Tegna, ABC Renew Affiliation Pact

Station group Tegna said it has reached a multi-year agreement with broadcast network ABC for its ABC-affiliated stations in nine markets serving nearly 8 million households across the country.

“We are excited to extend our long-standing relationship with ABC across platforms,” said Tegna CEO Dave Lougee in a statement. “This long-term agreement adds certainty and stability for our stations as they continue to provide their communities with valuable, must-have and multi-platform local and network content.”

The agreement includes renewals for the following stations: WFAA in Dallas; KXTV in Sacramento, Calif.; KVUE in Austin, Texas; WVEC in Norfolk, Va.; WZZM in Grand Rapids, Mich.; WJXX in Jacksonville, Fla.; WHAS in Louisville, Ky.; KIII in Corpus Christi, Texas; and KBMT in Beaumont, Texas.

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“We value the collaboration we have with TEGNA to reach viewers in key markets across the country,” said ABC Television Network executive VP, affiliate relations and marketing John Rouse in a statement. “We are very pleased to extend our agreement and look forward to building on our strong relationship in the years to come.”

One of those stations—WVEC in Norfolk—was part of a brief blackout to Verizon Communications Fios TV customers on Dec. 31. Tegna and Verizon reached a deal on Jan. 3. The station group also had a brief seven-hour blackout of its 47 stations in 39 markets with Dish Network in December.