Cowles Closes on Two California Duopolies

The Cowles Publishing Co. has closed on its purchase of four TV stations -- two duopolies -- from Newport Television. The deal includes two full-power CBS affiliates -- KCOY Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-San Luis Obispo, Calif. (DMA 122) and KION Monterey-Salinas, Calif. (DMA 124) -- along with companion low-power stations in each of the markets -- KKFX-CA, the Fox affiliate in San Luis Obispo, and KMUV-LP, the Telemundo affiliate in Monterey. Cowles, a Spokane, Wash.-based company headed by Elizabeth Cowles, also owns KHQ Spokane and KNDO/KNDU Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kennewick, Wash. All are NBC affiliates. Cowles also owns The Spokesman-Review, Spokane’s dominant newspaper.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/05/09/daily.16/