Pappas Telecasting Companies Terminates Azteca America Affiliation Agreements

VISALIA, Calif., April 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pappas Telecasting Companies, the largest privately-held, commercial television broadcast group in the United States, today announced that it has terminated its affiliation agreements with the Azteca America Network in all markets. The stations and Designated Market Areas (DMAs) affected are KAZH-TV (Houston), KTNC-TV (San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose and Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto), KAZR-CA (Reno), KAZO-LP (Omaha), and KAZJ-LP/KAZS-LP (Sioux City, Iowa). As of June 30, 2007, Azteca America programming will cease on these stations.

Not included in the termination is Pappas Telecasting-owned KAZA-TV (Los Angeles), Azteca America's flagship station in the number-one Hispanic DMA in the United States, currently operated by Azteca America under a Local Marketing Agreement (LMA). The LMA expires June 30, 2008, or may be terminated on six months' notice by Pappas upon the satisfaction of certain conditions.

Harry J. Pappas, Chairman and CEO of Pappas Telecasting, said, "Our company has affiliated various stations with the Azteca America Network during the course of the last six years. During that period, the Azteca America Network's programming has not developed and ratings have not grown as we had expected. We are choosing amongst various other options for programming on these stations, to begin July 1, 2007."

About the Company

Pappas Telecasting Companies is the largest privately-held, commercial television broadcast group in the United States in terms of U.S. Household coverage as defined by Nielsen Media Research. The company owns 27 stations, including market-leading FOX, The CW, ABC, CBS, Azteca America, and MyNetworkTV affiliates, and operates four other stations pursuant to local marketing agreements, in most regions of the United States. Additionally, Pappas owns 16 on-air digital channels, operates three others under LMAs, and holds construction permits to build 10 additional television stations. Pappas owns KTRB-AM 860 in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose radio market, and KMPH-AM 840 in Modesto. According to statistics from Nielsen, Pappas Telecasting television stations serve more than 16% of all U.S. television households. In addition, the company owns or operates television stations in markets reaching nearly 36% of U.S. Hispanic households and 38% of all U.S. Hispanic persons age 2+. In total, Pappas owns or operates stations in 24 Designated Market Areas.