# Renaissance Communications

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American television broadcasting company

Renaissance Communications Type Public Industry Broadcasting, Television Founded 1988; 38 years ago (1988) Defunct 1997; 29 years ago (1997) Fate Acquired by Tribune Broadcasting Successor Tribune Broadcasting Nexstar Media Group Key people Michael Finkelstein

**Renaissance Communications Corporation** was an American owner of television stations. A venture of Michael Finkelstein and [Warburg Pincus](/source/Warburg_Pincus) headquartered in [Greenwich, Connecticut](/source/Greenwich%2C_Connecticut), it specialized in major- and mid-major market [independent stations](/source/Independent_station), primarily airing [Fox](/source/Fox_Broadcasting_Company) and [WB](/source/The_WB) affiliates. The company sold to [Tribune Broadcasting](/source/Tribune_Broadcasting) in a deal announced in 1996 and closed in 1997.

## History

In 1981, Michael Finkelstein, a former [Federal Communications Commission](/source/Federal_Communications_Commission) attorney and communications lawyer, bought [WATR-TV](/source/WCCT-TV) in [Waterbury, Connecticut](/source/Waterbury%2C_Connecticut). He retooled it from an [NBC](/source/NBC) affiliate to an [independent station](/source/Independent_station). In 1983, Finkelstein joined Odyssey Partners, a New York City–based investment practice, as CEO of its TV stations. The firm acquired [WDZL](/source/WSFL-TV) in [Miami](/source/Miami) the next year.[1]

Finkelstein founded Renaissance Communications in 1988 with the backing of [Warburg Pincus](/source/Warburg_Pincus). The firm acquired [KTXL](/source/KTXL) in [Sacramento, California](/source/Sacramento%2C_California), and [WPGH-TV](/source/WPGH-TV) in Pittsburgh for a total of $88 million.[1] Renaissance also acquired WDZL and WTXX from Odyssey;[2] in 1990, it bought [WPMT](/source/WPMT) in [York, Pennsylvania](/source/York%2C_Pennsylvania), and the next year, it sold WPGH-TV.[3] Between 1991 and 1992, it attempted to become a publicly traded company twice but failed.[4]

Renaissance acquired four of the five stations owned by Chase Broadcasting in a deal announced in September 1992.[5] This brought [KDVR](/source/KDVR) in Denver; [WXIN](/source/WXIN) in Indianapolis; [WATL](/source/WATL) in Atlanta; and [WTIC-TV](/source/WTIC-TV) in [Hartford, Connecticut](/source/Hartford%2C_Connecticut), into the Renaissance fold.[5] Renaissance could not own both WTXX and WTIC-TV. To comply with prevailing FCC regulations, Renaissance sold WTXX to a [Roman Catholic](/source/Roman_Catholic) non-profit group, Counterpoint Communications; both deals were completed in March 1993.[6] Some syndicated programs from WTXX moved to WTIC-TV.[7] While Renaissance tried to negotiate a [local marketing agreement](/source/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](/source/WVIT) (channel 30).[8]

Renaissance immediately sold WATL to [Fox Television Stations](/source/Fox_Television_Stations).[4] The next year, Renaissance did business with Fox Television Stations again when it agreed to trade KDVR to Fox for [KDAF](/source/KDAF) in Dallas. Fox was selling KDAF because it was moving its programming to the previous [CBS](/source/CBS) affiliate, [KDFW](/source/KDFW), as a result of a [ten-station affiliation deal](/source/1994%E2%80%931996_United_States_broadcast_television_realignment) with [New World Communications](/source/New_World_Pictures#New_World_Communications).[9][10] The FCC approved the transaction in July 1995.[11] At the same time, two new national networks, [UPN](/source/UPN) and [The WB](/source/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.[12] One reason was that it was rumored that [Chris-Craft Industries](/source/Chris-Craft_Industries) would buy [WBFS-TV](/source/WBFS-TV), a competing Miami station. Renaissance later was forced to reverse course and switch back to The WB when [Paramount Stations Group](/source/Paramount_Stations_Group) acquired WBFS instead.[13] Also in 1994, Renaissance went public.[14]

On June 30, 1995, Renaissance announced it had agreed to purchase [Outlet Communications](/source/Outlet_Communications), which owned two NBC affiliates ([WCMH](/source/WCMH) and [WJAR](/source/WJAR)) and a third station committed to switching to NBC ([WNCN](/source/WNCN)), in a $360 million merger.[15] 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;[16] a judge refused to block the NBC bid,[17] which Outlet then accepted. Renaissance received a breakup fee.[18] Renaissance also lost out in its proposal to merge with [River City Broadcasting](/source/River_City_Broadcasting).[14]

Feeling that there were few valuable assets left to buy in a rapidly consolidating market,[14] Finkelstein agreed to sell Renaissance to [Tribune Broadcasting](/source/Tribune_Broadcasting) for $1.13 billion in a deal announced on July 1, 1996.[19][20][21][22][23] 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](/source/South_Florida_Sun-Sentinel)*.[24] The deal closed that same month.[25]

## Former stations

Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state and [city of license](/source/City_of_license). Ownership of stations by Odyssey Partners is not included.

Stations owned by Renaissance Communications Media market State Station Purchased Sold Sacramento California KTXL 1987 1997 Denver Colorado KDVR 1993 1995 Hartford Connecticut WTXX 1988 1993 WTIC-TV 1993 1997 Miami–Fort Lauderdale Florida WDZL 1982 1997 Atlanta Georgia WATL 1993 1993 Indianapolis Indiana WXIN 1993 1997 Harrisburg Pennsylvania WPMT 1990 1997 Pittsburgh WPGH-TV 1987 1991 Dallas–Fort Worth Texas KDAF 1995 1997

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BC900226_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BC900226_1-1) "Michael Finkelstein: Independent thinker". *Broadcasting*. February 26, 1990. p. 71. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [1014743462](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1014743462).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Pitt880827_2-0)** Weiskind, Ron (August 27, 1988). ["Lorimar to sell WPGH"](https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-lorimar-to-sell/145546235/). *Pittsburgh Post-Gazette*. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. p. 21. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240418062604/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-lorimar-to-sell/145546235/) from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Foisie, Geoffrey (July 15, 1991). "Renaissance proposes $40 million stock offering". *Broadcasting*. p. 35. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [1014740715](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1014740715).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-THR930202_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-THR930202_4-1) "Atlanta's WATL to Fox group". *The Hollywood Reporter*. February 2, 1993. pp. 4, 78. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [2362046748](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2362046748).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hc-saletorenaissance_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hc-saletorenaissance_5-1) Williams, Stephen M.; Lender, Jon (September 5, 1992). ["Chase agrees to sell WTIC-TV to rival"](https://www.courant.com/1992/09/05/chase-agrees-to-sell-wtic-tv-to-rival/). *[Hartford Courant](/source/Hartford_Courant)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151024002146/http://articles.courant.com/1992-09-05/news/0000112877_1_stations-wtic-fm-renaissance) from the original on October 24, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-hc-wticrenaissancecomplete_6-0)** Lender, Jon (March 19, 1993). ["Sale of TV Stations Completed"](https://www.courant.com/1993/03/19/sale-of-tv-stations-completed/). *[Hartford Courant](/source/Hartford_Courant)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150723025859/http://articles.courant.com/1993-03-19/business/0000104466_1_wtic-fm-channel-stations) from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hart930112_7-0)** Lender, Jon (January 12, 1993). ["Proposed WTIC sale gains FCC approval"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107933301/proposed-wtic-sale-gains-fcc-approval/). *Hartford Courant*. Hartford, Connecticut. p. B1. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220823050429/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107933301/proposed-wtic-sale-gains-fcc-approval/) from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hart930611_8-0)** Lender, Jon (June 11, 1993). ["WVIT leases time on WTXX as WTIC protests"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108137822/wvit-leases-time-on-wtxx-as-wtic-protest/). *Hartford Courant*. Hartford, Connecticut. p. C11. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220823050430/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108137822/wvit-leases-time-on-wtxx-as-wtic/) from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Parent Firm Of WTIC-TV To Buy, Sell"](https://www.courant.com/1994/11/16/parent-firm-of-wtic-tv-to-buy-sell/). *[The Hartford Courant](/source/The_Hartford_Courant)*. November 16, 1994. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040426/http://articles.courant.com/1994-11-16/business/9411160013_1_fox-affiliated-kdvr-renaissance) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Zier, Julie A. (November 21, 1994). ["Fox, Renaissance trade markets"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/94-OCR/BC-1994-11-21-Page-0059.pdf) (PDF). *Broadcasting & Cable*. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [225342873](https://www.proquest.com/docview/225342873). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160222103213/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-15893350.html) from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2018 – via World Radio History.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Miles, Laureen (July 10, 1995). "FCC approves 3 Fox deals". *Mediaweek*. [Gale](/source/Gale_(publisher)) [A17226532](https://go.gale.com/ps/anonymous?id=GALE%7CA17226532).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** de Moraes, Lisa (December 13, 1993). "Par Net hijacks WB affiliate". *The Hollywood Reporter*. pp. 4, 27. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [2362010879](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2362010879).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Benson, Jim; Flint, Joe (October 17, 1994). "Combined nearly Par's". *Variety*. p. 192. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [1286145235](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1286145235).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BC960708_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BC960708_14-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-BC960708_14-2) Rathbun, Elizabeth A. (July 8, 1996). "Reflections of the Renaissance man". *Broadcasting & Cable*. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [225359488](https://www.proquest.com/docview/225359488).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** McClellan, Steve (July 3, 1995). "Renaissance buying Outlet". *Broadcasting*. p. 8. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [1014768371](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1014768371).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Brennan, Steve (August 1, 1995). "NBC ups the ante for Outlet". *The Hollywood Reporter*. pp. 1, 65–66. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [2469273985](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2469273985).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Brennan, Steve (August 2, 1995). "Renaissance fails to foil NBC". *The Hollywood Reporter*. pp. 1–2. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [2469273990](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2469273990).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** McClellan, Steve (August 7, 1995). "Outlet sells for $396 million to NBC". *Broadcasting & Cable*. p. 64. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [1014758505](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1014758505).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Peterson, Iver (July 2, 1996). ["Tribune to Pay $1.1 Billion For Six Television Stations"](https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/02/business/tribune-to-pay-1.1-billion-for-six-television-stations.html). *The New York Times*. [Archived](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) from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Rathbun, Elizabeth A. (July 8, 1996). ["Tribune's Renaissance: $1.13-billion purchase of six more TVs brings broadcaster into one-third of U.S. homes"](https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1996/BC-1996-07-08.pdf) (PDF). *[Broadcasting & Cable](/source/Broadcasting_%26_Cable)*. pp. 4, 8, 9. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [225355958](https://www.proquest.com/docview/225355958). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210308024906/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1996/BC-1996-07-08.pdf) (PDF) from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Tribune to buy Renaissance"](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/01/Tribune-to-buy-Renaissance/3276836193600/). [UPI](/source/United_Press_International). July 1, 1996. Retrieved June 4, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Tribune Co. To Buy Renaissance For $1.13 Billion"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-02-fi-20477-story.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. July 2, 1996. Retrieved June 16, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Business Diary; Tribune Co. Fine-Tunes Its Growth with $1-Bil. TV Buy"](https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/19960706/ISSUE01/10006965/business-diary-tribune-co-fine-tunes-its-growth-with-1-bil-tv-buy). *[Crain's Chicago Business](/source/Crain's_Chicago_Business)*. July 6, 1996. Retrieved June 16, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Miam970322_24-0)** ["FCC tells Tribune: Make a choice: Media giant must sell Channel 39 or Sun-Sentinel"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-fcc-tells-tribune-make/177614317/). *The Miami Herald*. Miami, Florida. March 22, 1997. p. 1C. Retrieved July 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Chic970326_25-0)** ["Tribune completes Renaissance buy"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-tribune-completes-renais/177614436/). *Chicago Tribune*. Chicago, Illinois. March 26, 1997. p. 3:1. Retrieved July 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Renaissance Communications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Communications) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Communications?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.