CBS buys independent Gotham station

CBS has pacted to buy another station in NY City, WLNY. It isn't a large station, as Wells Fargo analyst Marcy Ryvicker stated the independent WLNY produced $3.8 million in revenue this year -- under 1% of total revenue for that country's biggest market. The deal weren't revealed. However the acquisition gives CBS a duopoly in Gotham, something the broadcaster stated "presents a significant chance for the Tv producers division," based on an estimate credited to division prexy Peter Dunn inside a statement from CBS. "Our plans for that station include adding people and assets to fuel a substantial growth of local news programming well past the nightly half-hour that presently airs," Dunn stated. WLNY is CBS's tenth duopoloy other marketplaces with two CBS stations include La, Philadelphia, Dallas, Bay Area, Detroit, Miami, Sacramento and Pittsburgh. Ryvicker stated the move likely increases margins for that market, and in addition it provides another base for local CBS news deck hands. The Melville, N.Y.-based WLNY is definitely an independent station serving the majority of New York, including Nassau and Suffolk areas, and stretching into areas of Nj and Connecticut in addition to NY. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com