OTA Broadcasting Donates Zombie to WNET

(Via TVNewsCheck) Spectrum speculator OTA Broadcasting has donated the license and other assets of low-power WEBR-CD New York to noncommercial WNET New York, according to the transfer application filed with the FCC.

OTA has also agreed to donate $12,500 to WNET.

OTA may need the tax deduction. Earlier this year, it sold the WEBR’s UHF spectrum in the FCC incentive auction for $72.8 million, turning the station into a so-called zombie.

Because WEBR is a low power station, its spectrumless license carries no must carry rights. (Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story suggested that WEBR’s license did include must carry.)

Last month, another speculator NRJ sold full-power zombie WGCB Harrisburg-Lancaster, Pa., for $2.5 million after having sold its spectrum in the auction for $9 million.