{{short description|American television broadcasting company}} {{Infobox company | name = Renaissance Communications | type = [[Public company|Public]] | founded = {{Start date and age|1988}} | defunct = {{End date and age|1997}} | fate = Acquired by [[Tribune Broadcasting]] | successor = {{ubl|[[Tribune Broadcasting]]|[[Nexstar Media Group]]}} | location = [[Greenwich, Connecticut]], [[United States]] | key_people = Michael Finkelstein | industry = [[Broadcasting]], [[Television]] }}
'''Renaissance Communications Corporation''' was an American owner of television stations. A venture of Michael Finkelstein and [[Warburg Pincus]] headquartered in [[Greenwich, Connecticut]], it specialized in major- and mid-major market [[independent station]]s, primarily airing [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] and [[The WB|WB]] affiliates. The company sold to [[Tribune Broadcasting]] in a deal announced in 1996 and closed in 1997.
== History == In 1981, Michael Finkelstein, a former [[Federal Communications Commission]] attorney and communications lawyer, bought [[WCCT-TV|WATR-TV]] in [[Waterbury, Connecticut]]. He retooled it from an [[NBC]] affiliate to an [[independent station]]. In 1983, Finkelstein joined Odyssey Partners, a New York City–based investment practice, as CEO of its TV stations. The firm acquired [[WSFL-TV|WDZL]] in [[Miami]] the next year.<ref name="BC900226">{{Cite news|date=February 26, 1990|work=Broadcasting|page=71|title=Michael Finkelstein: Independent thinker|id={{pq|1014743462}} }}</ref>
Finkelstein founded Renaissance Communications in 1988<!--article says '89, but stations were acquired in '88--> with the backing of [[Warburg Pincus]]. The firm acquired [[KTXL]] in [[Sacramento, California]], and [[WPGH-TV]] in Pittsburgh for a total of $88 million.{{r|BC900226}} Renaissance also acquired WDZL and WTXX from Odyssey;<ref name="Pitt880827">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-lorimar-to-sell/145546235/|date=August 27, 1988|page=21|first=Ron|last=Weiskind|title=Lorimar to sell WPGH|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418062604/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-lorimar-to-sell/145546235/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> in 1990, it bought [[WPMT]] in [[York, Pennsylvania]], and the next year, it sold WPGH-TV.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Geoffrey|last=Foisie|title=Renaissance proposes $40 million stock offering|date=July 15, 1991|page=35|work=Broadcasting|id={{pq|1014740715}} }}</ref> Between 1991 and 1992, it attempted to become a publicly traded company twice but failed.<ref name="THR930202">{{Cite news|title=Atlanta's WATL to Fox group|work=The Hollywood Reporter|id={{pq|2362046748}}|date=February 2, 1993|pages=4, 78}}</ref>
Renaissance acquired four of the five stations owned by Chase Broadcasting in a deal announced in September 1992.<ref name="hc-saletorenaissance">{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Stephen M.|last2=Lender|first2=Jon|title=Chase agrees to sell WTIC-TV to rival|url=https://www.courant.com/1992/09/05/chase-agrees-to-sell-wtic-tv-to-rival/|access-date=October 21, 2015|work=[[Hartford Courant]]|date=September 5, 1992|archive-date=October 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024002146/http://articles.courant.com/1992-09-05/news/0000112877_1_stations-wtic-fm-renaissance|url-status=live}}</ref> This brought [[KDVR]] in Denver; [[WXIN]] in Indianapolis; [[WATL]] in Atlanta; and [[WTIC-TV]] in [[Hartford, Connecticut]], into the Renaissance fold.<ref name=hc-saletorenaissance>{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Stephen M.|last2=Lender|first2=Jon|title=Chase agrees to sell WTIC-TV to rival|url=https://www.courant.com/1992/09/05/chase-agrees-to-sell-wtic-tv-to-rival/|access-date=October 21, 2015|work=[[Hartford Courant]]|date=September 5, 1992|archive-date=October 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024002146/http://articles.courant.com/1992-09-05/news/0000112877_1_stations-wtic-fm-renaissance|url-status=live}}</ref> Renaissance could not own both WTXX and WTIC-TV. To comply with prevailing FCC regulations, Renaissance sold WTXX to a [[Roman Catholic]] non-profit group, Counterpoint Communications; both deals were completed in March 1993.<ref name=hc-wticrenaissancecomplete>{{cite news|last1=Lender|first1=Jon|title=Sale of TV Stations Completed|url=https://www.courant.com/1993/03/19/sale-of-tv-stations-completed/|access-date=October 21, 2015|work=[[Hartford Courant]]|date=March 19, 1993|archive-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723025859/http://articles.courant.com/1993-03-19/business/0000104466_1_wtic-fm-channel-stations|url-status=live}}</ref> Some syndicated programs from WTXX moved to WTIC-TV.<ref name="Hart930112">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107933301/proposed-wtic-sale-gains-fcc-approval/|date=January 12, 1993|page=B1|first=Jon|last=Lender|title=Proposed WTIC sale gains FCC approval|newspaper=Hartford Courant|location=Hartford, Connecticut|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 23, 2022|archive-date=August 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823050429/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107933301/proposed-wtic-sale-gains-fcc-approval/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> While Renaissance tried to negotiate a [[local marketing agreement]] (LMA) with Counterpoint in which it would buy WTXX's entire broadcast day, Counterpoint wanted only a part-time arrangement, and negotiations fell through; eventually, WTXX entered into a part-time LMA with NBC affiliate [[WVIT]] (channel 30).<ref name="Hart930611">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108137822/wvit-leases-time-on-wtxx-as-wtic-protest/|date=June 11, 1993|page=C11|first=Jon|last=Lender|title=WVIT leases time on WTXX as WTIC protests|newspaper=Hartford Courant|location=Hartford, Connecticut|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 23, 2022|archive-date=August 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823050430/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108137822/wvit-leases-time-on-wtxx-as-wtic/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri -->
Renaissance immediately sold WATL to [[Fox Television Stations]].{{r|THR930202}} The next year, Renaissance did business with Fox Television Stations again when it agreed to trade KDVR to Fox for [[KDAF]] in Dallas. Fox was selling KDAF because it was moving its programming to the previous [[CBS]] affiliate, [[KDFW]], as a result of a [[1994–1996 United States broadcast television realignment|ten-station affiliation deal]] with [[New World Pictures#New World Communications|New World Communications]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Parent Firm Of WTIC-TV To Buy, Sell|url=https://www.courant.com/1994/11/16/parent-firm-of-wtic-tv-to-buy-sell/|newspaper=[[The Hartford Courant]]|date=November 16, 1994|access-date=August 11, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040426/http://articles.courant.com/1994-11-16/business/9411160013_1_fox-affiliated-kdvr-renaissance|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Julie A. |last=Zier |date=November 21, 1994 |title=Fox, Renaissance trade markets |id={{ProQuest|225342873}} |via=World Radio History |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/94-OCR/BC-1994-11-21-Page-0059.pdf |access-date=July 19, 2018 |magazine=Broadcasting & Cable |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222103213/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-15893350.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The FCC approved the transaction in July 1995.<ref>{{Cite news|title=FCC approves 3 Fox deals|date=July 10, 1995|first=Laureen|last=Miles|work=Mediaweek|id={{Gale|A17226532}}}}</ref> At the same time, two new national networks, [[UPN]] and [[The WB]], launched. Renaissance initially committed WDZL to The WB only to switch to UPN, a move that surprised observers because Finkelstein had previously been a public supporter of The WB.<ref>{{cite news|pages=4, 27|first=Lisa|last=de Moraes|title=Par Net hijacks WB affiliate|work=The Hollywood Reporter|id={{pq|2362010879}}|date=December 13, 1993}}</ref> One reason was that it was rumored that [[Chris-Craft Industries]] would buy [[WBFS-TV]], a competing Miami station. Renaissance later was forced to reverse course and switch back to The WB when [[Paramount Stations Group]] acquired WBFS instead.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Benson|first2=Joe|last2=Flint|work=Variety|title=Combined nearly Par's|date=October 17, 1994|page=192|id={{pq|1286145235}} }}</ref> Also in 1994, Renaissance went public.{{r|BC960708}}
On June 30, 1995, Renaissance announced it had agreed to purchase [[Outlet Communications]], which owned two NBC affiliates ([[WCMH]] and [[WJAR]]) and a third station committed to switching to NBC ([[WNCN]]), in a $360 million merger.<ref>{{cite news|page=8|date=July 3, 1995|first=Steve|last=McClellan|title=Renaissance buying Outlet|work=Broadcasting|id={{pq|1014768371}} }}</ref> NBC moved to outbid Renaissance with a $402 million offer and was sued by Renaissance, which claimed "unlawful interference". NBC claimed that Outlet's directors could still consider higher offers in the interest of shareholders;<ref>{{Cite news|pages=1, 65–66|title=NBC ups the ante for Outlet|work=The Hollywood Reporter|id={{pq|2469273985}}|first=Steve|last=Brennan|date=August 1, 1995}}</ref> a judge refused to block the NBC bid,<ref>{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Brennan|title=Renaissance fails to foil NBC|work=The Hollywood Reporter|id={{pq|2469273990}}|pages=1–2|date=August 2, 1995}}</ref> which Outlet then accepted. Renaissance received a breakup fee.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Steve|last=McClellan|title=Outlet sells for $396 million to NBC|work=Broadcasting & Cable|id={{pq|1014758505}}|date=August 7, 1995|page=64}}</ref> Renaissance also lost out in its proposal to merge with [[River City Broadcasting]].{{r|BC960708}}
Feeling that there were few valuable assets left to buy in a rapidly consolidating market,<ref name="BC960708">{{Cite news|title=Reflections of the Renaissance man|id={{pq|225359488}}|first=Elizabeth A.|last=Rathbun|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=July 8, 1996}}</ref> Finkelstein agreed to sell Renaissance to [[Tribune Broadcasting]] for $1.13 billion in a deal announced on July 1, 1996.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Iver |last=Peterson |date=July 2, 1996 |title=Tribune to Pay $1.1 Billion For Six Television Stations |url-access=limited |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/02/business/tribune-to-pay-1.1-billion-for-six-television-stations.html |access-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307222825/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/02/business/tribune-to-pay-1.1-billion-for-six-television-stations.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 8, 1996 |id={{ProQuest|225355958}} |title=Tribune's Renaissance: $1.13-billion purchase of six more TVs brings broadcaster into one-third of U.S. homes |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1996/BC-1996-07-08.pdf |access-date=June 19, 2014 |last=Rathbun |first=Elizabeth A. |periodical=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |pages=4, 8, 9 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308024906/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1996/BC-1996-07-08.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/01/Tribune-to-buy-Renaissance/3276836193600/|title=Tribune to buy Renaissance|agency=[[United Press International|UPI]]|date=July 1, 1996|access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-02-fi-20477-story.html|title=Tribune Co. To Buy Renaissance For $1.13 Billion|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 2, 1996|access-date=June 16, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/19960706/ISSUE01/10006965/business-diary-tribune-co-fine-tunes-its-growth-with-1-bil-tv-buy|title=Business Diary; Tribune Co. Fine-Tunes Its Growth with $1-Bil. TV Buy|newspaper=[[Crain's Chicago Business]]|date=July 6, 1996|access-date=June 16, 2024}}</ref> The FCC approved the transaction in March 1997 but, per newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership limits, ordered Tribune to sell one of WDZL or the ''[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]''.<ref name="Miam970322">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-fcc-tells-tribune-make/177614317/|date=March 22, 1997|page=1C|title=FCC tells Tribune: Make a choice: Media giant must sell Channel 39 or Sun-Sentinel|newspaper=The Miami Herald|location=Miami, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 28, 2025}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The deal closed that same month.<ref name="Chic970326">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-tribune-completes-renais/177614436/|date=March 26, 1997|page=3:1|title=Tribune completes Renaissance buy|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|location=Chicago, Illinois|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 28, 2025}}</ref><!-- Wed -->
== Former stations == Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state and [[city of license]]. Ownership of stations by Odyssey Partners is not included.
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Stations owned by Renaissance Communications ! scope="col" | [[Media market]] ! scope="col" | State ! scope="col" | Station ! scope="col" | Purchased ! scope="col" | Sold |- | [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]] || [[California]] ! scope="row" | [[KTXL]] | 1987 || 1997 |- | [[Denver]] || [[Colorado]] ! scope="row" | [[KDVR]] | 1993 || 1995 |- | rowspan="2" | [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]] || rowspan="2" | [[Connecticut]] ! scope="row" | [[WCCT-TV|WTXX]] | 1988 || 1993 |- ! scope="row" | [[WTIC-TV]] | 1993 || 1997 |- | [[Miami]]–[[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]] || [[Florida]] ! scope="row" | [[WSFL-TV|WDZL]] | 1982 || 1997 |- | [[Atlanta]] || [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] ! scope="row" | [[WATL]] | 1993 || 1993 |- | [[Indianapolis, Indiana|Indianapolis]] || [[Indiana]] ! scope="row" | [[WXIN (TV)|WXIN]] | 1993 || 1997 |- | [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]] || rowspan="2" | [[Pennsylvania]] ! scope="row" | [[WPMT]] | 1990 || 1997 |- | [[Pittsburgh]] ! scope="row" | [[WPGH-TV]] | 1987 || 1991 |- | [[Dallas]]–[[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]] || [[Texas]] ! scope="row" | [[KDAF]] | 1995 || 1997 |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Tribune Company}}
[[Category:Defunct television broadcasting companies of the United States]] [[Category:Nexstar Media Group]] [[Category:Defunct companies based in Connecticut]] [[Category:Entertainment companies established in 1982]] [[Category:Mass media companies established in 1982]] [[Category:Companies disestablished in 1997]] [[Category:1982 establishments in Connecticut]]