• by Wayne Friedman , July 5, 2017

TV station group deal-making for the first six months of 2017 has neared the total for the full year in 2016.

For the first six months of this year, TV station groups announced deals totaling $4.4 billion, with $3.8 billion coming from one proposed deal -- Sinclair Broadcast Group's bid for Tribune Media. That's according to S&P Global Market Intelligence’s Kagan unit.

For the full year in 2016, total TV broadcast station deal-making was $5.3 billion, per Kagan. It was $1.3 billion in 2015; $7.3 billion in 2014; and $11.4 billion in 2013.

Kagan projects the final purchase price for Tribune Media TV stations will be $3.76 billion, which comes from an estimated 7.5 times Tribune’s 2017-2018 cash-flow multiple. Adding in radio station assets, the total price tag is $3.82 billion.

The second-biggest deal during the period also came from Sinclair -- its proposed acquisition of Bonten Media Group for $240 million.

Total TV and radio dollar volume announced for acquisitions totaled $7.24 billion, according to Kagan, with $2.84 billion coming from radio deals.

TV station group stock prices have been soaring since the November election. Media analysts have forecast more TV station deals, due to expectations that federal regulations regarding TV station ownership will be relaxed.