Billionaire Media Mogul Selling TV Stations—One’s in Mid-Michigan

A billionaire media mogul is putting his broadcast empire on the market—and that includes one TV station right here in Mid-Michigan. Allen Media Group, owned by Byron Allen, is reportedly exploring the sale of its portfolio of local television stations, raising questions about what’s next for one of the region’s largest ABC affiliates.

Why Is Allen Media Group Selling?

Allen Media Group, which owns Flint’s WJRT-TV (ABC-12), has hired investment bank Moelis & Company to market its 28 stations in 21 U.S. markets, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The company says it plans to use proceeds from any potential sale to “significantly reduce” its outstanding debt.

WJRT has seen several operational and staffing changes since Allen acquired the station for $70 million in 2021. Most recently, in May, AMG partnered with a real estate firm to sell off five of its properties, including ABC-12’s longtime studio on Lapeer Road in Flint. At the time, that move signaled financial strain but not a full-scale station sell-off.

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Past Turmoil: The Weather Team Controversy

Earlier this year, AMG sparked backlash from viewers and industry insiders after announcing a plan to eliminate local weather teams across its stations. Under the proposed change, weather segments—including those on ABC-12—would have been produced by Weather Channel staffers based in Atlanta, Georgia.

The cost-cutting strategy would have meant the end of on-air roles for longtime ABC-12 meteorologists JR Kirtek, Kevin Goff, and Isaac Cleland—as well as dozens of staffers across Allen’s network. However, the plan was abruptly abandoned after major advertisers reportedly threatened to pull their dollars. The reversal spared Kirtek, Goff, and Cleland, and kept local forecasts on the air in Flint.

What Happens Next?

According to Deadline, Moelis will work as a financial advisor to help evaluate "various financial and strategic alternatives to position AMG for future success and to maximize the value of its assets."

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