Diversified Communications

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.

History

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. Recently, Diversified Communications demanded a 300% increase from its Direct TV customers. In response, millions of viewers in the Gainesville, Florida and Bangor, Maine area have lost all access to the stations listed below.

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.

Properties

Today, Diversified operates trade fairs on four continents, produces trade publications, owns several digital businesses and operates two U.S. broadcast stations. SPAR Point Group, which focuses on the 3D imaging technologies sector, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Diversified.[1]

Television 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)

Stations formerly owned by Community Broadcasting Service/Diversified Communications

Television stations

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 Sinclair Broadcast Group
WWMB 21 1 The CW affiliate owned by Howard Stirk Holdings
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group)
New Bern - Greenville - Washington, North Carolina WCTI-TV 12 1986–1993 ABC affiliate owned by Bonten Media Group
Poland Spring - Portland, Maine WMTW ** 2 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)

Footnotes:

Radio stations

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 Cumulus Media
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:

External links

References

  1. "About". SPAR Point Group. Retrieved 17 January 2015.

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.