Get After It Media, formerly known as Luken Communications and Reach High Media Group, is a privately owned American broadcast holding company, based in
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. Located along the Tennessee River bordering Georgia, it also extends into Marion County on its western end. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, ...
, which owns or operates around 80 television stations in the United States and six
digital television multicast networks.
History
Luken Communications was formed in 2008 by Henry Luken III, formerly president and CEO of
Equity Media Holdings
Equity Media Holdings Corporation was a broadcasting company based in Little Rock, Arkansas that owned and operated television stations across the United States. Prior to March 30, 2007, the company was known as Equity Broadcasting, a name later ...
. Luken Communications agreed to purchase six TV stations from Equity Media for $17.5 million and paid a $5 million installment with the rest pending on regulatory approval. In June 2008, Equity sold to Luken
Retro Television Network
Retro TV (stylized as retrotv), formerly known as Retro Television Network, is an American broadcast television network owned by Get After It Media. The network mainly airs classic television sitcoms and drama series from the 1950s through th ...
for $18.5 million and $8.05 million Equity
warrants
Warrant may refer to:
* Warrant (law), a form of specific authorization
** Arrest warrant, authorizing the arrest and detention of an individual
** Search warrant, a court order issued that authorizes law enforcement to conduct a search for eviden ...
for $1.5 million.
On January 4, 2009, a contract conflict between Equity and Luken Communications interrupted RTN programming on many of its affiliates with Luken alleging that Equity had left many obligations to RTN's creditors, including programming suppliers, unpaid. As a result, Luken restored a national feed of the network from its Chattanooga headquarters. As a result of this dispute, Luken pulled out of a deal to purchase Equity's stations in southwestern Florida.
In June 2009, Luken and Seals Entertainment Company LLC launched the male-oriented digital multicast channel
Tuff TV
Tuff TV was an American digital broadcast television network targeted at men owned by the Tuff TV, Inc. division of Seals Entertainment Corporation. Tuff TV launched on June 30, 2009, and ceased operations August 26, 2018.
Tuff TV carried a m ...
. On March 22, 2011, Luken became part-owners of
My Family TV
The Family Channel is an American general entertainment television network owned by Get After It Media (formerly Luken Communications and Reach High Media Group), and based in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
History
In September 2008, ValCom announced ...
in a joint venture with existing owner ValCom (the network later rebranded as The Family Channel after ValCom and Luken Communications ended their partnership). In June 2011, Luken Communications announced the purchase of 78
low-power translator stations from the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council for $390,000; the purchase was made in order to expand coverage of its ten existing and planned digital multicast networks with hopes to eventually acquire 400 low-power stations. In late summer 2011, Luken and
Classic Media
Classic Media, LLC, doing business as DreamWorks Classics, is an American entertainment company owned by DreamWorks Animation, which is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures and a division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. It was founded as Classic Media ...
launched
PBJ, featuring classic children's programs from the Classic Media library. With Frost Cutlery's shopping network and outdoor shows, Luken launched in 2011 the
Frost Great Outdoors
Frost Great Outdoors (FGO) was an American television network, operated as a joint venture between Luken Communications and Frost Cutlery
Frost is a thin layer of ice on a solid surface, which forms from water vapor in an above-freezing ...
network.
On April 16, 2012, Luken Communications and
Jim Owens Entertainment
Lorianne Crook (born February 19, 1957) is an American radio and television host, producer, and writer, best known for her work on The Nashville Network programs ''This Week In Country Music'' and ''Crook & Chase'' with Charlie Chase.
Early li ...
announced that the companies had teamed to relaunch
The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network, usually referred to as TNN, was an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming included music videos, taped concerts, movies, game shows, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows. On September ...
as a
digital broadcast
Digital broadcasting is the practice of using digital signals rather than analogue signals for broadcasting over radio frequency bands. Digital television broadcasting (especially satellite television) is widespread. Digital audio broadcasting is ...
television network set for a late summer 2012 launch (TNN previously existed as a cable channel started by
Gaylord Entertainment Company
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. () is a hotel, resort, entertainment, and Mass media, media company named after National Historic Landmark the Ryman Auditorium, built as a tabernacle by Captain Thomas G. Ryman in 1892 and later the home of the ...
in 1983). The network was rebranded the next year as
Heartland
Heartland or Heartlands may refer to:
Businesses and organisations
* Heartland Bank, a New Zealand-based financial institution
* Heartland Inn, a chain of hotels based in Iowa, United States
* Heartland Alliance, an anti-poverty organization i ...
.
On June 21, 2013, an Arkansas jury awarded a $47.4 million verdict against Luken Communications for a claim of fraudulent transfer of the ownership of RTV six years prior. In order to appeal, Luken Communications filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a protection measure. The appeal spanned more than a year but was ultimately successful, and in October 2014, the company announced it was emerging from bankruptcy protection and continued to grow and expand its network offerings. In December 2014, Luken Communications launched a new digital network,
Rev'n
Rev’n is an American vehicle-oriented digital broadcast television network owned by Get After It Media and launched on November 3, 2014.
History
As early as October 2012, Luken Communications, LLC was planning a car focused channel then called ...
, with a focus on automotive enthusiasts.
In December 2019, Luken Communications rebranded as Reach High Media Group, as Joel Wertman had by then taken over as President and CEO of the company from Luken. It again rebranded in early 2021 to Get After It Media, with Wertman remaining as President.
Assets owned by Get After It Media
Digital multicast networks
*
The Family Channel
*
Heartland
Heartland or Heartlands may refer to:
Businesses and organisations
* Heartland Bank, a New Zealand-based financial institution
* Heartland Inn, a chain of hotels based in Iowa, United States
* Heartland Alliance, an anti-poverty organization i ...
, formerly The Nashville Network
*
Retro TV
Retro TV (stylized as retrotv), formerly known as Retro Television Network, is an American broadcast television network owned by Get After It Media. The network mainly airs classic television sitcoms and drama series from the 1950s through th ...
* The Action Channel
The Action Channel website
/ref>
* Rev'n
Rev’n is an American vehicle-oriented digital broadcast television network owned by Get After It Media and launched on November 3, 2014.
History
As early as October 2012, Luken Communications, LLC was planning a car focused channel then called ...
Broadcast television stations
Notes: All stations are owned by Digital Networks, LLC. Many of these stations were former Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) is an international Christian-based broadcast television network and the world's largest religious television network. TBN was headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, until March 3, 2017, when it sold its ...
(TBN) translators, unless specified.
*1 Indicates stations were not previously owned by TBN
*2 Indicates flagship station
*3 Indicates station managed by Great Plains Television Network, LLC
References
External links
Official website
{{American broadcast television (English)
Television broadcasting companies of the United States
Companies based in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Mass media companies established in 2008
2008 establishments in Tennessee
Television networks in the United States