Friday, August 3, 2012
Tougaloo College announced that it had agreed to acquire television station WUFX-TV, Channel 35, in Jackson, Mississippi. WUFX is the MyNetworkTV affiliate for the Jackson market and can be seen on Cable One channel 9 and Comcast channel 11.
“This is a remarkable opportunity for the College to further its academic mission, as well as its economic interests through the purchase and operation of WUFX,” said Dr. Beverly W. Hogan, president of Tougaloo College. “Most importantly, a commercial television station will offer our students, particularly those from our Mass Communication department, some real world experience of seeing how a television station works, aiding them in knowledge acquisition and application. It will, without question, bring other benefits to the College, as well.”
“I also want to thank the Tougaloo College Board of Trustees for its role in making this acquisition a possibility, along with the generous gift by American Spirit Media to make it a reality. Without the leadership of our Board, this opportunity would not have come to fruition,” concluded Dr. Hogan.
“Dr. Hogan deserves the credit for having the vision to pursue this opportunity,” commented Mr. LeRoy Walker, Chairman of the Board of Tougaloo College. “I also want to thank Charlene Priester and Melvin Preister of The Priester Law Firm for their legal guidance and advice in putting together the documentation to make our ownership of WUFX a reality,” concluded Mr. Walker.
The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.