Springfield TV station sold to local publisher

WGGB-TV is being sold to a local magazine publisher for $21.2 million.

John G. Gormally Jr., publisher of BusinessWest, said he signed an agreement to purchase Channel 40, an ABC affiliate, from the Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Gormally said he was excited about the prospect of returning local ownership to the 54-year-old station. WGGB would be the only locally-owned network affiliate in the Springfield market if the sale is approved by regulators.

"Channel 40 is a great station that has a great reputation, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with the people there, and the community," Gormally told the Republican newspaper.

Sinclair has owned the station since 1999.

The sale to Gormally Broadcasting LLC could close by the fourth quarter of this year. (AP)