Editing Metromedia (section)

===Expansion===
[[Image:WTCN.jpg|200px|right|thumb|1970s logo for WTCN-TV (now [[KARE (TV)|KARE]]) in [[Minneapolis]], which included the corporate logo for Metromedia; this logo was also used by [[KTTV]] in Los Angeles, [[WXIX]] in Cincinnati, and [[WTTG]] in Washington D.C.]]
Metropolitan Broadcasting's first acquisitions included [[WHK (AM)|WHK-AM]]-[[WMMS|FM]] in [[Cleveland]] (in 1958);<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 21, 1958 |title=Changing Hands |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1958/1958-04-21-BC.pdf |magazine=Broadcasting |volume=54 |issue=16 |page=58 |access-date=September 5, 2022 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> the Foster & Kleiser outdoor advertising firm<ref>Spielvogel, Carl. "Advertising: an acquisition set." ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 20, 1959.</ref> (in 1959); and [[KOVR]] in [[Stockton, California]], [[Benedict Gimbel Jr.]]-owned WIP-[[WTEL (AM)|AM]]-[[WMMR|FM]] in [[Philadelphia]], WTVH-TV (now [[WHOI (TV)|WHOI]]) in [[Peoria, Illinois]], and WTVP television (now [[WAND (TV)|WAND]]) in [[Decatur, Illinois]] (all in 1960).<ref>"3 blessings with 2 rebukes." ''Broadcasting'', January 4, 1960, pg. 40. [http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/60-OCR/1960-01-04.BC-0040.pdf]{{dead link|date=September 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref>[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/60-OCR/1960-01-18.BC-0095.pdf]{{dead link|date=September 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/60-OCR/1960-01-18.BC-0096.pdf "Changing hands." ''Broadcasting'', January 18, 1960, pp. 95-96]{{dead link|date=September 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> In 1961 Metropolitan purchased KMBC-[[KMBZ (AM)|AM]]-[[KMBC-TV|TV]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri]].<ref>"Metropolitan buying KMBC." ''Broadcasting'', December 26, 1960, pp. 51-52. [http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/60-OCR/1960-12-26.BC-0045.pdf]{{dead link|date=September 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/60-OCR/1960-12-26.BC-0046.pdf]{{dead link|date=September 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Later that year the company's name was changed to '''Metromedia''';<ref>"It's Metromedia." ''Broadcasting - Telecasting'', April 3, 1961, pg. 56. [http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/61-OCR/1961-04-03-BC-0056.pdf]{{dead link|date=September 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> the Metropolitan Broadcasting name was retained for its broadcasting division until 1967.<ref name=Typesetting>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1968/1968-03-25-BC.pdf#page=62 Metromedia gets its TV team in uniform]''Broadcasting'', March 25, 1968, pp. 56-57.</ref>

In separate 1963 deals the company expanded into [[Los Angeles]], buying first [[KTTV]]<ref>"KTTV to Metromedia for $10 million plus." ''Broadcasting'', January 14, 1963, pg. 9. [http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/63-OCR/1963-01-14-BC-0009.pdf]{{dead link|date=June 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> and later [[KLAC (AM)|KLAC]] and the original KLAC-FM (now [[KIIS-FM]]).<ref>"Metromedia adds KLAC in $4.5 million deal." ''Broadcasting'', March 18, 1963, pp. 9-10. [http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/63-OCR/1963-03-18-BC-0009.pdf]{{dead link|date=June 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/63-OCR/1963-03-18-BC-0010.pdf]{{dead link|date=June 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The company would later engineer a swap of FM facilities; the second KLAC-FM (later [[KMET (FM)|KMET]] and now [[KTWV]]) was established in 1965.<ref>"Changing hands." ''Broadcasting'', March 22, 1965, pp. 110-111: Metromedia acquires KRHM (94.7 FM) and sells KLAC-FM (102.7 FM); the FCC allows both facilities to exchange call letters. [http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/65-OCR/1965-03-22-BC-0108.pdf]{{dead link|date=June 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/65-OCR/1965-03-22-BC-0109.pdf]{{dead link|date=June 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Metromedia also entered the realm of live entertainment by purchasing the [[Ice Capades]] (in 1963)<ref>"Ice Capades Acquired By Metromedia, Inc." ''The New York Times'', May 14, 1963.</ref> and the [[Harlem Globetrotters]] (in 1967).<ref>Gent, George. "Metromedia buys Globetrotters; TV chain will add team to Ice Capades operation." ''The New York Times'', May 24, 1967.</ref> Later in the decade Metromedia opened a television production center in Los Angeles, known as [[Metromedia Square]], which served as the studio facility for numerous network programs. Metromedia also owned a TV production and distribution company called '''Metromedia Producers Corporation''' (MPC), established in 1968 from [[David L. Wolper|Wolper Productions]]. MPC produced and syndicated various programs and TV movies, most notably the [[game show]] ''[[Truth or Consequences]]'' and the 1972-86 version of ''[[The Merv Griffin Show]]''. Metromedia spent the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s increasing its television and radio station portfolio, and continued to expand its syndication business.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} In 1976, it teamed up with [[MTM Enterprises]] to launch a first-run syndicated variety show.<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 14, 1976|title=Programming Briefs|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/76-OCR/1976-06-14-BC-OCR-Page-0051.pdf|access-date=August 27, 2021}}</ref>

Metromedia entered the [[Record industry|record business]] in 1969 with the launch of the '''Metromedia Records''' label, whose biggest-selling artist was [[Bobby Sherman]]. The label was also notable as having issued the first two studio albums of [[Peter Allen (musician)|Peter Allen]], ''Peter Allen'' (1971) and ''Tenterfield Saddler'' (1972).<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/peter-allen-p14854/discography Peter Allen discography]; www.allmusic.com.</ref> The label was closed in 1974. Allen's ''Tenterfield Saddler'', the title song of which has become an [[George Woolnough|Australian standard]], was acquired and reissued by [[A&M Records]] in 1978.<ref>[http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~ktabloid/paoriginalalbums.htm Peter Allen discography]; www5d.biglobe.ne.jp.</ref>

In 1976, similar to the more successful [[SFM Holiday Network]] of syndicated stations launched two years later, Metromedia teamed up with [[Ogilvy and Mather]] for a proposed linking of independent TV stations termed ''MetroNet''. The proposed programming would consist of several Sunday night family dramas, on weeknights a half-hour serial and a gothic series similar to ''[[Dark Shadows]]'', and on Saturdays a variety program hosted by [[Charo]]. The plans for MetroNet failed when advertisers balked at Metromedia's advertising rate, which was only slightly lower than the Big Three's and low national coverage, leaving for another similar operation, [[Operation Prime Time]].<ref name="Nadel">{{cite journal|last=Nadel|first=Gerry|date=May 30, 1977|title=Who Owns Prime Time? The Threat of the 'Occasional' Networks|journal=New York Magazine|location=New York|pages=34–35|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YeMCAAAAMBAJ&q=%22MetroNet%22%2B%22Metromedia%22&pg=PA35|access-date=October 4, 2009}}</ref> In 1979, Metromedia Producers Corporation had also reached a deal with [[Stewart Television|Bob Stewart Productions]] for an exclusive co-producing agreement.<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 17, 1979|title=Monitor|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/79-OCR/BC-1979-12-17-OCR-Page-0071.pdf|access-date=September 26, 2021}}</ref>

In 1982, Metromedia made its biggest broadcasting purchase when it acquired [[WCVB-TV]] in [[Boston]] for $220 million, which at the time was the largest amount ever spent on a single television station property.<ref>Schwartz, Tony. "Metromedia seeks TV station." ''The New York Times'', July 23, 1981.</ref> Two years later, John Kluge bought out Metromedia's shareholders and took the company private.<ref>Cuff, Daniel F. "Business people; Metromedia's founder begins new challenge." ''The New York Times'', December 14, 1983.</ref>

Also around this time, Metromedia attempted to bring to the air a national newscast for independent stations (much as the rival [[Tribune Media|Tribune Company]] had created ''[[Independent Network News (TV program)|Independent Network News]]'' in 1980), planned for launch in the fall of 1983. Unlike ''INN'', the program was planned to be offered as a hybrid, hour-long local/national newscast, fed to affiliates by satellite as a headlines block and three other segments, which could be aired by local stations in whatever order the stations deemed alongside locally produced news content. Also as part of this plan, Metromedia established full news departments for [[KRIV (TV)|KRIV]] in Houston and what was then [[KDAF|KRLD-TV]] in Dallas (another news department was planned for [[WFLD]] in Chicago, but that department ultimately didn't launch until 1987, after the Murdoch buyout). Metromedia attempted to hire [[Charles Kuralt]] away from [[CBS News]] to serve as anchor. Kuralt chose to stay to with CBS; [[John Hart (journalist)|John Hart]] was also considered as an anchor, but ultimately the planned newscast never came to fruition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KURALT WOOED |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/09/15/KURALT-WOOED/5000754950140/ |access-date=June 2, 2022 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hodges |first=Ann |date=October 1, 1982 |title=Ch. 26 to carry Turner's All-Star NFL package |page=5:13 |work=Houston Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shales |first=Tom |date=June 26, 1983 |title=Ode to the Road Of Charles Kuralt |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1983/06/26/ode-to-the-road-of-charles-kuralt/301c1c68-1958-471d-b0e4-27cb7f431b8c/ |access-date=June 2, 2022 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Alridge |first=Ron |date=October 13, 1982 |title=WFLD is planning some big news for Chicago |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>

In 1985, it made an attempt to revive the comedy ''[[Oh Madeline|Oh, Madeline]]'' as ''The Madeline Kahn Show'' for first-run syndication, but the deal never came to fruition.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 7, 1985 |title=Madeline's back |pages=194 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]] |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/85-OCR/BC-1985-01-07-OCR-Page-0194.pdf |access-date=October 24, 2023}}</ref>