ACME Communications

ACME Communications is a United States-based television broadcasting company. The company was co-founded by current Chairman and former CEO Jamie Kellner, who previously served as a Fox Television Network executive and was founding CEO of The WB Television Network. Kellner used the name Acme as a play on the Acme Corporation, featured in Warner Bros.' Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner animated film series and other animated Warner media.

Company Profile

The ownership portfolio of ACME Communications has included television stations in medium-sized US media markets, all of which ACME obtained through acquisitions (save for one station in Knoxville that the company built from the ground up). After reaching a peak of 11 stations in the early 2000s, station sales would see ACME's station tally dwindle to a total of 4 signals in two markets, Albuquerque and Madison. ACME is also owner and producer of The Daily Buzz, a syndicated daily morning news and information program.

During 2010 and 2011, ACME has set forth on an admitted "exit strategy"^[2] involving its assets, including the following:

• A licensing and consulting agreement with Fisher Communications for The Daily Buzz, announced in April 2010, that would see Fisher handle production of Buzz.^[3]
• A June 2010 agreement with LIN TV Corporation involving stations in 3 markets where the companies had common ownership: Albuquerque, Dayton, and Green Bay-Fox Cities. LIN TV would provide operational and administrative services (and in the latter two markets, joint sales services) for the ACME stations.^[4]
• A reduction and restructuring of its corporate staff, set forth in July 2010; the move saw Jamie Kellner remaining as company chairman but Doug Gealy taking over Keller's titles of President and CEO.^[5]
• The sale of 3 of its stations (in Dayton, Green Bay, and Knoxville), which were consummated in May 2011,^[6][7][8] as well as an announced sale of a 4th (in Madison) which was announced in December 2011.^[9]

Current Company Assets

Television Stations

Programming

• The Daily Buzz, a 3-hour-a-day morning news and information program geared toward a young adult audience. The show launched in 2002 from the studios of ACME-owned WBDT in Dayton, and since 2007 originates from the studios of Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. Fisher Communications handles daily operations for the show.

Formerly Owned Assets

Television Stations

Note: All of these stations currently have primary affiliation with The CW Television Network and were affiliates of The CW or its predecessor, The WB, during ACME's ownership.

References

External links

• Official website