Diversified Communications is a broadcasting company, headquartered in Portland, Maine. Among the various publications and broadcast outlets, the company organizes trade shows, publishes magazines, produces digital business and operates broadcast stations.
Under the name, Community Broadcasting Service, it founded and still owns Maine's first TV station, WABI-TV.
Contents |
Diversified was founded as Community Broadcasting Service in 1949 when Horace A. Hildreth, the former governor of Maine, president of Bucknell University and U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, purchased the license for Maine's first radio station, WABI-AM. In 1953, he launched Maine's first TV station, WABI-TV in Bangor, Maine.
In 1970, Diversified entered the publishing and trade show business with the acquisition of National Fisherman and FISH EXPO Boston. In 1972, it formed New England Cablevision which it sold in 2000.
Throughout the 1980s, Diversified expanded its publishing and trade show business with products in the commercial marine and seafood industries. In 1993, it expanded internationally with the European Seafood Exposition. Diversified continued its international growth with the acquisition of Australia Exhibition Services in 2000, the formation of DBC Canada and the acquisition of UK-based Full Moon Communications in 2002. In 2009, Diversified expanded into Hong Kong with the acquisition of Asia Business Events and established a presence in India with the acquisition of Infocast.
Today, Diversified operates trade fairs on four continents, produces trade publications, owns several digital businesses and operates two U.S. broadcast stations.
| City of license/Market | Station | Channel | Owned Since | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, Maine | WABI-TV ** | 5 (13) | 1953 | CBS The CW (on DT2) |
| Gainesville, Florida | WCJB-TV | 20 (16) | 1976 | ABC The CW (on DT2) |
| City of license/Market | Station | Channel | Years Owned | Current affiliation/owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | WPDE-TV | 15 (16) | 1985–2006 | ABC affiliate owned by Barrington Broadcasting |
| New Bern - Greenville - Washington, North Carolina | WCTI-TV | 12 | 1986–1993 | ABC affiliate owned by Bonten Media Group |
| Poland Spring - Portland, Maine | WMTW ** 1 | 8 | 1954–1964 | ABC affiliate owned by Hearst Television |
| Presque Isle, Maine | WAGM-TV | 8 | 1957–1984 | CBS affiliate owned by NEPSK, Inc. |
| Scranton - Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | WYOU | 22 (13) | 1986–1996 | CBS affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting (operated by Nexstar Broadcasting Group) |
Footnote:
| AM Stations | FM Stations |
| Market | Station | Years owned | Current ownership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, Maine | WABI-910 (now WAEI) |
1949–1993 | owned by Blueberry Broadcasting |
| WABI-FM/WBGW/WYOU-FM-97.1 ** (now WBFB) |
1961–1993 | owned by Blueberry Broadcasting | |
| Houlton, Maine | WABM-1340 (later WHGS) |
1957–1959 | defunct, went silent by 1994 |
| Mount Washington, New Hampshire | WMTW-FM-94.9 ** 1 (now WHOM) |
1958–1964 | owned by Citadel Broadcasting Corporation |
| Portland, Maine | WPOR-1490 (now WBAE) |
1958–1971 | owned by Saga Communications |
| WPOR-FM-101.9 ** | 1967–1971 | owned by Saga Communications | |
| Presque Isle, Maine | WAGM-950 (later WKZX) |
1957–1981 | defunct, went silent by 1991 |
Footnote:
1. (12 July 2000), "Diversified Business Communications Acquires Australian Exhibition Services," TradeshowWeek. 2. (February 2009), "Nancy Hasselback, Steady Leadership ad Diversified Communications," Tradeshow Executive. 2. (27 April 2009), "Diversified Heads for Hong Kong," TradeshowWeek.
|
|||||