Get After It Media
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcast television |
| Founded | 2008inChattanooga, Tennessee,U.S. |
| Founder | Henry Luken III |
| Headquarters | Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. |
Area served | United States (Nationwide) |
Key people | Joel Wertman |
| Products | |
| Owner | Henry Luken III |
Number of employees | 50 (2010) |
| Subsidiaries | |
| Website | getafteritmedia |
Get After It Media LLC,formerly known asLuken CommunicationsandReach High Media Group,is a privately owned American broadcast holding company, based inChattanooga, Tennessee,which owns or operates around 80 television stations in the United States and sixdigital television multicast networks.
History
[edit]Luken Communications was formed in 2008 by Henry Luken III, formerly president and CEO ofEquity Media Holdings.Luken Communications agreed to purchase six TV stations from Equity Media for $17.5 million and paid a $5 million installment with the rest pending on regulatory approval. In June 2008, Equity sold to LukenRetro Television Networkfor $18.5 million and $8.05 million Equitywarrantsfor $1.5 million.[1]
On January 4, 2009, a contract conflict between Equity and Luken Communications interrupted RTN programming on many of its affiliates with Luken alleging that Equity had left many obligations to RTN's creditors, including programming suppliers, unpaid. As a result, Luken restored a national feed of the network from its Chattanooga headquarters.[2]As a result of this dispute, Luken pulled out of a deal to purchase Equity's stations in southwestern Florida.
In June 2009, Luken and Seals Entertainment Company LLC launched the male-oriented digital multicast channelTuff TV.[3]On March 22, 2011, Luken became part-owners ofMy Family TVin a joint venture with existing owner ValCom[4](the network later rebranded as The Family Channel after ValCom and Luken Communications ended their partnership). In June 2011, Luken Communications announced the purchase of 78low-power translator stationsfrom the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council for $390,000; the purchase was made in order to expand coverage of its ten existing and planned digital multicast networks with hopes to eventually acquire 400 low-power stations.[5]In late summer 2011, Luken andClassic MedialaunchedPBJ,featuring classic children's programs from the Classic Media library.[6]With Frost Cutlery's shopping network and outdoor shows, Luken launched in 2011 the Frost Great Outdoors network.[7]
On April 16, 2012, Luken Communications andJim Owens Entertainmentannounced that the companies had teamed to relaunchThe Nashville Networkas adigital broadcasttelevision network set for a late summer 2012 launch (TNN previously existed as a cable channel started byGaylord Entertainment Companyin 1983). The network was rebranded the next year asHeartland.
On June 21, 2013, an Arkansas jury awarded a $47.4 million verdict against Luken Communications for a claim of fraudulent transfer of the ownership of RTV six years prior. In order to appeal, Luken Communications filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a protection measure.[8]The appeal spanned more than a year but was ultimately successful, and in October 2014, the company announced it was emerging from bankruptcy protection and continued to grow and expand its network offerings.[9]In December 2014, Luken Communications launched a new digital network,Rev'n,with a focus on automotive enthusiasts.
In December 2019, Luken Communications rebranded as Reach High Media Group, as Joel Wertman had by then taken over as president and CEO of the company from Luken.[10]It again rebranded in early 2021 to Get After It Media, with Wertman remaining as president.[11]
Assets owned by Get After It Media
[edit]Digital multicast networks
[edit]- The Family Channel
- Heartland,formerly The Nashville Network[12]
- Retro TV
- The Action Channel[13]
- Rev'n[14]
Broadcast television stations
[edit]Notes:All stations are owned by Digital Networks, LLC. Many of these stations were formerTrinity Broadcasting Network(TBN) translators, unless specified.
- 1Indicates stations were not previously owned by TBN
- 2Indicates flagship station
- 3Indicates station managed by Great Plains Television Network, LLC
| City of license/Market | Station | Channel | Subchannels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | WSWH-LD | 22 |
|
| Huntsville–Decatur–Florence, AL | WNAL-LD | 27 |
|
| Phoenix, AZ | K23PL-D | 23 | Silent |
| Little Rock, AR | WPYM-LD | 38 | Silent |
| Chico–Redding, CA | KXCH-LD | 19 |
|
| Denver, CO | KAVC-LD | 48 |
|
| Jacksonville, FL | WJVF-LD | 23 |
|
| Tampa, FL | WDNP-LD | 36 |
|
| Columbus, GA | WXVK-LD | 30 | Silent |
| Savannah, GA | W31FE-D | 23 | Silent |
| Idaho Falls–Pocatello, ID | KPTO-LD | 41 | Silent |
| Peoria–Bloomington, IL | WSIO-LD | 51 | Silent |
| Indianapolis, IN | WSWY-LD | 21 |
|
| Davenport, IA–Rock Island–Moline, IL | W35DY-D | 19 | Silent |
| Des Moines, IA | K31PO-D | 44 | Silent |
| Wichita, KS | KSMI-LD1, 3 | 30 |
|
| Paducah, KY–Mount Vernon, IL | K27OY-D | 27 | Silent |
| Baton Rouge, LA | WRUG-LD | 50 | Silent |
| Shreveport, LA | KVPO-LD | 30 |
|
| Minneapolis, MN | KKTW-LD | 19 |
|
| Rochester–Austin, MN–Mason City, IA | K27OW-D | 40 | Silent |
| Columbus–Tupelo–West Point, MS | WLMS-LD | 25 | Silent |
| Greenwood–Greenville, MS | WPYM-LD1 | 38 | Silent |
| Kansas City, MO | K26PI-D | 15 | Silent |
| Springfield, MO | KSFZ-LD | 41 | Silent |
| Las Vegas, NV | KVGA-LD | 51 |
|
| Albuquerque–Santa Fe, NM | K26PL-D | 36 | Silent |
| K33OB-D | 50 | Silent | |
| Buffalo, NY | WBUO-LD | 30 | 30.1:Retro TV |
| Raleigh–Durham, NC | WDRH-LD | 16 |
|
| Fargo–Valley City, ND | KFGX-LD | 35 | Silent |
| Minot–Bismarck–Dickinson, ND | K21GQ-D | 21 | Silent |
| K28QQ-D | 40 | Silent | |
| Omaha, NE | K36QD-D | 21 | Silent |
| Zanesville, OH | WOOH-LD | 29 |
|
| Oklahoma City, OK | KWRW-LD | 33 |
|
| Tulsa, OK | KTUO-LD | 22 |
|
| Scranton, PA | WSRG-LD | 59 | Silent |
| Charleston, SC | WLOW-LD | 19 |
|
| Spartanburg–Greenville, SC | WASV-LD | 50 |
|
| WNGS-LD | 50 |
| |
| Rapid City, SD | KRPC-LP | 33 |
|
| Sioux Falls, SD | KSXF-LD | 56 | Silent |
| Chattanooga, TN | WOOT-LD1, 2 | 6 |
|
| Knoxville, TN | WKXT-LD | 61 |
|
| San Antonio, TX | K24OJ-D | 15 | Silent |
| KRTX-LP | 20 |
| |
| Wichita Falls, TX–Lawton, OK | KTWM-LD | 49 | Silent |
| Charleston–Huntington, WV | WHWV-LD | 45 | Silent |
| Green Bay, WI | K18NQ-D | 18 | Silent |
| W21EF-D | 8 | Silent | |
| Wausau–Rhinelander, WI | K18NQ-D | 32 | Silent |
References
[edit]- ^Marich, Robert (June 26, 2008)."Equity Media Sells RTN to Ease Crunch".Broadcasting & Cable.RetrievedFebruary 18,2015.
- ^Jessell, Harry A. (January 5, 2009)."Financial Dispute Disrupts RTN Diginet".tVNewsCheck.RetrievedFebruary 18,2015.
- ^"New TUFF TV Network Scheduled For Launch".April 29, 2009.
- ^Frank, Judy (March 22, 2011)."Chattanooga's Luken Communications Enters Joint Venture With ValCom Entertainment Company".Chattanoogan.RetrievedMarch 30,2011.
- ^Jessell, Harry A. (June 16, 2011)."RTN Parent Buys 78 TV Translators".TVNewsCheck.RetrievedFebruary 18,2015.
- ^"Luken, Classic Media To Debut New Network".TVNewsCheck.May 5, 2011.RetrievedMay 7,2011.
- ^Flessner, Dave (June 10, 2012)."Chattanooga businessman Henry Luken goes country".ChattanooganTimes Free Press.RetrievedFebruary 19,2015.
- ^Luken Communications files bankruptcy after Arkansas jury verdict against company, June 23, 2013
- ^"Luken announces plan to exit bankruptcy".timesfreepress.September 19, 2014.RetrievedJune 9,2016.
- ^Courter, Barry (December 12, 2019)."Chattanooga-based television hub adds programming, national streaming access".Chattanooga Times Free Press.RetrievedDecember 19,2019.
- ^Miller, Mark K. (March 24, 2021)."Get After It Media To Launch 'It's Real Good TV' Streaming Platform".RetrievedMarch 27,2021.
- ^"Jim Owens Entertainment ends licensing deal with Luken".Radio-TV Business Report.October 31, 2013.
- ^The Action Channel website
- ^Marcucci, Carl (October 31, 2012)."Luken RTV affiliate losses not a big hit".Radio-TV Business Report.Streamline RBR, Inc.RetrievedFebruary 18,2015.