NBC's $600 million sale of four of its owned-and-operated stations to Media General is complete. Media General, the newspaper and television operator, takes control of the NBC outlets in mid-size
markets Raleigh, N.C., Columbus, Ohio, Birmingham, Ala., and Providence, R.I. From NBC's perspective, the sale comes as the local station business has been under increased profit pressures with its
biggest revenue generator--nightly newscasts--grappling with competition from Web news distributors and other challengers. As Media General adds four NBC stations--it now owns nine--it is in the
process of selling CBS stations in Wichita, Kan., Birmingham, Ala., Mason City, Iowa, and Chattanooga, Tenn.
--David Goetzl
