maintain 7-day publication for the Dayton Daily News, the Springfield News-Sun and Journal-News.

“Cox Media Group leadership continues to explore options to keep all of our Ohio newspapers publishing seven days,” the company said in a statement Thursday. “This sale has created an unprecedented situation when the FCC’s media ownership rule was reinstated during the approval process of the transaction.”

In February, Cox Media Group signed an agreement to sell all its TV stations across the country as well as all its Ohio media companies to Terrier Media. At that time, the FCC’s rules would have allowed the company to own both broadcast and newspaper. But in September, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated those rules, forcing the company to seek alternative solutions.

“Our goal is to meet the requirements of the regulation and at the same time continue to provide excellent service and support to the Dayton region, our employees and our customers,” the statement said.

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