{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Short description|American media company}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2013}} {{Infobox company | name = Fisher Communications, Inc. | logo = Fisher Communications.svg | former_names = Fisher Companies Inc. (1971-2001) | type = Public | predecessor = Fisher Flouring Mills Co. | traded_as = {{NASDAQ was|FSCI}} | foundation = {{Start date and age|1910|4|4}} (as Fisher Flouring Mills Co.)<br>{{start date and age|1971}} (as Fisher Companies) | defunct = {{End date and age|2013|8|8}} | fate = Acquired by Sinclair | successor = Sinclair Broadcast Group | location = Seattle, Washington, United States | key_people = Colleen Brown (president & CEO)<br>Michael D. Wortsman (chair)<br>Robert I. (Rob) Dunlop (EVP & Ops)<ref name=hcp/> | revenue = $164.0M ({{Increase}} 6.8%) 2011<ref name=hcp/> | operating_income = | net_income = $36.4M ({{Increase}} 273.8%) 2011<ref name=hcp/> | num_employees = 784 ({{Increase}}5.3%) 2011<ref name=hcp/> | industry = Broadcasting, Television, Radio }} [[File:Seattle - Harbor Island - grain terminal 02.jpg|150px|thumb|Before they were in broadcasting, the Fisher fortune rested on the Fisher Flour Mill on Seattle's Harbor Island, founded 1910.]] 150px|thumb|Fisher Plaza, the company's headquarters. '''Fisher Communications, Inc.''' was a media company in the United States. Based in Seattle, Washington, the company primarily owned a number of radio and television stations in the Western United States. It was the last company in the Seattle area to own a local TV station before being acquired by Sinclair Broadcast Group in 2013. Prior to 2001, it was a conglomerate with businesses in broadcasting, flour milling and real estate.

==History== :''See also KNWN (AM)''

Fisher Companies, Inc.'s Fisher Communications by 1998 owned 25 radio stations and 2 TV stations. Fisher Companies also owned a flour milling and food distribution company and real estate development subsidiary.<ref name=lat>{{cite news|last=Vrana|first=Debrora|title=Fisher Cos. Is Expected to Buy Retlaw's 11 TV Stations|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-nov-19-fi-44360-story.html|access-date=July 20, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 19, 1998}}</ref> In 1999 Retlaw Enterprises (a company owned by the relatives of Walt Disney) sold its remaining 11 television stations to Fisher Communications, including all of the related assets to those properties<ref>{{cite web|title=8-K For 7/1/99|url=http://www.secinfo.com/dVgzt.61Zk.htm|work=Fisher Communications Inc. filings|publisher=secinfo.com|access-date=October 20, 2007}}</ref> for $215 million in cash.<ref name=lat/> Its broadcasting unit, until the 2000s, was Fisher Broadcasting. Also that year, Fisher is launching its own entertainment division, Fisher Entertainment, to be headed by Alan Winters, a syndication executive.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=March 30, 1999|title=Fisher taps Winters|url=https://variety.com/1999/biz/news/fisher-taps-winters-1117492794/|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>

Fisher began to sell many of its properties in the mid-2000s, including real estate, its longtime flour milling operation, and its stake in Safeco.<ref name=tst-saletosinclair>{{cite news|last=Allison|first=Melissa|title=KOMO owner Fisher Communications agrees to sale|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020756564_fisherbroadcastingxml.html|access-date=April 12, 2013|newspaper=The Seattle Times|publisher=The Seattle Times Company|date=April 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120715135841/http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=61026&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=1037227 Fisher Communications Agrees to Purchase Two Bakersfield Television Stations]</ref> By 2011, Fisher Communications was down to 10 radio stations.<ref name=hcp>[http://www.answers.com/topic/fisher-communications-inc "Fisher Communications."] Company Profile. Hoover's, Inc., 2012. Answers.com July 20, 2012.</ref> On April 11, 2013, Fisher (which by then owned 20 television stations and only three radio stations) announced that it would be acquired by the Sinclair Broadcast Group.<ref name=tst-saletosinclair/> However, the deal was subject to financial scrutiny; the law firm Levi & Korsinsky notified Fisher shareholders with accusations that Fisher's board of directors were breaching fiduciary duties by "failing to adequately shop the Company before agreeing to enter into the transaction", and Sinclair was underpaying for Fisher's stock.<ref name=wsj-breachofduty>{{cite web|title=SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Notifies Investors of Claims of Breaches of Fiduciary Duty by the Board of Fisher Communications, Inc. in Connection With the Sale of the Company to Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.|url=https://www.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130423-912630.html?mod=googlenews_wsj|publisher=Press release|access-date=April 24, 2013}}</ref> Shortly after the announcement, a lawsuit was filed by a Fisher shareholder;<ref name=nasdaq-lawsuit>{{cite web|title=Fisher Communications, Inc. (FSCI) Investor Lawsuit to Stop Takeover by Sinclair Broadcast Group Announced by Shareholders Foundation |url=http://www.nasdaq.com/article/fisher-communications-inc-fsci-investor-lawsuit-to-stop-takeover-by-sinclair-broadcast-group-announced-by-shareholders-foundation-20130422-00597#.UXf1RNzrxPE |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629224357/http://www.nasdaq.com/article/fisher-communications-inc-fsci-investor-lawsuit-to-stop-takeover-by-sinclair-broadcast-group-announced-by-shareholders-foundation-20130422-00597%23.UXf1RNzrxPE |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |publisher=Press release |access-date=April 24, 2013 }}</ref> the suit was settled in July 2013,<ref name=aa-fscilawsuitsettled>{{cite news|title=Fisher Reaches Settlement In Shareholder Suit|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/120707/fisher-reaches-settlement-in-shareholder-suit|access-date=August 6, 2013|newspaper=All Access|date=July 29, 2013}}</ref> on August 6 Fisher's shareholders approved the merger.<ref name=nnc-fscishapprove>{{cite news|title=Fisher Shareholders Approve Sale To Sinclair|url=http://www.netnewscheck.com/article/27949/fisher-shareholders-approve-sale-to-sinclair|access-date=August 6, 2013|newspaper=NetNewsCheck|date=August 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908180930/http://www.netnewscheck.com/article/27949/fisher-shareholders-approve-sale-to-sinclair|archive-date=September 8, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The FCC granted its approval of the sale of August 7.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1563064 |website=fcc.gov |title=Application Search Details: File Number: BTCCDT-20130425ACH|access-date=November 6, 2021 }}</ref> On August 8, Sinclair announced that the sale was completed.<ref name=aa-fishersinclaircomplete>{{cite news|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes On Fisher Communications Acquisition|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/121117/sinclair-broadcast-group-closes-on-fisher-communic|access-date=August 8, 2013|newspaper=All Access|date=August 8, 2013}}</ref>

== Final stations == * Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state and city of license. * Two boldface asterisks appearing following a station's call letters ('''**''') indicate a station built and signed on by Fisher Communications.

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Stations owned by Fisher Communications ! scope="col" | Media market ! scope="col" | State ! scope="col" | Station ! scope="col" | Purchased ! scope="col" | Sold ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | rowspan="2" | Bakersfield | rowspan="3" | California ! KBAK-TV | 2008 || 2013 || |- ! KBFX-CD | 2008 || 2013 || |- | Fresno–Visalia ! KJEO | 1999 || 2000 || |- | Augusta || rowspan="2" | Georgia ! WFXG | 1999 || 2003 || |- | Columbus ! WXTX | 1999 || 2003 || |- | rowspan="2" | Boise || rowspan="5" | Idaho ! KBOI-TV | 1999 || 2013 || |- ! KYUU-LD | 2006 || 2013 || |- | rowspan="2" | Idaho Falls–Pocatello ! KIDK | 1999 || 2013 || |- ! KXPI-LD | 2006 || 2013 || |- | Lewiston ! KLEW-TV | 1999 || 2013 || {{efn-ua|Semi-satellite of KIMA.|name=KIMA}} |- | rowspan="4" | Billings || rowspan="19" | Montana ! KBLG | 1994 || 2006 || |- ! KRKX | 1994 || 2006 || |- ! KRZN ** | 1998 || 2006 || |- ! KYYA | 1994 || 2006 || |- | rowspan="3" | Butte ! KAAR | 1994 || 2006 || |- ! KMBR | 1994 || 2006 || |- ! KXTL | 1994 || 2006 || |- | rowspan="6" | Great Falls ! KAAK | 1994 || 2011 || |- ! KIKF ** | 2001 || 2011 || |- ! KINX ** | 2002 || 2011 || |- ! KQDI | 2001 || 2011 || |- ! KQDI-FM | 2001 || 2011 || |- ! KXGF | 1994 || 2011 || |- | rowspan="6" | Missoula ! KBQQ | 2003 || 2006 || |- ! KGGL | 1994 || 2006 || |- ! KGRZ | 1994 || 2006 || |- ! KXDR | 1998 || 2006 || |- ! KYLT | 1991 || 2006 || |- ! KZOQ-FM | 1996 || 2006 || |- | Bend | rowspan="11" | Oregon ! KABH-CA | 2006 || 2013 || {{efn-ua|Satellite of KUNP.}}{{Efn|name=3rdParty|Owned by a third party and operated by Fisher.}} |- | rowspan="2" | Coos Bay ! KCBY-TV | 1999 || 2013 || {{efn-ua|Satellite of KVAL.|name=KVAL}} |- ! KMCB | 2013 || 2013 || {{efn-ua|Satellite of KMTR.|name=KMTR}}{{efn|name=3rdParty}} |- | rowspan="2" | Eugene ! KVAL-TV | 1999 || 2013 || |- ! KMTR | 2013 || 2013 || {{efn|name=3rdParty}} |- | rowspan="4" | Portland ! KATU ** | 1962 || 2013 || |- ! KOTK | 1996 || 2003 || |- ! KUNP | 2006 || 2013 || |- ! KWJJ-FM | 1996 || 2003 || |- | rowspan="2" | Roseburg ! KPIC | 1999 || 2013 || {{efn-ua|name=KVAL}} |- ! KTCW | 2013 || 2013 || {{efn-ua|name=KMTR}}{{efn|name=3rdParty}} |- | Ellensburg || rowspan="17" | Washington ! KWWA-CA | 2007 || 2008 || {{efn-ua|name=KUNW}} |- | Kennewick ! KVVK-CD | 2007 || 2013 || {{efn-ua|Satellite of KUNW.|name=KUNW}} |- | Pasco ! KEPR-TV | 1999 || 2013 || {{efn-ua|name=KIMA}} |- | rowspan="6" | Seattle–Tacoma ! KOMO ** | 1926 || 2013 || |- ! KOMO-FM | 2009 || 2013 || {{efn|name=3rdParty}} |- ! KOMO-TV ** | 1953 || 2013 || |- ! KPLZ-FM | 1994 || 2013 || |- ! KUNS-TV | 2006 || 2013 || |- ! KVI | 1994 || 2013 || |- | rowspan="5" | Wenatchee ! KAPP | 1994 || 2006 || {{Efn|Known as KXAA prior to 2000.}} |- ! KWWW-FM | 1992 || 2006 || |- ! KWWX | 1992 || 2006 || |- ! KYSN | 1994 || 2006 || |- ! KZPH | 1997 || 2006 || |- | rowspan="2" | Yakima ! KIMA-TV | 1999 || 2013 || |- ! KUNW-CD | 2007 || 2013 || |- | Walla Walla ! KORX-CA | 2007 || 2013 || {{efn-ua|name=KUNW}} |} {{notelist}} {{notelist-ua}}

== Contract dispute == On December 17, 2008, Fisher Communications' contract expired with Dish Network. As a result of this contract dispute, stations owned by Fisher Communications were no longer available to Dish Network subscribers. Dish Network claimed that Fisher is asking for over an 80% increase.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/feud-between-dish-network-and-fisher-communications-cuts-local-affiliate-stations/article_349af748-62df-5f81-9347-5da2b9eb6a0c.html |title=Feud Between DISH Network and Fisher Communications Cuts Local Affiliate Stations |date=December 29, 2008 |website=nbcrightnow.com|access-date=November 6, 2021}}</ref> The Fisher stations that returned to Dish Network are: KOMO and KUNS in Seattle.; KATU and KUNP in Portland.; KIMA in Yakima, Washington.; KVAL in Eugene, Oregon.; KBCI (now KBOI) in Boise, Idaho; KIDK in Idaho Falls, Idaho; and KBAK and KBFX in Bakersfield, California. Dish Network restored the service to their customers at 10:25&nbsp;p.m. PST on June 10.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/feud-between-dish-network-and-fisher-communications-cuts-local-affiliate-stations/article_349af748-62df-5f81-9347-5da2b9eb6a0c.html |title=KATU, Fisher stations return to DISH Network |date=June 11, 2009 |publisher=KATU News |access-date=November 6, 2021}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{SBGI|state=collapsed}}

Category:Defunct companies based in Seattle Category:Economy of the Northwestern United States Category:Defunct broadcasting companies of the United States Category:Defunct radio broadcasting companies of the United States Category:Defunct television broadcasting companies of the United States Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group Category:Companies formerly listed on the Nasdaq Category:2013 disestablishments in Washington (state) Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2013 Category:2013 mergers and acquisitions Category:1997 initial public offerings