Forum Communications Company Deal to Purchase KVRR-TV Falls Through

FARGO (WDAY) – A planned purchase of KVRR-TV by Forum Communications Company will not happen.

Forum Communications Company had planned to acquire Fox affiliates in Fargo and Duluth from Red River Broadcasting.

The agreement with Red River Broadcasting allowed for an 18-month period to obtain a waiver to purchase a second major television affiliate in Fargo, however after 18-months the FCC had not yet granted the waiver.

"Over those 18 months, we worked with our FCC attorneys and the sellers to build a strong case, an even stronger case, from our submission," said Josh Rohrer, vice president of broadcast for Forum Communications in an interview with The Forum. "We continued to build our case, but at 18 months into the purchase agreement the parties ... could both exercise an option to terminate the contract."

Forum Communications Company began publishing its flagship newspaper The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead in 1878, it now own and operates multiple online, print news brands and television stations throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.