View source for Storer Communications

{{short description|American radio and television broadcaster}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
'''Storer Communications''', known from 1927 to 1952 as the '''Fort Industry Company''' and from 1952 to 1983 as '''Storer Broadcasting''', was an American media company that owned [[television]] and [[radio]] stations and [[cable television]] systems.

Founded by George Butler Storer<!--(November 10, 1899 – November 4, 1975)--> and John Harold Ryan as the Fort Industry Oil Company in [[Toledo, Ohio]], the company's focus quickly shifted to radio ownership, particularly in [[Ohio]], [[Michigan]] and [[West Virginia]]. Fort Industry added television stations to their portfolio, adopted the Storer name in 1952, and eventually owned multiple key affiliates of the [[CBS]] television network. Storer also acquired a reputation for selling smaller stations in order to purchase larger ones, particularly after the company reached then-existent ownership limits. The company also owned [[Northeast Airlines]] from 1965 to 1972, and the [[Boston Bruins]] from 1973 to 1975. A reorientation towards cable television led Storer to divest their radio holdings between 1979 and 1981. While this expansion led to Storer becoming the fourth-largest cable operator in the country, the systems built were expensive and unprofitable in the short-term, and the company suffered substantial losses in the mid-1980s.

In April 1985, a group of [[activist investor]]s attempted to take over Storer's [[board of directors]] and initiate a [[liquidation]]. To thwart this, the company agreed to be taken private by [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts]] (KKR) in a [[leveraged buyout]] valued at $1.6&nbsp;billion. Storer was dismantled in the following years under KKR: the cable division was spun off and gradually dissolved into both [[Tele-Communications Inc.|TCI]] and [[Comcast]], while the television stations were sold to [[George N. Gillett Jr.]] in 1987 and folded into [[New World Communications]] in 1993.

== History ==
=== Origins ===
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George B. Storer was born on November 10, 1899, in [[Toledo, Ohio]].<ref name="BC621022p86">{{Cite magazine |date=October 22, 1962 |title=Storer, builder of stations: Long record of ownership marked by many achievements |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=86–87 |volume=63 |issue=17}}</ref> His interest in radio dated back to 1912, when—inspired by the [[sinking of the Titanic]] that increased awareness of [[wireless radio]]{{r|MiamiH19751106p199}}—he listened to activity over a [[ham radio]] and experimented with a [[transmitter]], both home-built.<ref name="Philad19620524p 38">{{Cite news |date=May 24, 1962 |title=Storer Devotes 50 Years to Radio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-storer-devotes-5/161078804/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=Philadelphia Daily News |page=2:Advertising Supplement |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Originally planning to attend [[Yale University]] for engineering, the outbreak of [[World War I]] prompted Storer to travel to Canada at age 17 and register with the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]]; having one deaf ear, Storer instead registered with the [[Student Army Training Corps]] and was assigned to [[Cornell University]].{{r|BC621022p86}}

Following the war, Storer studied journalism at Cornell and was editor of the student newspaper, ''[[The Cornell Daily Sun]]'';{{r|BC621022p86}} he took over the family's Standard Steel Tube in Toledo in 1920 after the death of his father.<ref name="MiamiH19751106p199">{{Cite news |last=Bedwell |first=Don |date=November 6, 1975 |title=G.B. Storer, Broadcasting Giant, Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-gb-storer-broadcasti/161077621/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=14AW |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Standard Steel Tube merged into the Elyria Iron and Steel Company in 1925, with Storer as vice-president of manufacturing; it became part of [[Republic Steel]], where Storer became vice president.<ref name="BC741111p30">{{Cite magazine |date=November 11, 1974 |title=Retrospective: George Butler Storer |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=30–31 |volume=87 |issue=20 |id={{ProQuest|1016870503}}}}</ref>{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=15}} Between 1925 and 1928, Storer and brother-in-law J. Harold Ryan built thirteen [[Filling station|service stations]] for Speedene brand [[gasoline]] in the Toledo and [[Cleveland]] areas.<ref name="PlainD19730920p38">{{Cite news |last=Sabath |first=Donald |date=September 20, 1973 |title=WJW: once a service station here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wjw-once-a-service-sta/161071623/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=4D |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>{{r|BC390901p49}} Unlike most service stations in operation, these were built next to [[railroad siding]] and had large adjacent [[fuel tank]]s filled directly from [[tank car]]s, an idea that Storer thought of when looking outside the window of his Toledo office.{{r|BC621022p86}}{{r|BC510416p108}} This move bypassed the cost of trucking gasoline<ref name="BC510416p108">{{Cite magazine |date=April 16, 1951 |title=Our Respects to: George Butler Storer |magazine=Broadcasting-Telecasting |pages=106, 128 |volume=40 |issue=16}}</ref> and the resulting savings were passed down to the customer.{{r|PlainD19730920p38}} In 1927, Storer and Ryan founded the Fort Industry Oil Company to manage these stations.<ref name="BC390901p49">{{Cite magazine |date=September 1, 1939 |title=We Pay Our Respects To: John Harold Ryan |magazine=Broadcasting-Broadcast Advertising |volume=17 |issue=5 |page=49}}</ref>

Storer decided to buy advertising on Toledo radio station WTAL for the service stations, which were shut out of newspaper advertising by the influential petroleum industry.{{r|BC741111p30}} Learning about WTAL's existing financial issues, Storer decided to buy the station for $3,500,{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=16}} thinking it would be more cost-effective than merely advertising.{{r|MiamiH19751106p199}}<ref name="started">"G. B. Storer Started Radio in 1928", ''Detroit Times'', September 16, 1956, page 43.</ref> WTAL was renamed [[WSPD]] on February 20, 1928,<ref name="PlainD19280220p8">{{Cite news |last=Kinter |first=Deane S. |date=February 20, 1928 |title=Hear Australia Today and Toledo Tomorrow; Powerful New Tube Daddy of 'Em All |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-hear-australia-today-an/161076875/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> derived from Speedene,{{r|BC390901p49}} and became the eighth affiliate for the [[Columbia Broadcasting System]] (CBS).{{r|BC741111p30}} WSPD's studios were moved to the Hotel Commodore Perry, which also housed the corporate offices for Fort Industry.<ref name="PlainD19280803p12">{{Cite news |date=August 3, 1928 |title=Popularity of Forenoon Program Put to Test; WSPD in New Home |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-popularity-of-forenoon/161077060/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=12 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Storer took an executive role with [[Detroit]]–based American Metal Products in 1928, which contracted with [[Ford Motor Company]], and within a year turned a $650,000 profit; renamed Standard Tube, Storer oversaw this company and Ryan oversaw Fort Industry.{{r|BC741111p30}}{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=17}}

Detroit CBS affiliate WGHP{{r|BC741111p30}} was purchased in 1928{{r|PlainD19730920p38|BC390901p49}} at the recommendation of network executive J. Andrew White.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=16–17}} Acting on advice given to Storer by his physician,{{r|BC510416p108}} Fort Industry sold the station in 1930 to theater owners [[John H. Kunsky]] and [[George W. Trendle]],<ref name="Detroi19300425p 4">{{Cite news |date=April 25, 1930 |title=Kunsky, Trendle Buy Station WGHP |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-kunsky-trendle-buy-s/161082032/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> who relaunched it as [[WXYT (AM)|WXYZ]].<ref name="Detroi19300629p 9">{{Cite news |date=June 29, 1930 |title=Station WGHP Becomes WXYZ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-station-wghp-becomes/161082155/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The [[Wall Street crash of 1929]], coupled with [[price war]]s at the Speedene gas stations due to stiffened competition, resulted in radio becoming a standout for Fort Industry.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=18}}

=== Focusing on radio ===
[[File:W. W. VA. Transmitter Plant, St, Clairsville, Ohio (79083).jpg|thumb|250x250px|[[WWVA (AM)|WWVA]] transmitter site in [[St. Clairsville, Ohio]], {{Circa|1941}}. The station upgraded to broadcast at 50,000 watts under Fort Industry/Storer ownership.]]
Recognizing the newfound enthusiasm in broadcasting, Fort Industry sold its oil interests in May 1931 to [[Standard Oil of Ohio]], deleting "oil" from the company name.{{r|PlainD19730920p38}} That same year, Fort Industry bought [[WWVA (AM)|WWVA]] in [[Wheeling, West Virginia]]:{{r|MiamiH19751106p199|BC390901p49}} referred by Storer as "our one-station network", WWVA joined CBS and became renowned for the ''[[Wheeling Jamboree]]''.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=19}} By 1941, WWVA was upgraded to 50,000 watts.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=23}} Storer and Ryan were involved with the June 1932 establishment of [[Windsor, Ontario]], station CKOK,{{r|BC390901p49}} serving at the CBS affiliate for both it and Detroit,<ref name="BC360501p28">{{Cite magazine |date=May 1, 1936 |title=Storer and Pickard Sell CKLW Interest |magazine=Broadcasting-Broadcast Advertising |volume=10 |issue=9 |page=28}}</ref> but [[Canadian Radio League]] chairman [[Graham Spry]] protested CKOK's license renewal and requested an inquiry into the station's foreign ownership.<ref name="Windso19330221p3">{{Cite news |date=February 21, 1933 |title=Radio Group Wants Data: Graham Spry Protests Renewal of License To CKOK; Canadians Fired; Station Said to Be Owned By Americans and Used For Their Purposes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-radio-group-wants-data/161028112/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> CKOK was consolidated with [[London, Ontario]], station [[CFPL (AM)|CJGC]] in April 1933 to form [[CKLW]], without Storer and Ryan's direct involvement.<ref name="Toront19330418p13">{{Cite news |date=April 18, 1933 |title=CJGC Air Pioneer in Amalgamation: Merger Has Goodwill of Canadian Radio Commission—New Call Letters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-cjgc-air-pioneer-in-ama/161076685/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Toronto Star |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Storer retained a minority stake in CKLW until selling it in 1936 under pressure from Canadian regulators; by then, Fort Industry had also become a nominal investor in [[Seattle]] station [[KIRO (AM)|KIRO]].{{r|BC360501p28}} [[WMMN]] in [[Fairmont, West Virginia]], was acquired in 1935{{r|BC390901p49|BC530629p74}} and also became a CBS affiliate.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=21}} WBLY in [[Lima, Ohio]], was purchased in 1937<ref name="LimaNe19370822p9">{{Cite news |date=August 22, 1937 |title=Toledo Group Seeks to Buy Station WBLY |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lima-news-toledo-group-seeks-to-buy/161078127/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Lima News |location=Lima, Ohio |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and renamed [[WLOK (Ohio)|WLOK]] in 1939;<ref name="LimaNe19390219p9">{{Cite news |date=February 19, 1939 |title=New Radio Studios To Be Dedicated Sunday; Call Letters Changed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lima-news-new-radio-studios-to-be-de/156819673/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Lima News |location=Lima, Ohio |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> the "OK" was derived from the former CKOK calls.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=22}}

Storer was involved in the operations of the American Broadcasting System, one of several attempts in the early 1930s for a third commercial radio network to compete against CBS and the "[[NBC Radio Network|Red]]" and "[[Blue Network|Blue]]" networks of NBC.{{sfn|Ward|2002|pp=12–13}}<ref name="PlainS19340613p25">{{Cite news |date=June 13, 1934 |title=Radio Chain Formed to Exchange Programs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-speaker-radio-chain-formed-to/161380803/ |access-date=December 23, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Speaker |location=Hazleton, Pennsylvania |page=25 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Launched in October 1934, [[WMCA (AM)|WMCA]] in [[New York City]] (which Storer himself operated for 18 months beginning in 1933{{r|BC510416p108}}) was the initial [[Flagship (broadcasting)|flagship]] of a chain of twenty-four stations largely concentrated on the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]]. After Storer and WMCA failed to reach a long-term arrangement,{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=22, 171}} [[WADO (AM)|WNEW]] became the new flagship{{sfn|Ward|2002|p=16}} and the network was reorganized as the American Broadcasting Company,<ref name="Evenin19350118p32">{{Cite news |date=January 18, 1935 |title=American System is Reorganized: WNEW Becomes Key Station of American Broadcasting Company. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-american-system-is-reorgani/161381041/ |access-date=December 23, 2024 |newspaper=Evening Star |location=Washington, D.C. |page=B12 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>{{efn|Not to be confused with the [[American Broadcasting Company]], which was created from the former NBC Blue Network.{{sfn|Ward|2002|p=20}}}} with Arde Bulova as an investor.<ref name="BC350201p12">{{Cite magazine |date=February 1, 1935 |title=ABC Network Books Accounts And Completes Organization |magazine=Broadcasting-Broadcast Advertising |volume=8 |issue=3 |page=12}}</ref> Despite well-received programming and news coverage, this network lost considerable sums of money heightened by the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]],{{r|BC741111p30}} dropped all but ten affiliates on March 5, 1935,<ref name="Commer19350305p4">{{Cite news |date=March 5, 1935 |title=Chain Programs End Over WNBR Tonight: ABC Withdraws—Chamberlin to Stress Local Talent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-chain-programs-end/161377617/ |access-date=December 23, 2024 |newspaper=The Commercial Appeal |location=Memphis, Tennessee |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Evenin19350310p57">{{Cite news |date=March 10, 1935 |title=New Survey Will Attack Mystery of Interference |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-new-survey-will-attack-myst/161381661/ |access-date=December 23, 2024 |newspaper=Evening Star |location=Washington, D.C. |page=F7 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and ceased operations entirely by March 26.{{sfn|Ward|2002|pp=16–17}}

Fort Industry became part of a complicated 1934 relocation request for [[WHIZ (AM)|WALR]] in [[Zanesville, Ohio]], to Toledo. While the proposal had the new Toledo station running under nominally separate ownership,<ref name="Akro341012">{{Cite news |last=Doran |first=Dorothy |date=October 12, 1934 |title=Broadcast Spotlight Shines On Football Saturday Afternoon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100115818/broadcast-spotlight-shines-on-football-s/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420180031/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100115818/broadcast-spotlight-shines-on-football/ |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Fort Industry was revealed to be a stockholder and was thought could exercise control over the station.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=September 1, 1937 |title=FCC Gets Protest On Toledo Station |magazine=Broadcasting-Broadcast Advertising |page=73 |volume=13 |issue=5}}</ref> Denied the request in 1937,<ref>{{cite magazine |date=July 15, 1937 |title=Addition of 11 New Stations Brings Total for Year to 31 |magazine=Broadcasting-Broadcast Advertising |page=26 |volume=13 |issue=2}}</ref> Fort Industry became a majority investor in WALR through West Virginia Broadcasting—the licensee for WWVA and WMMN—and renamed it WHIZ in 1939,<ref name="Newa461223">{{Cite news |date=December 23, 1946 |title=WHIZ at Zanesville Is Sold |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100122645/whiz-at-zanesville-is-sold/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420180118/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100122645/whiz-at-zanesville-is-sold/ |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |newspaper=The Newark Advocate |location=Newark, Ohio |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> concurrent with the station joining [[NBC Radio]].<ref>{{cite magazine |date=November 15, 1939 |title=WSPD on Basic Red; WHIZ Will Join NBC; McClatchy Negotiations |magazine=Broadcasting-Broadcast Advertising |page=90 |volume=17 |issue=10}}</ref>

After [[United States home front during World War II|the United States entered World War II]] in December 1941, Ryan took a leave of absence as Fort Industry's vice president/general manager to serve as the [[Office of Censorship]] radio censor under [[Byron Price]]; Storer's Standard Tube plant was also converted to manufacture [[shell casing]]s.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 29, 1941 |title=Ryan Well-Equipped to Serve As Broadcast Industry Censor |magazine=Broadcasting-Broadcast Advertising |page=9 |volume=21 |issue=26}}</ref> Storer was appointed assistant chairman for the Broadcasters Victory Council, then joined the [[United States Navy]] in 1943 as a [[lieutenant commander]], first in [[Chicago]] as a [[procurement]] officer{{r|Miam430521}} and then stationed both at the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] and in [[Washington, D.C.]]{{r|BC510416p108}}

[[Atlanta]] radio station [[WDWD|WAGA]] was purchased in April 1940 through an all-stock transaction; Storer intended to establish a secondary residence in the city.<ref name="Atlant19400529p13">{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite news |date=May 29, 1940 |title=WAGA Purchased By Storer-Ryan Radio Interests |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-waga-purchased-by-st/161067099/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}|{{Cite news |date=May 29, 1940 |title=Transfer of Station Approved by FCC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-transfer-of-station/161067134/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}}}</ref> WFTL, licensed to [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]], was acquired in 1944 as Fort Industry's seventh radio station<ref name="Miam430521">{{Cite news |date=May 21, 1943 |title=FCC Approval Sought For WFTL Sale: Surfside Resident Heads Buying Group |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103760384/fcc-approval-sought-for-wftl-sale-surfs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615085218/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103760384/fcc-approval-sought-for-wftl-sale/ |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |access-date=June 14, 2022 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=8-A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and moved to [[Miami]] outright;<ref name="Fort440301">{{Cite news |date=March 1, 1944 |title=FCC Orders WFTL Radio Station Sale |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103760752/fcc-orders-wftl-radio-station-sale/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615085218/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103760752/fcc-orders-wftl-radio-station-sale/ |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |access-date=June 14, 2022 |newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News |location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> the call sign was changed in 1945 to [[WAQI|WGBS]], bearing Storer's initials.<ref name="Fort450413">{{Cite news |date=April 13, 1945 |title=Reason For Change |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103762280/reason-for-change/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615085242/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103762280/reason-for-change/ |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |access-date=June 14, 2022 |newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News |location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Storer resided in nearby [[Surfside, Florida|Surfside]]{{r|Miam430521}} and had a presence in the Miami area since 1934.<ref name="MiamiH19480330p7">{{Cite news |date=March 30, 1948 |title=WGBS Takes Half Interest In Sun, Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-wgbs-takes-half-interes/162463652/ |access-date=January 7, 2025 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=1A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> By 1947, WGBS, WWVA and WAGA entered into a group affiliation deal with CBS.<ref name="Miam470129">{{Cite news |date=January 29, 1947 |title=WGBS and WQAM To Shift Networks |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103796300/wgbs-and-wqam-to-shift-networks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615085243/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103796300/wgbs-and-wqam-to-shift-networks/ |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |access-date=June 15, 2022 |newspaper=Miami Daily News |page=13-A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Atla470912">{{Cite news |date=September 12, 1947 |title=Legality of CBS's Option To WAGA Questioned by Court |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103796313/legality-of-cbss-option-to-waga-questio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615085244/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103796313/legality-of-cbss-option-to-waga/ |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |access-date=June 15, 2022 |newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> [[WLQV|WJBK]] in Detroit was purchased in August 1946;<ref name="Detroi19460827p 1">{{Cite news |date=August 27, 1946 |title=Toledo Group Buys WJBK |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-toledo-group-buys-wjb/161067060/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Fort Industry owned a minority stake in the station since 1933.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=21}} Regulatory approval took nearly one year and required the sale of WHIZ to the Littick family.{{r|Newa461223}}<ref name="Detroi19470701p 4">{{Cite news |date=July 1, 1947 |title=Radio Station Sale Is OK'd |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-radio-station-sale-is/161067033/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> A [[bidding war]] took place in late 1948 between Fort Industry and [[Crosley Broadcasting Corporation]] for [[WHAS (AM)|WHAS]] in [[Louisville, Kentucky]], with Storer saying the company would "dispose of certain radio facilities" to get approval; the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) was considering setting an ownership limit of seven AM stations, six FM stations and five TV stations.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 13, 1948 |title=WHAS Bid: Fort industry Matches Crosley |magazine=Broadcasting-Telecasting |pages=21, 77 |volume=35 |issue=24}}</ref> Both bids were rejected.<ref name="hc">{{Cite web |title=History Cards for WHAS |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/640fbf7d-129a-4fee-1f2f-0d1a5f212a81 |publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref>

Fort Industry also sold off their minority stake in KIRO to Washington governor [[Monrad Wallgren]] in 1947<ref name="Bellin19470610p6">{{Cite news |date=June 10, 1947 |title=Wallgren to Buy Stock in Station |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bellingham-herald-wallgren-to-buy-st/161067281/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Bellingham Herald |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> and bought majority control of the ''Miami Beach Sun'' and ''Star'' newspapers in 1948.{{r|MiamiH19480330p7}} The newspaper acquisition drew comparisons to broadcaster-turned-publisher [[Eugene S. Pulliam]], who took over ''[[The Indianapolis Star]]'' four year earlier.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 5, 1948 |title=Buys Into Papers: Fort Industry Gets 50% of Dailies |magazine=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=28 |volume=34 |issue=14}}</ref> The ''Sun'', along with three other community weekly papers, were later sold to a group led by ''[[Miami Herald]]'' publisher [[John S. Knight]] in May 1963.<ref name="MiamiH19630601p2">{{Cite news |date=June 1, 1963 |title=Beach Sun Bought by Group Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-beach-sun-bought-by-gro/162492418/ |access-date=January 8, 2025 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=2A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Pensac19630601p1">{{Cite news |date=June 1, 1963 |title=Miami Beach Newspapers Is Sold |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-miami-beach-newsp/162492278/ |access-date=January 8, 2025 |newspaper=Pensacola News Journal |page=9A |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> 

=== Expansion into television ===
In 1948, Fort Industry entered the television market, launching [[WSPD-TV]] in Toledo on July 21, 1948.<ref name="DailyS19480721p1">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-tribune-toledo-televi/161069743/ |date=July 21, 1948 |page=1 |title=Toledo Television Station Begins Regular Broadcasts This Evening |newspaper=The Daily Sentinel-Tribune |location=Bowling Green, Ohio |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=December 17, 2024}}</ref> This was followed by [[WJBK-TV]] in Detroit on October 24, 1948,<ref name="Detroi19481008p 43">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-ford-theater-program/161069393/ |date=October 8, 1948 |page=43 |title=Ford Theater Program: WJBK-TV Premiere Slated for Oct. 24 |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=December 17, 2024}}</ref> and [[WAGA-TV]] in Atlanta on March 8, 1949.<ref name="Atlant19490307p5">{{Cite news |last=McKee |first=Robert H. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-waga-tv-to-make-debu/161069589/ |date=March 7, 1949 |page=5 |title=WAGA-TV to Make Debut Here Tuesday Night on Channel 5 |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=December 17, 2024}}</ref> Fort Industry also sought a television station in Wheeling, first filing for the channel 7 allocation, then pursued channel 9 in nearby [[Steubenville, Ohio]], after the FCC instituted [[FCC#Freeze_of_1948|"a freeze"]] on new license permits.<ref name="Time531019">{{cite news|url=https://bellaire.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&e=wtrf,call%20letters&m=between&ord=e1,e2&fn=the_times_leader_usa_ohio_martins_ferry_19531019_english_13&df=1&dt=10&cid=2945|title=Opening Of New TV Station Eagerly Awaited In Valley: Vision Of Company Founders Lauded|page=13|date=October 19, 1953|work=[[Martins Ferry Times Leader|The Times-Leader]]|location=Martins Ferry–Bellaire, Ohio|access-date=May 27, 2022|archive-date=May 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527182338/https://bellaire.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&e=wtrf%2Ccall+letters&m=between&ord=e1%2Ce2&fn=the_times_leader_usa_ohio_martins_ferry_19531019_english_13&df=1&dt=10&cid=2945|url-status=live}}</ref> WLOK and WLOK-FM were sold to [[Lloyd Pixley]] in 1951<ref name="LimaNe19541029p1">{{Cite news |date=October 29, 1954 |title=WIMA Asks Federal OK On Purchasing WLOK-TV: Application Filed With Commission; Radio WLOK To Be Closed If Sale Approved |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lima-news-wima-asks-federal-ok-on-pu/156819354/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Lima News |location=Lima, Ohio |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> so Fort Industry could purchase [[WSAI]] and [[WNNF|WSAI-FM]] in [[Cincinnati]],<ref name="Telegr19510331p6">{{Cite news |date=March 31, 1951 |title=Radio Station Transfers Okayed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/telegraph-forum-radio-station-transfers/161018114/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=Telegraph-Forum |location=Bucyrus, Ohio |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=United Press}}</ref> which also included a construction permit for a [[UHF]] station.{{r|BC510416p108}} The WSAI stations were sold off in 1953 to complete the purchase of [[WERC (AM)|WBRC]] and [[WBRC-TV]] in [[Birmingham, Alabama]].<ref name="Cincin19530522p1">{{Cite news |date=May 22, 1953 |title=Station WSAI Sold, Is Current Report; Not Confirmed Yet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-station-wsai-sol/161017784/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |location=Cincinnati, Ohio |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> KABC in [[San Antonio]] was also purchased in 1953, pairing it with KEYL, which Fort Industry purchased two years earlier;<ref name="BC530824p56">{{Cite magazine |date=August 24, 1953 |title=WMMN, KABC sales approved by FCC |magazine=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=56 |volume=45 |issue=8}}</ref> WMMN was sold off to [[Nationwide Communications|People's Broadcasting]].<ref name="BC530629p74">{{Cite magazine |date=June 29, 1953 |title=Storer sells WMMN after buying KABC |magazine=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=70 |volume=44 |issue=26}}</ref> KABC and KEYL were then renamed [[KKYX|KGBS]] and [[KENS|KGBS-TV]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 25, 1954 |title=Effective February 1, 1954, San Antonio's KEYL-TV 5 and KABC-680 kc. become... |magazine=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=10 |type=Advertisement |volume=46 |issue=4}}</ref> The corporate name changed from Fort Industry to the Storer Broadcasting Company in May 1952, reflecting a complete break from the company's industrial origins.<ref name="BC520512p24">{{Cite magazine |date=May 12, 1952 |title=Fort Industry: Now Storer Broadcasting Co. |magazine=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=24 |volume=42 |issue=19 |id={{ProQuest|1285683567}}}}</ref> By 1953, the company announced the moving of their corporate offices to Miami.<ref name="MiamiN19530506p12">{{Cite news |date=May 6, 1953 |title=Storer Chain To Move Main Office Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-storer-chain-to-move-main/162463590/ |access-date=January 7, 2025 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=12A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

{{Multiple image
| header            = Examples of Storer colonial revival architecture
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = Block Card 125 S. Superior Street - DPLA - 69c87b2c7c439ad6ca6ca3c60bf05ed0 (cropped).jpg
| caption1          = WSPD studios, Toledo.
| image2            = WAGA studios.JPG
| caption2          = WAGA-TV studios, Atlanta.
| image3            = WJBK-TV Studios Building Detroit MI.jpg
| caption3          = WJBK-TV studios, Detroit.
| image4            = Miami Today building.JPG
| caption4          = WGBS studios, Miami.
| image5            = CBS Boston, 83 Leo Birmingham Parkway, Brighton, Boston 2011-04-17 (2).jpg
| caption5          = WSBK-TV studios, Boston.
}}

The company acquired the [[Empire Coil Company]], a manufacturer of coils and [[Transformer|transformers]] for radios and the owner of [[WJW (TV)|WXEL]] in Cleveland and [[KPTV|KPTV (channel 27)]] in [[Portland, Oregon]], for $8.5&nbsp;million in January 1954;<ref name="PlainD19540109p1">{{Cite news |last=Condon |first=George E. |date=January 9, 1954 |title=WXEL is Sold in $8,500,000 Storer Deal |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wxel-is-sold-in-8500/147436435/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516041646/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wxel-is-sold-in-8500/147436435/ |archive-date=May 16, 2024 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |pages=1, [https://newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wxel-is-sold-in-8500/147436461/ 7] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> the purchase came days after Empire's dispersal of [[KCTY (Kansas City)|KCTY]], a failed UHF station in [[Kansas City, Missouri]].<ref name="BC540104">{{cite magazine|date=January 4, 1954 |title=KCTY (TV) Moves from Empire to DuMont for $1 |magazine=Broadcasting |page=7 |volume=46 |issue=1 |id={{ProQuest|1285702184}}}}</ref> KGBS and KGBS-TV were spun off to accommodate the purchase.<ref name="PlainD19540924p13">{{Cite news |last=Condon |first=George E. |date=September 24, 1954 |title=FCC Ruling Clears Way for Sale of WXEL to Storer Chain... Program Changes Sighted |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-fcc-ruling-clears-way-f/147455891/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516041641/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-fcc-ruling-clears-way-f/147455891/ |archive-date=May 16, 2024 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Empire's factory in [[New Rochelle, New York]], remained active until Storer closed it in 1955,<ref name="Standa19551102p1">{{Cite news |date=November 2, 1955 |title=Factory Closed By Empire Coil: Storer Co. Negotiates For Sale Of Site |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-standard-star-factory-closed-by-empi/147273687/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513180758/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-star-factory-closed-by-empi/147273687/ |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |newspaper=The Standard-Star |location=New Rochelle, New York |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> having failed to turn a profit.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=40}} [[WJW Radio|WJW radio]] was subsequently purchased<ref name="PlainD19541008p21">{{Cite news |last=O'Connell |first=Tom |date=October 8, 1954 |title=Storer Broadcasting Co. Buys WJW for Reported $330,000 |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-storer-broadcasting-co/147456547/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516041656/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-storer-broadcasting-co/147456547/ |archive-date=May 16, 2024 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=21 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and paired with WXEL, which was renamed WJW-TV in 1956.<ref name="PlainD19560401p154">{{Cite news |last=O'Connell |first=Tom |date=April 1, 1956 |title=WGAR to Introduce Five Political Shows |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wgar-to-introduce-five/147514538/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517043746/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wgar-to-introduce-five/147514538/ |archive-date=May 17, 2024 |access-date=May 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=6E |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> KPTV only had 38&nbsp;percent of the market's television viewers able to receive the station clearly despite substantial capital improvements, characteristic of UHF's struggles prior to the [[All-Channel Receiver Act]].{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=40}} KPTV was sold off in 1957, allowing that station to "move" to [[VHF]] as a consolidation with KOLR (channel 12).<ref name="Oregon19570501p2">{{Cite news |last=Ostergren |first=Jack |date=May 1, 1957 |title=KPTV-KLOR Merger Ends Channel 27 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregon-daily-journal-kptv-klor-merge/161013359/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Oregon Daily Journal |location=Portland, Oregon |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

WJW's studios in [[Playhouse Square]] were remodeled into a [[colonial revival]] design that evoked 1770-era [[Georgian architecture]];<ref name="PlainD19560415p168">{{Cite news |last=Relihan |first=Cecil |date=April 15, 1956 |title=Architectural Dial Is Set at 1770 by New WJW |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-architectural-dial-is-s/147479113/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516041657/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-architectural-dial-is-s/147479113/ |archive-date=May 16, 2024 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=4E |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> this design was also implemented at WGBS<ref name="Miam640622">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Jack E. |date=June 22, 1964 |title=$1 Million Project Planned by WGBS |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103794489/1-million-project-planned-by-wgbs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615085244/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103794489/1-million-project-planned-by-wgbs/ |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |access-date=June 15, 2022 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=7-B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and WJBK-TV's [[WJBK-TV Studios Building|studio building]].<ref name="nom">{{citation |last=Macfarlane-Faes |first=Martha |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: WJBK-TV Studios Building |date=March 4, 2016 |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/da2474fb-4b4a-4997-a1e8-aabb28b4df79 |access-date=December 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208201042/https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/da2474fb-4b4a-4997-a1e8-aabb28b4df79 |archive-date=December 8, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> Other stations had studios built to resemble Southern [[Antebellum architecture|antebellum]] [[mansion]]s, beginning with WBRC-TV in September 1954<ref name="Birmin19540919p94">{{Cite news |date=September 19, 1954 |title=Building with view—WBRC-TV's ante-bellum studios completely modern |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-building-with-vieww/161012730/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Birmingham News |location=Birmingham, Alabama |page=F6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and copied at WAGA-TV in 1966.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carrollton |first=Betty |date=June 21, 1966 |title=New $1 million home of WAGA-TV borrows motif from Old Williamsburg |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-new-1-million/161004889/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |work=The Atlanta Constitution |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

WBRC radio and television were sold to [[Taft Broadcasting]] in 1957;<ref name="Birmin19570524p7">{{Cite news |date=May 24, 1957 |title=WBRC-TV And WBRC Get New Management |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-wbrc-tv-and-wbrc/161017435/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald |location=Birmingham, Alabama |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> this was to facilitate the purchase of [[WNTP|WIBG]] in [[Philadelphia]] and [[WVUE (Wilmington, Delaware)|WVUE]] in [[Wilmington, Delaware]], and followed an aborted sale of WAGA radio and TV to ''[[The Washington Post]]''.<ref name="Huntsv19570402p1">{{Cite news |date=April 2, 1957 |title=WBRC Outlets Sold By Storer: But Name Of Buyer Of TV, Radio Stations Is Not Yet Revealed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-wbrc-outlets-sold-b/161016776/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Huntsville Times |location=Huntsville, Alabama |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> WVUE was shut down in 1958 so Storer could purchase [[WITI (TV)|WITI]] in [[Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin]],<ref name="Philad19580830p 16">{{Cite news |date=August 30, 1958 |title=WVUE Owner Ready to Sell Or Shut Down |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-wvue-owner-rea/161016547/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Mornin19581230p 1">{{Cite news |date=December 30, 1958 |title=WVUE Surrenders Channel 12 License |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-news-wvue-surrenders-channel/161016690/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Morning News |location=Wilmington, Delaware |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> which moved to [[Milwaukee]] the following year. To complete Storer's purchase of [[KTNQ|KPOP]] in [[Los Angeles]] (which was renamed KGBS<ref name="Atlant19611221p26">{{Cite news |date=December 21, 1961 |title=WAGA-TV Chain To Add WMGM At $10.9 Million |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-waga-tv-chain-to-add/161015557/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal |page=26 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>) WAGA and [[WAGA-FM]] were spun off to Plough, Inc. in April 1959,<ref name="Atlant19590401p6">{{Cite news |last=Shavin |first=Norman |date=April 1, 1959 |title=New Ownership for WAGA radio: Plough, Inc., Purchases Station Here for '$800,000 Plus' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-new-ownership-for-wa/161014887/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and renamed WPLO and WPLO-FM.<ref name="Atlant19590630p26">{{Cite news |date=June 30, 1959 |title=WAGA Control Is Taken Over By Plough, Inc. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-waga-control-is-take/161015049/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal |page=26 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> WWVA and [[WOVK|WWVA-FM]] were sold off in 1962 as a condition of Storer's $10.9&nbsp;million purchase of [[WEPN (AM)|WMGM]] in New York City, then an industry record,{{r|Atlant19611221p26}}<ref name="Sunday19620204p 24">{{Cite news |date=February 4, 1962 |title=Mind Your Business: Things Moving in State |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-gazette-mail-mind-your-business/161015247/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=Sunday Gazette-Mail |location=Charleston, West Virginia |page=12A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> which reverted to the WHN call sign.<ref name="Jersey19620106p8">{{Cite news |date=January 6, 1962 |title=WHN Returning To Airwaves |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jersey-journal-whn-returning-to-airw/161015694/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Jersey Journal |location=Jersey City, New Jersey |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=United Press International}}</ref> WIHS-TV (channel 38) in Boston was purchased in 1966, and renamed [[WSBK-TV]];<ref name="Boston19661016p78">{{Cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Elizabeth |date=October 16, 1966 |title=TV Cameras Take Viewers Behind Prison Bars |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-tv-cameras-take-viewers/161019106/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=78 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> like WBRC and WAGA, WSBK received a new studio building in 1969 with an Antebellum design.<ref name="Boston19690713p13">{{Cite news |date=July 13, 1969 |title=New Channel 38 Studios in Brighton |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-new-channel-38-studios/161018374/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Boston19690914p382">{{Cite news |date=September 14, 1969 |title=Take a Look: Take Another Look at TV 38's all new home... |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-take-a-look-take-anoth/161018974/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=16:TV |type=Advertisement |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Storer sought to upgrade KGBS, which was a daytime-only station, including a power increase to 50,000 watts that saw billing increase by 100&nbsp;percent year-over-year.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=44–45}} In 1966, FM outlet KFMU was acquired and simulcast with KGBS as [[KNX-FM|KGBS-FM]], providing 24-hour service to the market.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 28, 1966 |title=Storer Gets 6th FM Station |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-storer-gets-6th-fm-statio/162783707/ |access-date=January 14, 2025 |work=The Miami News |page=14A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The two stations instituted a [[country music]] format upon the combination.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Page |first=Don |date=October 16, 1966 |title=The Twang Twang Blues |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-the-twang-twang-bl/162782480/ |access-date=January 14, 2024 |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=42:Calendar |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The "countrypolitan" format was expanded to Cleveland in January 1968 as WJW-FM became [[WQAL|WCJW]];<ref>{{cite magazine |date=February 5, 1968 |title=Program notes: Country sound |magazine=Broadcasting |page=55 |volume=74 |issue=6}}</ref> Detroit followed in December 1969 with WJBK and WJBK-FM relaunched as WDEE and [[WUFL (FM)|WDEE-FM]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peterson |first=Bettelou |date=December 25, 1969 |title=WDEE Starts Country Music; 'Bronson's' Parks Riles Bosses |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-wdee-starts-country-m/163004431/ |access-date=January 14, 2025 |work=Detroit Free Press |page=5D |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> WGBS-FM was renamed [[WMJX (Miami)|WJHR]] in 1969, in tribute to Ryan,<ref name="Miam690530">{{Cite news |date=May 30, 1969 |title=Shelley Winters First To Arrive for Movie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40547928/shelley-winters-first-to-arrive-for/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615085246/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40547928/shelley-winters-first-to-arrive-for/ |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |access-date=June 15, 2022 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=7A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> but continued featuring automated music formats.<ref name="profile">{{cite magazine |date=June 1986 |title=Market Profile: Miami |magazine=Mediatrix |page=26 |volume=1 |issue=5}}</ref>

By 1965, Storer was the nation's largest broadcaster not connected to the "[[Big Three (American television)|Big Three]]" television networks (ABC, CBS and NBC){{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=4, 174}} and regarded as "the first independent group broadcaster".{{r|BC741111p30}} It had a reputation of constantly selling stations in smaller markets in order to buy stations in larger markets, but made capital investments to improve and increase power for every station it owned.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=8, 28–30}} The gamble on television in 1948—made when other broadcast chains disparaged the medium{{r|BC741111p30}}—paid off with WAGA-TV, WSPD-TV and WJBK-TV turning a profit by 1951, surpassing all internal expectations.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=31–32}} In 1958, Storer had a profit of $65&nbsp;million and an annual income of $16&nbsp;million.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=8}} The company's expansion practices were emulated and copied by [[Corinthian Broadcasting]], [[Cox Media Group]], [[Capital Cities Communications|Capital Cities]] and [[Metromedia]].{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=30}}

Three of George Storer's sons all held roles within Storer Broadcasting in what was referred to as the company's "[[informal organization]]".{{r|BC621022p86}}{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=156}} George B. Storer, Jr. began working at WAGA-TV; by 1957, he became vice president of the television division, and by 1961 was president.{{r|MiamiH20070713p23}} James Storer, who was legally blind, started work at WGBS, was general manager of WJW radio by 1962 and eventually elevated to vice president of Storer's radio division.<ref name="e449">{{cite news |last=Segall |first=Grant |date=February 25, 2012 |title=James Storer led WJW-AM and several nonprofits |url=https://www.cleveland.com/obituaries/2012/02/james_storer_led_wjw-am_and_se.html |access-date=January 7, 2025 |work=The Plain Dealer}}</ref> Peter Storer also began at WGBS as an engineer; aside from a brief time at CBS Radio spot sales, Peter moved up in managerial roles to lead Storer's television sales division, and by 1967 was vice president.<ref name="d843" /> All three ascended to vice-presidency roles in relatively quick timeframes, accentuating the family ties.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=156–157}} Their promotions came alongside the death of J. Harold Ryan in June 1961 at age 75, who was still actively in the role of senior vice president.<ref name="MiamiH19610607p70">{{Cite news |date=June 7, 1961 |title=Top Figure Since Early Days: Miami Radio Man J. Harold Ryan Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-top-figure-since-early/163641298/ |access-date=January 22, 2025 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=A2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> 

=== The Miami channel 10 license scandal ===
{{Further|WGBS-TV|WPST-TV}}
Storer purchased WFTL-TV (channel 23), a UHF station in Fort Lauderdale, in November 1954<ref name="Fort541118">{{Cite news |date=November 18, 1954 |title=WFTL-TV Sold To Storer Organization; Local UHF Station To Become Major Unit In Big Chain |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95003701/wftl-tv-sold-to-storer-organization-loc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215201739/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95003701/wftl-tv-sold-to-storer-organization/ |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |access-date=February 15, 2022 |newspaper=Fort Lauderdale Daily News |page=1-A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95003737/ 12-A] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="seventh">{{cite magazine |date=November 22, 1954 |title=Storer's Seventh |magazine=Broadcasting |page=36 |volume=47 |issue=21 |id={{ProQuest|1285729272}}}}</ref> and moved it to Miami as [[WGBS-TV]].<ref name="Fort541226">{{Cite news |date=December 26, 1954 |title=It's Official |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95266281/its-official/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218063241/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95266281/its-official/ |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |access-date=February 18, 2022 |newspaper=Fort Lauderdale Daily News |page=10-A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Storer repeatedly pursued a VHF allocation for WGBS, including the hotly contested channel 10, while also litigating existing FCC ownership limits of five VHF stations and two UHF stations, an effort that failed before the [[U.S. Supreme Court]].<ref name="Fort560522">{{Cite news |date=May 22, 1956 |title=FCC Ruling Won't Affect Local Station |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95268639/fcc-ruling-wont-affect-local-station/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218063256/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95268639/fcc-ruling-wont-affect-local-station/ |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |access-date=February 18, 2022 |newspaper=Fort Lauderdale Daily News |page=1-B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite court|litigants=United States v. Storer Broadcasting Co.|vol=351|reporter=U.S.|opinion=192|date=1956|url=https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/351/192/}}</ref> The limitations also prevented the company from winning the channel 9 license in Wheeling.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=36}} At one point, Storer threatened to move the company's offices out of [[Miami Beach]] unless the market's VHF stations were converted to UHF.<ref name="Miam550416">{{Cite news |last=Roberts |first=Jack W. |date=April 16, 1955 |title=Storer Threatens To Quit Unless He Gets Channel 10: WGBS-TV Owner Insists He'll Leave Miami Area |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95267484/storer-threatens-to-quit-unless-he-gets/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218063238/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95267484/storer-threatens-to-quit-unless-he-gets/ |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |access-date=February 18, 2022 |newspaper=Miami Daily News |page=A-3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> [[WSVN|WCKT]] (channel 7) signed on and stripped WGBS-TV of their [[NBC]] affiliation, forcing the station to operate as an [[Independent station|independent]].<ref name="Miam560503">{{Cite news |date=May 3, 1956 |title=Storer Seeks VHF Channel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95268537/storer-seeks-vhf-channel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218063306/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95268537/storer-seeks-vhf-channel/ |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |access-date=February 18, 2022 |newspaper=Miami Daily News |page=4-B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Storer took WGBS-TV dark in April 1957<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 8, 1957 |title=Storer's Miami UHF Shuts Down; Equipment Sold to WPST-TV |magazine=Broadcasting |page=9 |volume=51 |issue=14 |id={{ProQuest|1401220150}}}}</ref> and sold the tower, studios and land to channel 10 permit winner [[National Airlines (1934–1980)|National Airlines]], allowing [[WPST-TV]] to sign on ahead of schedule.<ref name="Miam570406">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95269773/wgbs-tv-sells-out-to-nal/|date=April 6, 1957|page=5-A|title=WGBS-TV Sells Out To NAL|newspaper=The Miami Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 18, 2022|archive-date=February 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218063231/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95269773/wgbs-tv-sells-out-to-nal/|url-status=live}}</ref> Storer suffered a $433,000 loss while operating WGBS-TV.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=42}}

After it was revealed that the FCC, in particular commissioner [[Richard A. Mack]], had been directly influenced by National Airlines,<ref name="MiamiH19580117p6">{{Cite news |last=Pearson |first=Drew |author-link=Drew Pearson (journalist) |date=January 17, 1958 |title=Merry-Go-Round: FCC Quiz 'Too Hot To Handle' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103669396/merry-go-round-fcc-quiz-too-hot-to/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614235828/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103669396/merry-go-round-fcc-quiz-too-hot-to/ |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |access-date=June 13, 2022 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=6A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> the commission reopened the bidding process for the channel 10 license.<ref name="MiamiN19580622p17">{{Cite news |last=Einstein |first=Paul |date=June 22, 1958 |title=Miami May Be Hearing Site: Channel 10 Future At Stake As Judge Reopens FCC Case |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103829737/miami-may-be-hearing-site-channel-10/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616143130/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103829737/miami-may-be-hearing-site-channel-10/ |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |access-date=June 15, 2022 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=3B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> During a congressional investigation, FCC chairman [[John C. Doerfer]] testified he previously flew to Miami on a Storer-owned plane and been a guest of Storer on a [[yacht]] while Storer had at least one case pending before the commission.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=44}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=March 14, 1960 |title=How Doerfer's Hopes Died... Day By Day |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=32–33 |volume=58 |issue=11}}</ref> Doerfer resigned as FCC chairman and was subsequently employed as Storer's legal counsel, and later, as a vice-president.{{r|BC741111p30}}<ref name="b995">{{cite news |last=Lambert |first=Bruce |date=June 8, 1992 |title=John Charles Doerfer, 87, Is Dead; Headed F.C.C. in Era of Scandals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/08/us/john-charles-doerfer-87-is-dead-headed-fcc-in-era-of-scandals.html |access-date=December 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>{{efn|After WPST-TV's license was revoked, Storer repurchased the tower for a facility upgrade for [[WMJX (Miami)|WGBS-FM]].<ref name="Miam640826">{{Cite news |date=August 26, 1964 |title=Bill Bayer Invites Humphrey to Show |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96220349/bill-bayer-invites-humphrey-to-show/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223015721/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96220349/bill-bayer-invites-humphrey-to-show/ |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |access-date=February 23, 2022 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=4-B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>}}

=== Program syndication ===
Storer Programs, Inc. was established as the company's [[Broadcast syndication|program syndication]] unit in 1962. Among their first offerings was ''[[The Littlest Hobo]]'', a Canadian-produced adaptation of the 1958 [[The Littlest Hobo (film)|movie of the same name]]<ref name="Atlant19620305p372">{{Cite news |date=March 5, 1962 |title=Stover [sic] To Produce 2 TV Series |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-stover-sic-to/163115356/ |access-date=January 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution |page=7A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> that also aired in Canada over the [[CTV Television Network]].<ref name="Ottawa19630921p52">{{Cite news |date=September 21, 1963 |title=Littlest Hobo Canadian vagabond |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-littlest-hobo-canadia/163115429/ |access-date=January 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Ottawa Citizen |location=Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |page=52 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Storer held distribution rights to several animated series, including ''B'wanna Don in Jungle-la'', ''[[The New Adventures of Pinocchio (TV series)|The New Adventures of Pinocchio]]'', and ''[[Tales of the Wizard of Oz]]''.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=53–54}} Storer stepped in to fund completion of the second season of ''Hobo'';<ref name="Vancou19640826p3">{{Cite news |last=Wasserman |first=Jack |date=August 26, 1964 |title=Jack Wasserman: News To Me |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-jack-wasserman/163115304/ |access-date=January 24, 2025 |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> McGowan International, rightsholder to the ''Hobo'' movie, sued Storer claiming this season was filmed without prior authorization. The lawsuit was settled in 1968, with Storer paying McGowan $400,000 and transferring all rights to the ''Hobo'' series back to McGowan.<ref>{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite magazine |date=August 12, 1968 |title=At Deadline: Storer, McGowan settle suits out of court |magazine=Broadcasting |page=10 |volume=75 |issue=7}}|{{Cite magazine |date=August 19, 1968 |title=At Deadline: New light on settlement of McGowan-Storer suit |magazine=Broadcasting |page=10 |volume=75 |issue=8}}}}</ref>{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=54–55}} Storer purchased the distribution rights to the original 1957 version of ''[[Divorce Court]]'', which proved an international success and was revived for first-run syndication in 1966.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=52–53}} Citing a lack of profitability, Storer Programs was shut down in 1969, but Storer continued to finance production of [[television pilot]]s.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=55}}

In the 1980s, Storer co-produced the game show ''[[Break the Bank (1985 game show)|Break the Bank]]'' and a second revival of ''Divorce Court'' under a joint venture with [[Blair Entertainment]] and [[Kline and Friends]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 21, 1985 |title=Where the Action Was: NATPE's Programming Panopoly |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=43, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56 |volume=108 |issue=3}}</ref> This revival of ''Divorce Court'' remained in production until 1990.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=McClellan |first1=Steve |last2=Freeman |first2=Mike |date=July 13, 1992 |title=Magazines, Talk Shows Among First-Run Ideas in Works by Syndicators |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=7–8 |volume=122 |issue=29}}</ref>

=== The Northeast Airlines tempest ===
[[File:Douglas_DC-6B,_Northeast_Airlines_JP6994439.jpg|thumb|A Douglas DC-6B featuring Northeast Airlines livery, 1966.|270x270px]]
Storer Broadcasting began examining other investments outside of broadcasting, brought on by the FCC's ownership limits of seven television stations, seven AM stations and seven FM stations, existing corporate tax structures and a lack of large-market stations available for purchase. Inspired by [[RKO General]]'s majority stake in [[Frontier Airlines (1950–1986)|Frontier Airlines]], Storer began examining airlines as they were regulated like broadcasting and not a manufacturing industry.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=8, 47–49, 50}} The company agreed to purchase majority control of [[Northeast Airlines]] from [[Hughes Tool Company]] on June 2, 1965,<ref name="Mornin19650603p1">{{Cite news |date=June 3, 1965 |title=Storer Broadcasting Co. Has Northeast Airlines Option |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/morning-sentinel-storer-broadcasting-co/161147940/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |newspaper=Morning Sentinel |location=Waterville, Maine |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/morning-sentinel-storer-broadcasting-co/161147991/ 3] |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> and sold their stock in Standard Tube for $1.5&nbsp;million to help finance the deal.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=21, 49}} Northeast was financially troubled with $36&nbsp;million in [[debt]] and was fighting the [[Civil Aeronautics Board]] (CAB) to retain a key Miami–New York route, but as the ''Miami Herald'' analyzed the deal, "if anyone can bring Northeast Airlines back into a continuous profit picture, Storer can."<ref name="MiamiN19650603p12">{{Cite news |last=Haggerty |first=Mike |date=June 3, 1965 |title=He Thrives On Trouble: Northeast A Natural For Storer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-he-thrives-on-trouble-no/161147333/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=12A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Storer announced plans to reactivate WGBS-TV, which it still held the permit for,<ref name="Miam660325">{{Cite news |date=March 25, 1966 |title=Channel 23 Will Start Here Again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95270933/channel-23-will-start-here-again/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218063236/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95270933/channel-23-will-start-here-again/ |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |access-date=February 18, 2022 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=4B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> intending to have television stations in Northeast's [[Airport terminal|terminal]]s of Miami and Boston; this also precipitated their purchase of WIHS-TV, renamed WSBK-TV.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=42}}{{efn|Storer did not reactivate WGBS-TV and instead sold the permit in early 1967.<ref name="Miam670527">{{Cite news |date=May 27, 1967 |title=FCC Asked To Approve Ch. 23 Sale |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95271278/fcc-asked-to-approve-ch-23-sale/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218063304/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95271278/fcc-asked-to-approve-ch-23-sale/ |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |access-date=February 18, 2022 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=7-D |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> It was relaunched later in the year as [[WLTV-DT|WAJA-TV]].<ref name="Miam671114">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Jack E. |date=November 14, 1967 |title=Channel 23 Goes on Air Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95271724/channel-23-goes-on-air-today/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218063308/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95271724/channel-23-goes-on-air-today/ |archive-date=February 18, 2022 |access-date=February 18, 2022 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=1-B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>}}

Storer became Northeast's board chairman and promised to go "first class" to help turn around the airline.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=49}} While this was seen as a risk, the company had a history of not being risk-averse.{{r|MiamiN19650603p12}} George Storer, Jr. became chairman of the airline board, which he held through 1967,{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=156–157}} and created the "Yellowbird" advertising campaign; pilot/historian Capt. Robert Mudge credited George Jr. as "...&nbsp;a blessing, he saved the airline".{{r|MiamiH20070713p23}} Northeast also prevailed in their fight to keep the Miami–New York route.<ref name="MiamiH20070713p23">{{Cite news |last=Brecher |first=Elinor J. |date=July 13, 2007 |title=George Butler Storer Jr., 81: Airline, cable pioneer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-george-butler-storer-jr/161148260/ |access-date=December 24, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=5B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> However, Northeast's financial troubles never improved: in 1967, it lost $3.8&nbsp;million, following by losses of $2.67&nbsp;million, $28.8&nbsp;million, $10.7&nbsp;million and $14&nbsp;million in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971, respectively.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=50–51}} The planes were obsolete, prompting Storer to establish a subsidiary specifically to buy new planes and lease them back to the airline.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=50}} In 1972, the airline's closest competition, National Airlines, had twice as much revenue as Northeast, while [[United Airlines]] outperformed Northeast in revenue by a 12:1 margin.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://airlines.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/1972.pdf |title=1972 Air Transport Facts & Figures |publisher=Air Transport Association |page=22 |access-date=28 May 2024}}</ref> George Storer personally came to regret the purchase and told stockholders in 1970, "we were losing more money in a year than I'd ever thought of making in a year."{{r|MiamiH19751106p199}}

This financial burden induced Storer to sell WIBG and all but one of their FM stations.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=49, 51–52}} WIBG was sold in 1969 to [[Buckley Broadcasting]] for $6&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 13, 1969 |title=Buckley System To Buy WIBG |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-buckley-system/161286430/ |access-date=December 20, 2024 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=19 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1970, WJHR and WDEE-FM were sold to [[Bartell Broadcasters]] for $1.2&nbsp;million.<ref name="Miam700421">{{Cite news |date=April 21, 1970 |title=Storer Broadcast to sell FM units |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40547983/storer-broadcast-to-sell-fm-units/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615085246/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40547983/storer-broadcast-to-sell-fm-units/ |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |access-date=June 15, 2022 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> [[WIP-FM|WPNA]] (the former WIBG-FM, which had been taken dark) was sold with WCJW to SJR Communications in 1971 for $1.4&nbsp;million, while [[WRVF|WSPD-FM]] was concurrently sold to [[Susquehanna Broadcasting]]. KGBS-FM was the only FM station retained.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 26, 1971 |title=Storer FM holdings down to one |magazine=Broadcasting |page=56 |volume=80 |issue=17 |id={{ProQuest|1016870446}}}}</ref> The company considered selling KGBS-AM-FM in 1969 for $1.8&nbsp;million and a $500,000 [[non-compete agreement]], but this deal never materialized.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=45}} Storer sought a merger of Northeast into [[Northwest Orient]] in 1969,{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=51}}<ref name="867-F.2d-929">{{Cite court|litigants=Stedman v. Storer|vol=308|reporter=F. Supp.|opinion=881|court=S.D.N.Y.|date=1969|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/308/881/1568810/}}</ref> but this fell through after the CAB denied a request for the combined airline to retain a profitable Florida route.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 26, 1971 |title=At Deadline: Storer airline subsidiary plans merger with Delta |magazine=Broadcasting |page=9 |volume=80 |issue=17}}</ref> Northeast merged into [[Delta Air Lines]] in 1971, with Storer becoming that airline's largest shareholder;{{r|PlainD19730920p38}} the airline-leasing subsidiary was sold to Delta by 1976 for $12&nbsp;million.<ref name="Boston19770502p28">{{Cite news |last=Veale |first=Max E. |date=May 2, 1977 |title=Broadcasting will become Storer's principal interest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-broadcasting-will-becom/161551529/ |access-date=December 26, 2024 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=28 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Knight-Ridder}}</ref>

=== Boston Bruins and Garden ownership ===
Storer merged into the [[Boston Garden-Arena Corporation]], owner of the [[Boston Bruins]] and their home arena, the [[Boston Garden]], on December 7, 1972, for $16–17&nbsp;million in stock. The merger was seen as a logical fit, as WSBK-TV prominently featured Bruins games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walsh |first=Kevin |date=December 8, 1972 |title=Storer will give Bruins financial muscle, too |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-weston-adams-merge-wi/76398537/ |access-date=December 18, 2024 |work=The Boston Globe |page=53 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> George Storer was also not a stranger to professional sports, as he owned the [[Miami Marlins (1962-70)|Miami Marlins]] minor league baseball team, had a minority interest in the [[Detroit Lions]], and sought an [[NFL]] team of his own.{{r|BC621022p86}} [[Robert Schmertz]], owner of the [[Boston Celtics]] and [[New England Whalers]] (both tenants of the Garden) resented Storer's purchase, believing the company now exerted control of the local media, and threatened to have the Celtics play in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], for part of the [[1973–74 Boston Celtics season|1973–74 season]] as leases for the two teams lapsed.<ref name="Boston19730321p33">{{Cite news |last=Singelais |first=Neil |date=March 21, 1973 |title=Celtics may play 8–10 games in Providence: Schmertz makes first move |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-celtics-may-play-8-10-g/163197585/ |access-date=January 17, 2025 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=33 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The Garden was also showing signs of age after 50 years, and was not built with air conditioning despite heavy usage throughout the year.<ref name="MiamiH19750519p143">{{Cite news |date=May 19, 1975 |title=Boston Garden Needs Repairs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-boston-garden-needs-rep/163197356/ |access-date=January 17, 2025 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=5BW |via=Newspapers.com |agency=United Press International}}</ref> 

Elected officials, along with the Celtics and Whalers, advocated for a replacement arena, but costs for a new facility grew from $18–20&nbsp;million to $28&nbsp;million after a site change.<ref name="Boston19740505p97">{{Cite news |last1=McDonough |first1=Will |last2=Yudis |first2=Anthony |date=May 5, 1974 |title=Boston's new arena still alive; site changed, price now $28m |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-bostons-new-arena-stil/163197497/ |access-date=January 17, 2025 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-bostons-new-arena-stil/163197530/ A4] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The cost of renovating the Garden was estimated at $12&nbsp;million; Storer declined to pay for the repairs, believing it was not worth the [[Return on investment|return on investment.]]<ref name="MiamiH19750519p143" /> Peter Storer, who succeeded George Storer as company president in 1973,{{r|MiamiH19751106p199}} deemed the costs of a new arena as onerous. Addressing criticism the company was acting as a stumbling block, Peter placed the Garden for sale in June 1974 to "...&nbsp;parties who feel that they can better serve the needs of Greater Boston".<ref name="Kenneb19740621p9">{{Cite news |date=June 21, 1974 |title=Bruins face sale |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kennebec-journal-bruins-face-sale/163197614/ |access-date=January 17, 2025 |newspaper=Kennebec Journal |location=Augusta, Maine |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="Nashua19740621p 16">{{Cite news |last=Cafabell |first=Ken |date=June 21, 1974 |title=New Arena Too Costly: Storer Offers to Sell Bruins, Boston Garden |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/nashua-telegraph-new-arena-too-costly-s/163197739/ |access-date=January 17, 2025 |newspaper=Nashua Telegraph |location=Nashua, New Hampshire |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=United Press International}}</ref> ''[[Boston Globe]]'' columnist [[Leigh Montville]] ridiculed Peter as an out-of-touch Miami Beach businessman only focused on money, saying, "[t]he man is a businessman. If ''[[Hogan's Heroes]]'' is making big money for his television station, he's not going to give you the [[Bolshoi Theatre|Bolshoi]] or [[Ibsen]]'s dramas at a reduced profit. That's business. You're left with that 20th-century head scratch."<ref name="Boston19740623p94">{{Cite news |last=Montville |first=Leigh |author-link=Leigh Montville |date=June 23, 1974 |title=Lament from behind the girders |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-lament-from-behind-the/163197416/ |access-date=January 17, 2025 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=94 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Negotiations for a sale restarted in earnest in July 1975 after a disappointing [[1974–75 Boston Bruins season|1974–75 Bruins season]] that also saw declining ratings for game coverage on WSBK; the team's existing television contract, effectively a paper transaction, was slated to run through 1978.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Craig |first=Jack |date=July 23, 1975 |title=Negotiations under way for sale of Bruins |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-negotiations-under-way/161143881/ |access-date=December 18, 2024 |work=The Boston Globe |page=33 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> [[Delaware North]] and chairman [[Jeremy Jacobs]] agreed to purchase the team and arena in August 1975 for an undisclosed price.<ref name="MiamiN19750828p7">{{Cite news |date=August 28, 1975 |title=Boston Garden sold by Storer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-boston-garden-sold-by-sto/161143685/ |access-date=January 17, 2025 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=7A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Several months after the sale, company chairman George Storer died on November 4, 1975;{{r|MiamiH19751106p199}} Bill Michaels, a longtime associate, succeeded Storer as chairman.<ref name="MiamiN19791102p8" />

=== Pivoting towards cable ===
The company purchased its first [[cable television]] system in September 1963 in [[Thousand Oaks, California]].<ref name="Conejo19630908p2">{{Cite news |date=September 8, 1963 |title=TV Cable Firm Bought By Floridan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/conejo-news-tv-cable-firm-bought-by-flor/161551953/ |access-date=December 26, 2024 |newspaper=Conejo News |location=Thousand Oaks, California |page=A2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Unlike many cable operators, Storer preferred to acquire franchises and build its cable systems; expanding further into California during the 1960s and entering the [[Sarasota, Florida]], market by 1970.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=73}} By 1971, Storer had 57,000 subscribers among their franchises. As the FCC limited or prevented the expansion of cable into large markets during this period, Storer sought smaller markets as "fill-in" services and sought to take time to build their subscriber base.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=74}} The FCC began emphasizing local program production among franchisees, which Storer took advantage of.{{sfn|Wellman|1973|pp=75–76}} In 1975, satellites began to be used to further transmission of cable networks, coupled with more friendly policy towards the industry by the FCC.<ref name="r507">{{cite news |last=Berry |first=John F. |date=September 28, 1980 |title=Storer Broadcasting Hooks Up For the Big Money in Cable TV |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1980/09/28/storer-broadcasting-hooks-up-for-the-big-money-in-cable-tv/2133f09d-a4aa-4552-959f-5769fdad093a/ |access-date=January 14, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Peter Storer began asserting himself as president of the company, a noted change from predecessor George Storer's low profile; George was also unconvinced of cable's financial potential despite having been an early influence in its development.{{r|r507}}

By 1977, Storer's cable division served over 200,000 subscribers in five states, and accounted for 15 percent of total revenue;<ref name="StorerTop1002">{{Cite magazine |date=June 26, 1978 |title=The Top 100 Companies in Electronic Communications: 62, Storer Broadcasting Co. |magazine=Broadcasting |page=57 |volume=94 |issue=26 |id={{ProQuest|1016901017}}}}</ref> within a year, it grew to 300,000 subscribers in nine states, and 22 percent of total revenue.<ref name="MiamiH19781210p223">{{Cite news |last=Baron |first=Martin |date=December 10, 1978 |title=Storer Broadcasting Tuned In to Cable Television Future |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-storer-broadcasting-tun/161544736/ |access-date=December 26, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |pages=1M, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-storer-broadcasting-tun/161544763/ 6M] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Storer made a $55&nbsp;million offer to purchase [[Viacom (1952–2005)|Viacom]] primarily for the syndicator's cable systems unit,<ref name="MiamiH19770112p31">{{Cite news |last=Scholz |first=Jane |date=January 12, 1977 |title=Storer Bids to Buy TV Firm |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-storer-bids-to-buy-tv-f/161549745/ |access-date=December 26, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=3B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="FortLa19770112p 17">{{Cite news |last=Metz |first=Robert |date=January 12, 1977 |title=Merger Of Viacom, Storer A Possibility |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-lauderdale-news-merger-of-viacom-s/161552599/ |access-date=December 26, 2024 |newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News |page=11D |via=Newspapers.com |agency=The New York Times}}</ref> but the bid was rejected within days.<ref name="MiamiH19770118p23">{{Cite news |last=Scholz |first=Jane |date=January 18, 1977 |title=Viacom Rejects Storer Bid |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-viacom-rejects-storer-b/161550260/ |access-date=December 26, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=5B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> While unsuccessful, it marked a departure by Storer from making future acquisitions unrelated to broadcasting:{{r|Boston19770502p28}} the divestments of Northeast and the Bruins freed Storer from debt, and the company had a growing reserve of cash.{{r|FortLa19770112p 17}} Storer's commitment to radio remained unclear, but was aided by the sale of WJW to Lake Erie Broadcasting, an [[Art Modell]]-headed syndicate, in 1977 for $2.5&nbsp;million;<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=September 6, 1976 |title=In Brief... |magazine=Broadcasting |page=30 |volume=91 |issue=10 |id={{ProQuest|1016885483}}}}</ref> the deal represented "a significant profit" as the station was starting to lose money.{{r|StorerTop1002}} Previously, WDEE was sold to [[Globetrotters Communications]] in 1973 for $4.2&nbsp;million.<ref name="Detroi19730808p 21">{{Cite news |date=August 8, 1973 |title=Michigan Business |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-michigan-business/161030422/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |page=9B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Storer purchased [[KNSD|KCST]] (channel 39) in [[San Diego]] in March 1973 for $12&nbsp;million to become their seventh television station, again reaching the maximum limit of five VHF stations and two UHF stations.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 19, 1973 |title=Storer to pay $12 million for San Diego UHF |magazine=Broadcasting |page=48 |volume=84 |issue=12 |id={{ProQuest|1014540209}}}}</ref> This came as KCST was set to take over as the market's ABC affiliate from [[XETV]] in [[Tijuana]], a switch initiated through FCC intervention.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 12, 1973 |title=San Diego truce approved |magazine=Broadcasting |page=57 |volume=84 |issue=11}}</ref> Despite improved ratings,<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=March 29, 1976 |title=ABC's gains are turning television upside down |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=19–20 |volume=90 |issue=13 |id={{ProQuest|1014696151}}}}</ref> ABC disaffiliated from KCST in 1977 in favor of [[KGTV]].<ref>{{cite magazine |date=June 7, 1976 |title=In Brief... |magazine=Broadcasting |page=24 |volume=90 |issue=23}}</ref> In turn, Storer disaffiliated WITI from ABC—which it had been affiliated with since 1961<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 30, 1961 |title=Milwaukee stations to switch networks |magazine=Broadcasting |page=9 |volume=60 |issue=5}}</ref>—in favor of CBS,<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=September 27, 1976 |title=In Brief... |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=28–29 |volume=91 |issue=13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 18, 1976 |title=Milwaukee connection. |magazine=Broadcasting |page=36 |volume=91 |issue=16}}</ref> while KCST switched to NBC.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 7, 1977 |title=In Brief... |magazine=Broadcasting |page=26 |volume=92 |issue=10}}</ref>

By December 1978, Storer announced their remaining radio stations were for sale, including [[WLYF]] in Miami and [[WLIT-FM|WLAK]] in Chicago, which were both purchased earlier in the year.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 17, 1978 |title=Changing Hands |magazine=Broadcasting |page=53 |volume=94 |issue=16 |id={{ProQuest|1016898554}}}}</ref> Bill Michaels and Peter Storer stated "the world has changed" and the divestments were necessary given Storer's publicly traded status. The company's [[board of directors]] also approved a $100&nbsp;million expansion into cable.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=December 11, 1978 |title='The world has changed': Storer decides to get out of radio, put the money on cable TV |magazine=Broadcasting |page=30 |volume=95 |issue=24 |id={{ProQuest|1014696660}}}}</ref><ref name="Miam781206">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103795853/storer-selling-all-radio-stations-to-bui/|date=December 6, 1978|page=8-D|title=Storer Selling All Radio Stations To Build TV Holdings, Firm Says|newspaper=The Miami Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 15, 2022|archive-date=June 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615085252/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103795853/storer-selling-all-radio-stations-to/|url-status=live}}</ref> The deciding factor came when KGBS was relaunched in 1976 as [[KTNQ]], with a power upgrade, switch to full-time broadcasting and $1.5&nbsp;million in investments, but experts estimated KTNQ required an additional $4&nbsp;million to remain viable.{{r|MiamiH19781210p223}} KTNQ was sold to [[Liberman Broadcasting]] and [[KNX-FM|KHTZ]] (the former KGBS-FM) was sold to [[Greater Media]].<ref name="LosAng19790819p405">{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=James |date=August 19, 1979 |title=KTNQ takes Spanish cue |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/133746174/ |access-date=December 16, 2024 |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |page=88:Calendar |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1979 alone, WGBS and WLYF were sold to [[Jefferson-Pilot|Jefferson-Pilot Communications]] for $12.5&nbsp;million,<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=February 26, 1979 |title=Changing Hands |magazine=Broadcasting |page=84 |volume=96 |issue=9 |id={{ProQuest|1014703170}}}}</ref> the [[Mutual Broadcasting System]] purchased WHN for $14&nbsp;million,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=William H. |date=February 27, 1979 |title=Mutual Agrees To Buy N.Y. Radio Station |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1979/02/27/mutual-agrees-to-buy-ny-radio-station/6210bb55-e8fd-40f5-a6cd-4bc04710678a/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818105843/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1979/02/27/mutual-agrees-to-buy-ny-radio-station/6210bb55-e8fd-40f5-a6cd-4bc04710678a/ |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |access-date=February 14, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> and WSPD was sold to [[WOOD (AM)|Wood Broadcasting]] for $3.3&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=March 5, 1979 |title=In Brief |magazine=Broadcasting |page=32 |volume=96 |issue=10}}</ref> (WSPD-TV was renamed [[WTVG]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=WSPD-TV now WTVG |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bryan-times-wspd-tv-now-wtvg/163034010/ |access-date=January 14, 2024 |work=Bryan Times |location=Bryan, Ohio |page=2:II |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>) WLAK was sold to Viacom in 1981 for $8&nbsp;million, owing to then-FCC restrictions requiring Storer to own the station for at least three years.<ref name="StorerSells">{{cite magazine |date=September 14, 1981 |title=Storer sells its final AM [sic] to Viacom |magazine=Broadcasting |page=90 |volume=101 |issue=11}}</ref>

Michaels relinquished day-to-day control of the company to Peter Storer on January 1, 1980,<ref name="MiamiN19791102p8">{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Eldon |date=November 2, 1979 |title=Storer will run broadcasting firm |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-storer-will-run-broadcast/163000060/ |access-date=January 14, 2025 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=8A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> then announced his retirement on April 27, 1982, at the company's annual meeting; Storer was elevated from vice-chairman to chairman.<ref name="MiamiN19820428p11">{{Cite news |last=Sigale |first=Merwin |date=April 28, 1982 |title=Michaels steps aside at Storer but will continue as consultant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-michaels-steps-aside-at-s/162999300/ |access-date=January 14, 2025 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=11A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The company's name became Storer Communications, Inc. on January 1, 1983, coinciding with the [[stock symbol]] changing to SCI;<ref name="MiamiH19821230p51">{{Cite news |date=December 30, 1982 |title=Announcing our corporate name change from Storer Broadcasting Company to Storer Communications |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-announcing-our-corporat/161207665/ |access-date=January 13, 2025 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=15D |type=Advertisement |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> headquarters were also moved from [[Bay Harbor Islands]] to [[North Miami]].{{r|MiamiN19820428p11}} By 1985, it not only owned the seven television stations, but held cable television franchises to 500 communities in 18 states and served 1.5 million subscribers,<ref name="t2762">{{cite news |last=Horwitz |first=Sari |date=April 26, 1985 |title=Storer Board Backs New Buyout Bid |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1985/04/26/storer-board-backs-new-buyout-bid/cfa17926-56bc-4ae9-b1d4-37acb0575c40/ |access-date=January 13, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> and was the fourth-largest cable operator in the country.<ref name="c980">{{cite news |last=Stevenson |first=Richard W. |date=July 6, 1985 |title=A Maturing Storer's Gains |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/06/business/a-maturing-storer-s-gains.html |access-date=January 13, 2025 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Such expansion was costly: Storer invested over $1.2&nbsp;billion over the five-year expansion project, building large and elaborate systems that quickly became unprofitable.{{r|t2762}} The company bid for franchises at any cost under the belief that once a franchise was taken by a competitor, it would not be available again.{{r|c980}} Storer reported losses of $39.6&nbsp;million and $17.3&nbsp;million in 1983 and 1984, respectively, and lost $5.7&nbsp;million during the first quarter of 1985, all of it coming from the heavy investments into cable.{{r|t2762}}

=== Investor proxy fight and privatization by KKR ===
A [[proxy war]] over control of the company began in April 1985, after Coniston Partners—led by [[Paul E. Tierney]], an [[activist shareholder]]—purchased enough shares in the company's stock to earn four seats on the company's board of directors, then pursued a [[liquidation]].<ref name="StarTr19871228p 47">{{Cite news |last=Meyers |first=Mike |date=December 28, 1987 |title=Coniston firm has Midas touch: But does success do good or harm? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-coniston-firm-has-midas-tou/161595296/ |access-date=January 13, 2025 |newspaper=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis, Minnesota |pages=1M, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-coniston-firm-has-midas-tou/161595311/ 4M] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Amid the threats by the Coniston investors, [[Comcast]] and [[Tele-Communications Inc.|TCI]] showed interest in purchasing the cable division.{{r|MiamiH850429p7BM}} In turn, the rest of the board members took out full-page newspaper advertisements urging other shareholders to reject the Coniston takeover attempt.<ref name="MiamiH19850417p182">{{Cite news |date=April 17, 1985 |title=To all Storer shareholders... |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-to-all-storer-sharehold/75403969/ |access-date=January 13, 2025 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=13A |type=Advertisement |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Storer initiated a plan to repurchase up to six million of their 16.4 million outstanding [[Share (finance)|share]]s in order to mollify Coniston's influence; this was quickly superseded by an offer from [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts]] (KKR) to take the company private in a $1.6&nbsp;billion [[leveraged buyout]].<ref name="MiamiH850429p7BM">{{Cite news |last=Lyons |first=David |date=April 29, 1985 |title=Storer shareholders wait for the best offer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75431827/storer-shareholders-wait-for-the-best/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219055450/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75431827/storer-shareholders-wait-for-the-best/ |archive-date=February 19, 2022 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=7:Business/Monday |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The board signed an agreement to accept KKR's offer as it provided more immediate [[cash on hand]] for the shareholders, doing so in advance of the company's annual executive meeting.{{r|t2762}}<ref name="MiamiN19850508p12">{{Cite news |last=Prichard |first=Matt |date=May 8, 1985 |title=Storer, dissidents awaiting results of proxy fight vote |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-storer-dissidents-awaiti/75431977/ |access-date=January 14, 2025 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=12A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Peter Storer was expected to remain as chairman and was described as having "survived" the proxy war, but was now part of a management team that only held a 7.2&nbsp;percent ownership stake in Storer,{{r|c980}} which was folded into SCI Holdings, a [[holding company]] within KKR.{{r|MiamiH851206p10A}} While the company did not describe this move as a "[[Shareholder rights plan|poison pill]]", a term ''[[Miami News]]'' columnist Merwin Sigale used, it led to Comcast withdrawing their interest and ensured no one else could match or best KKR's bid.<ref name="MiamiN19850731p16">{{Cite news |last=Sigale |first=Merwin |date=July 31, 1985 |title=Storer's 'poison pill' makes new takeover attempts unpalatable |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-storers-poison-pill-ma/75431761/ |access-date=January 15, 2025 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=8A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The buyout also placed significant debt on the company: Terry Lee later said of Coniston, "[m]y personal opinion is what they do may not be illegal, but it borders on being immoral".{{r|StarTr19871228p 47}} Storer retired as chairman in January 1986, shortly after the buyout was completed, and later expressed disappointment over the privatization.<ref name="d843">{{cite web |date=November 12, 2009 |title=Storer CEO led company into cable TV |url=https://www.toledoblade.com/news/deaths/2009/11/12/Storer-CEO-led-company-into-cable-TV/stories/200911120031 |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=The Blade}}</ref> Lee succeeded him as chairman.<ref name="f353">{{cite news |date=January 8, 1986 |title=Storer Chief Set to Retire |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/08/business/storer-chief-set-to-retire.html |access-date=December 26, 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times |page=D2}}</ref>

KKR's buyout came one year after taking [[Wometco Enterprises]] private following the death of chairman [[Mitchell Wolfson]], and was in the process of breaking it up.<ref name="MiamiN19830924p1">{{Cite news |last=Sigale |first=Merwin |date=September 24, 1983 |title=Proposed buyer of Wometco is a private giant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75397329/proposed-buyer-of-wometco-is-a-private/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416163752/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75397329/proposed-buyer-of-wometco-is-a-private/ |archive-date=April 16, 2021 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |newspaper=The Miami News |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75397380/proposed-buyer-of-wometco-is-a-private/ 4A] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Russell |first=James |date=March 15, 1984 |title=Wometco buyout breaks up an institution |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75408556/wometco-buyout-breaks-up-an-institution/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331185533/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75408556/wometco-buyout-breaks-up-an-institution/ |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=14C |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Wometco's [[WTVJ]] in Miami, [[WFUT-DT|WWHT]]/[[WFTY-DT|WSNL]] in New York City and their cable systems in Atlanta were still under KKR control, prompting the FCC to direct KKR to sell either WTVJ, WAGA-TV and WWHT/WSNL, or the cable systems in each station's service area, within 18 months as conditions for their approval.<ref name="BC851202p40">{{Cite magazine |date=December 2, 1985 |title=FCC OK's KKR/Storer minus some waivers |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=40–42 |volume=109 |issue=23 |id={{ProQuest|1014726387}}}}</ref> It recognized KKR as the owner of both companies and violating cross-ownership regulations.<ref name="MiamiH851206p10A">{{Cite news |date=December 6, 1985 |title=Storer Communications now part of SCI Holdings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75431657/storer-communications-now-part-of-sci/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219055454/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75431657/storer-communications-now-part-of-sci/ |archive-date=February 19, 2022 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=10A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The FCC also ordered KKR to sell WTVG as its signal overlapped with WJBK-TV and WJW-TV,<ref name="PlainD19860522p95">{{Cite news |last=Frolik |first=Joe |date=May 22, 1986 |title=WJW is bought by Lorimar along with 6 other stations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wjw-is-bought-by-lorima/148999550/ |access-date=November 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=11E |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> which was previously [[grandfathered]] prior to the buyout.{{r|BC851202p40}} KKR opted to sell WTVJ and the Storer stations in an attempted $1.85&nbsp;billion sale to [[Lorimar-Telepictures]]<ref name="Miami860522pD1">{{Cite news |last=Altaner |first=David |date=May 22, 1986 |title=Lorimar buying WTVJ, 6 other stations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75457095/lorimar-buying-wtvj-6-other-stations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411012857/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75457095/lorimar-buying-wtvj-6-other-stations/ |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |access-date=April 10, 2021 |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida |page=D1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> that fell apart when CBS chairman [[Laurence Tisch]] objected to the deal, threatening to buy [[WFOR-TV|another Miami station]] at a discount and disaffiliate the other Storer stations from the network.<ref name="ap">{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2017 |title=Alan Perris |url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/alan-perris |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219055448/https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/alan-perris |archive-date=February 19, 2022 |access-date=April 11, 2021 |website=Television Academy Interviews |language=en}}</ref> Following this, WTVJ [[1989 South Florida television affiliation switch|was sold off]] to NBC<ref>{{Cite news |last=Michals |first=Bob |date=January 17, 1987 |title=Miami's CBS affiliate gets new owner—NBC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064445/miamis-cbs-affiliate-gets-new/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034341/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064445/miamis-cbs-affiliate-gets-new/ |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |access-date=April 4, 2021 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064469/miamis-cbs-affiliate-gets-new/ 12A] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> while WTVG was spun off to a company headed by Terry Lee;<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 1, 1987 |title=Storer sells station |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-hampshire-gazette-storer-sells-sta/161596953/ |access-date=December 26, 2024 |work=Daily Hampshire Gazette |location=Northampton, Massachusetts |page=30 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Lee resigned from Storer after the deal was completed and was succeeded by Kenneth Bagwell.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kent |first=Cynthia |date=October 5, 1987 |title=Costa selects CEO, vice chairman of board |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-costa-selects-ceo-vice/161596607/ |access-date=December 26, 2024 |work=The Miami Herald |page=21:Business Monday |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

=== Breakup and dissolution ===
SCI Holdings, now solely controlling Storer Cable, was put up for sale in 1987<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lippman |first=John |date=July 22, 1987 |title=Following $650-Mil Gillett Deal, SCI Holdings Puts Up 'For Sale' Sign On Storer Cable Subsidiary |pages=51, 72 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> but an outright asset sale was decided against<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lippman |first=John |date=December 2, 1987 |title=SCI Holdings' Storer Cable Assets 'No Sale' As 3-Bank Bough Breaks |page=40 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> as KKR was reportedly prevented from doing so due to [[Debt covenant|debt covenants]] taken in the buyout.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fabrikant |first=Geraldine |date=April 25, 1988 |title=2 Cable TV Companies To Buy SCI |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/25/business/2-cable-tv-companies-to-buy-sci.html |access-date=February 15, 2014 |website=The New York Times |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019034833/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/25/business/2-cable-tv-companies-to-buy-sci.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The cable group was sold to a group of competing cable systems including Comcast, TCI and [[Time Warner Cable|ATC]] (the cable division of [[Time Inc.]]), in a $1.7&nbsp;billion deal. The all-stock deal kept Storer Cable as a nominally separate company controlled by the partnership.<ref name="Atlant19871229p61">{{Cite news |last=Herndon |first=Keith |date=December 29, 1987 |title=Cable system sale may help subscribers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-cable-system-sale-ma/161049732/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal |page=E1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Michael Tallent became president of Storer upon the consummation of this transaction, succeeding Bagwell.<ref name="MiamiH19881128p77">{{Cite news |last=Kent |first=Cynthia |date=November 28, 1988 |title=A&E's Orgel will head Video JukeBox |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-aes-orgel-will-head-v/161082548/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |pages=25–[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-aes-orgel-will-head-v/161082569/ 26]:Business Monday |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Tallent joined Comcast in 1991 and was succeeded by William Whelan;<ref name="MiamiH19910212p205">{{Cite news |last=Chrissos |first=Joan |date=February 12, 1991 |title=President of Storer resigns |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-president-of-storer-res/161082383/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=7B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> the company was expected to be broken up in the coming years and described as "not in acquisition mode".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Boyle |first=Bob |date=March 25, 1991 |title=Leverage looms large at Storer |magazine=Multichannel News |volume=12 |issue=12 |id={{gale|A10654969}}}}</ref> TCI and Comcast jointly purchased Storer Cable from the partnership in September 1992 and was divided in half,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Comey |first=Robert T. |date=September 10, 1992 |title=Storer Cable is changing hands |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-storer-cable-is-changin/161208123/ |access-date=December 20, 2024 |work=The Courier-News |location=Bridgewater, New Jersey |page=C1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Mont930617p5B">{{Cite news |date=June 17, 1993 |title=Alabama's Storer Cable system gets new name |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-alabamas-stor/161249609/ |access-date=December 20, 2024 |work=The Montgomery Advertiser |location=Montgomery, Alabama |page=5B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Higgins |first=John M. |date=November 23, 1992 |title=Storer breakup clears hurdle |magazine=Multichannel News |volume=13 |issue=47 |id={{gale|A13621228}}}}</ref> with franchises reassigned based on the closest proximity of either company's regional offices.<ref name="Rich931120pD3">{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Katherine |date=November 20, 1993 |title=Storer to take Comcast name |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-storer-to-take-c/161249514/ |access-date=December 20, 2024 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |page=D3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The Storer name was phased out in favor of either TCI or Comcast beginning in late 1993.{{r|Mont930617p5B|Rich931120pD3}}

[[George N. Gillett Jr.]] bought majority control of the Storer stations (renamed SCI Television<ref name="PlainD19891118p30">{{Cite news |date=November 18, 1989 |title=3 bondholders move to put WJW owner in involuntary bankruptcy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-3-bondholders-move-to-p/149061793/ |access-date=November 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=6D |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>) in April 1987,<ref name="PlainD19870417p37">{{Cite news |last1=Chatman |first1=Angela D. |last2=Snook |first2=Debbi |date=April 17, 1987 |title=Storer, Gillett in talks on WJW |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-storer-gillett-in-talk/148876634/ |access-date=November 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=17B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="PlainD19870410p16">{{Cite news |last=Snook |first=Debbi |date=April 10, 1987 |title=Nashville group negotiating for piece of WJW |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-nashville-group-negotia/149252862/ |access-date=November 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=18B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> financed through [[junk bonds]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richter |first=Paul |date=December 27, 1987 |title=Entrepreneur Builds Broadcast Empire on Debt |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-27-fi-31655-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525024710/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-27-fi-31655-story.html |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |access-date=November 7, 2021 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> This deal also included Storer's syndication unit and sales divisions, and their [[news bureau]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=June 22, 1987 |title=In Brief |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=80–81 |volume=112 |issue=25}}</ref> Such financing was raised prior to [[Black Monday (1987)|Black Monday]], placing Gillett in a 10:1 debt-to-profit ratio.<ref name="AkronB19880615p 18">{{Cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=June 15, 1988 |title=New owner may be putting Channel 8 on block: He's looking at buying pro football team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-new-owner-may-b/147987901/ |access-date=November 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal |page=B6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Rumors persisted of Gillett divesting stations either held directly by him or the SCI subsidiary, particularly WJW-TV, which was one of the chain's standouts.<ref name="PlainD19880615p80">{{Cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=June 15, 1988 |title=WJW sale rumor gets no comment |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wjw-sale-rumor-gets-no/149003434/ |access-date=November 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=12G |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="PlainD19880618p29">{{Cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=June 18, 1988 |title=Channel 8 reviewing buy bids |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-channel-8-reviewing-buy/149043393/ |access-date=November 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=3D |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> While Gillett did sell off his Nashville station [[WSMV-TV]],<ref name="PlainD19890116p38">{{Cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=January 16, 1989 |title=WJW owners reportedly plan to sell station in Nashville |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-wjw-owners-reportedly-p/149003036/ |access-date=November 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=6C |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> it failed to shore up the financials of Gillett Holdings, which missed a critical loan payment in October 1989.<ref name="PlainD19891118p30" /> One reorganization brought on by a bankruptcy threat in 1990 reduced Gillett's majority control of SCI to 41 percent,<ref name="PlainD19900201p51">{{Cite news |date=February 1, 1990 |title=Channel 8 owner avoids bankruptcy at last minute |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-channel-8-owner-avoids/149072239/ |access-date=November 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=1F |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> while a [[Chapter 11]] restructuring in January 1992 placed Gillett as a minority owner of the holding company, now majority-owned by the bondholders.<ref name="PlainD19920123p55">{{Cite news |date=January 23, 1992 |title=Business Briefs: Regional; Gillett status |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-business-briefs-region/149253582/ |access-date=November 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=55 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Another reorganization saw investor [[Ronald Perelman]] purchase majority control of SCI for $100&nbsp;million on February 17, 1993,<ref>{{cite news |last=Fabrikant |first=Geraldine |date=February 18, 1993 |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Perelman Agrees to Acquire Control of SCI Television |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/18/business/the-media-business-perelman-agrees-to-acquire-control-of-sci-television.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227142310/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/18/business/the-media-business-perelman-agrees-to-acquire-control-of-sci-television.html |archive-date=December 27, 2015 |access-date=December 23, 2015 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> forcing Gillett out entirely.<ref name="BC19930222p47">{{cite magazine |last=Foisie |first=Geoffrey |date=February 22, 1993 |title=SCI-TV gets a makeover |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=47–48 |volume=123 |issue=8 |id={{ProQuest|1016940173}}}}</ref>

Perelman folded SCI into New World Entertainment to form [[New World Communications]],<ref name="latimes-nwc1994">{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Kathryn |date=June 18, 1994 |title=Broadcasting's Creators of a New World : Perelman, Bevins Credited With Transforming the TV Station Operator |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1994-06-18/business/fi-5603_1_station-operator |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306032252/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-06-18/business/fi-5603_1_station-operator |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |access-date=August 10, 2013 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> then struck [[1994–1996 United States broadcast television realignment|a wide-reaching affiliation pact]] with [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] in May 1994 after [[News Corporation]] invested $500&nbsp;million into New World.<ref name="ABJ19940524pA1">{{Cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=May 24, 1994 |title=Channel 8 to drop CBS for Fox: 40-year affiliation ends in autumn as Fox owner pays $500 million to station's parent. WJW to regain NFL games, lose Letterman. Channels 19, 43 to fight for CBS |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-channel-8-to-dr/123747776/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429190117/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-channel-8-to-dr/123747776/ |archive-date=April 29, 2023 |access-date=April 29, 2023 |work=The Akron Beacon Journal |pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-channel-8-to-dr/123747825/ A8] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> This resulted in the majority of the former Storer stations, including WBRC-TV, switching to Fox between 1994 and 1996.<ref name="nytbusinessdigest">{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=May 24, 1994 |title=Fox Will Sign Up 12 New Stations; Takes 8 from CBS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/24/us/fox-will-sign-up-12-new-stations-takes-8-from-cbs.html?pagewanted=4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625021414/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/24/us/fox-will-sign-up-12-new-stations-takes-8-from-cbs.html?pagewanted=4 |archive-date=June 25, 2017 |access-date=October 22, 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>{{efn|WTVG was also involved in a side transaction related to this pact, as [[Capital Cities/ABC]] acquired it and [[WJRT]] in [[Flint, Michigan]], on October 3, 1994, for $155 million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/sale-switch-wtvg-abc/wijvixgppnibhjhxisbntheecucduegs_ip-10-166-46-132_1711861064731|first=Tahree|last=Lane|work=The Blade|title=Sale to switch WTVG to ABC|date=October 4, 1994|pages=1, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/wtvg/uxftrectxvupfzwdmjvwpvanhwmsawlp_ip-10-166-46-116_1711861142535 4]|access-date=April 3, 2024|archive-date=April 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403082313/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/sale-switch-wtvg-abc/wijvixgppnibhjhxisbntheecucduegs_ip-10-166-46-132_1711861064731|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BC19941010p96">{{Cite magazine |last=Zier |first=Julie A. |date=October 10, 1994 |title=ABC, CBS make market moves |id={{ProQuest|225339313}} |magazine=Broadcasting & Cable |volume=124 |issue=11 |page=96 }}</ref> WTVG remained an ABC-owned station until 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baird |first=Kirk |date=March 19, 2011 |title=Zamichow steps down at WTVG |url=http://beta.toledoblade.com/TV-Radio/2011/03/19/Zamichow-steps-down-at-WTVG.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604232632/http://beta.toledoblade.com/TV-Radio/2011/03/19/Zamichow-steps-down-at-WTVG.html |archive-date=June 4, 2012 |access-date=April 16, 2016 |work=The Toledo Blade}}</ref>}} News Corp. later purchased New World outright in 1996.<ref name="PlainD19960718p1">{{Cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=July 18, 1996 |title=Fox's owner buys WJW Channel 8 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-foxs-owner-buys-wjw-ch/149218412/ |access-date=December 2, 2024 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-foxs-owner-buys-wjw-ch/149218450/ 14A] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

== Former stations ==
* Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state and [[city of license]].
* Two boldface asterisks appearing following a station's call letters ('''**''') indicate a station built and signed on by either Fort Industry or Storer.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Stations owned by Fort Industry and/or Storer Broadcasting{{r|BC741111p30}}{{sfn|Wellman|1973|p=57}}
! scope="col" | [[Media market]]
! scope="col" | State/Prov.
! scope="col" | Station
! scope="col" | Purchased
! scope="col" | Sold
! scope = "col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]] || rowspan="3" | [[Alabama]]
! scope="row" | [[WERC (AM)|WBRC]]
| 1953 || 1957 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WBPT|WBRC-FM]]
| 1953 || 1957 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WBRC-TV]]
| 1953 || 1957 ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Los Angeles]] || rowspan="3" | [[California]]
! scope="row" | [[KTNQ]]
| 1959 || 1979 || {{efn-lr|Known as KGBS from 1959 to 1976.}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[KNX-FM|KGBS-FM]]
| 1966 || 1979 || {{efn-lr|Known as KHTZ from 1978 onward.}}
|-
| [[San Diego]]
! scope="row" | [[KNSD|KCST-TV]]
| 1974 || 1987 ||
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Miami]]–[[Fort Lauderdale]] || rowspan="4" | [[Florida]]
! scope="row" | [[WAQI|WGBS]]
| 1944 || 1979 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WMJX (Miami)|WGBS-FM]] **
| 1948 || 1971 || {{efn-lr|Known as WJHR from 1969 to 1971.}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[WGBS-TV]]
| 1954 || 1967 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WLYF]]
| 1978 || 1979 ||
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Atlanta]] || rowspan="3" | [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
! scope="row" | [[WDWD|WAGA]]
| 1940 || 1959 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WAGA-FM]] **
| 1948 || 1959 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WAGA-TV]] **
| 1949 || 1987 ||
|-
| [[Chicago]] || [[Illinois]]
! scope="row" | [[WLIT-FM|WLAK]]
| 1978 || 1981 ||
|-
| [[Boston]] || [[Massachusetts]]
! scope="row" | [[WSBK-TV]]
| 1966 || 1987 ||
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Detroit]] || rowspan="4" | [[Michigan]]
! scope="row" | [[WXYT (AM)|WGHP]]
| 1928 || 1930 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WLQV|WJBK]]
| 1947 || 1973 || {{efn-lr|Known as WDEE from 1969 to 1973.}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[WJBK-FM]] **
| 1947 || 1971 || {{efn-lr|Known as WDEE-FM from 1969 to 1971.}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[WJBK-TV]] **
| 1948 || 1987 ||
|-
| [[New York City]] || [[New York (state)|New York]]
! scope="row" | [[WEPN (AM)|WHN]]
| 1962 || 1979 ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Cincinnati]] || rowspan="11" | [[Ohio]]
! scope="row" | [[WSAI]]
| 1951 || 1953 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WNNF|WSAI-FM]]
| 1951 || 1953 ||
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Cleveland]]
! scope="row" | [[WKNR|WJW]]
| 1954 || 1977 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WQAL|WJW-FM]]
| 1954 || 1971 || {{efn-lr|Known as WCJW from 1968 to 1971.}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[WJW-TV]]
| 1954 || 1987 || {{efn-lr|Known as WXEL prior to 1956 and WJKW-TV from 1977 to 1985.}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Lima, Ohio|Lima]]
! scope="row" | [[WLOK (Ohio)|WLOK]]
| 1938 || 1951 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WLOK (Ohio)|WLOK-FM]] **
| 1948 || 1951 ||
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]]
! scope="row" | [[WSPD]]
| 1928 || 1979 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WRVF|WSPD-FM]] **
| 1946 || 1971 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WTVG]] **
| 1948 || 1987 || {{efn-lr|Known as WSPD-TV from 1948 to 1979.}}
|-
| [[Zanesville]]
! scope="row" | [[WHIZ (AM)|WHIZ]]
| 1939 || 1947 ||
|-
| [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] || [[Oregon]]
! scope="row" | [[KPTV]]
| 1954 || 1957 ||
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Philadelphia]] || rowspan="3" | [[Pennsylvania]]
! scope="row" | [[WNTP|WIBG]]
| 1957 || 1969 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WIP-FM|WIBG-FM]]
| 1957 || 1971 || {{efn-lr|Known as WPNA from 1969 to 1971.}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[WVUE (Delaware)|WVUE]]
| 1957 || 1958 ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[San Antonio]] || rowspan="2" | [[Texas]]
! scope="row" | [[KKYX|KABC]]
| 1951 || 1954 || {{efn-lr|Known as KGBS in 1954.}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[KENS|KEYL]]
| 1951 || 1954 || {{efn-lr|Known as KGBS-TV in 1954.}}
|-
| [[Fairmont, West Virginia|Fairmont]] || rowspan="3" | [[West Virginia]]
! scope="row" | [[WMMN]]
| 1935 || 1953 ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Wheeling, West Virginia|Wheeling]]
! scope="row" | [[WWVA (AM)|WWVA]]
| 1931 || 1962 ||
|-
! scope="row" | [[WOVK|WWVA-FM]] **
| 1947 || 1962 ||
|-
| [[Milwaukee]] || [[Wisconsin]]
! scope="row" | [[WITI (TV)|WITI]]
| 1958 || 1987 ||
|-
| [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]] || [[Ontario]]
! scope="row" | [[CKLW]] **
| 1932 || 1936 || {{efn-lr|Known as CKOK from 1932 to 1933.}}
|}
{{notelist-lr}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
=== Bibliography ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Ward |first=Richard |date=October 2002 |title=The Quest to Form a Third Radio Network in the Early 1930s |journal=Studies in Popular Culture |publisher=Popular Culture Association in the South |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=11–22 |jstor=23415005}}
* {{Cite thesis |last=Wellman |first=John Floyd |title=Storer Broadcasting Company—Its History, Organization, and Operation. |date=1973 |degree=PhD |publisher=The University of Michigan |place=Ann Arbor, Michigan |id={{ProQuest|302651830}}}}
{{Refend}}

[[Category:Defunct broadcasting companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct radio broadcasting companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Ohio]]
[[Category:Boston Bruins owners]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1927]]
[[Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 1986]]
[[Category:Comcast]]
[[Category:1927 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Kohlberg Kravis Roberts companies]]