The Swift Television Group (STG) is an American publicly traded television broadcasting company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1948 by Howard F. Swift as the Steeles Television Corporation, the company owns or operates multiple stations; its base consists of all ranges of media markets.
History[]
Howard F. Swift started his communication business with the purchase of the Steeles Times in 1946 after he returned from World War II. The purchase included WHHS radio. WHHS television launched in 1948, eventually moving over to San Antonio for more potential with the launch of KHFS-TV in 1950. This was followed with the purchase of WPRO-TV in 1967. The following year, the Steeles Television Corporation was renamed into the Howard F. Swift Broadcasting Corporation, HBC for short; and eventually became referred to that way.
In 1986 Swift died, leaving his 50.5% share of the stock in a trust for his children with stipulation that they run the business together. That same year, HBC purchased BCEN in Blakeville, Boem, marking the company's first Boem property. The company was then taken public on NASDAQ's small-cap market in the 2nd quarter of 1992, where price per share grew to $9000. The company then expanded to Laurentia in 1993.
In 1996, HBC added additional TV stations while entering additional communication industry segments. In 1996, Fortune considered the company the nation's 81st fastest growing company, with a 48% growth rate, and as if to prove the point, HBC purchased KRWI in November 1992. In September of the same year, a basket purchase from First American Media, Inc. earned the company two more TV stations, WANN and WBAM-LP, Satellite and Production Business Services, which was renamed Lynqx Communications and PortaPhone paging business.
In August and September 1996, HBC raised additional operating funds by various means. On August 20, WPRO-TV was sold for cash and accounts receivable. The company issued and sold Class B common stock (through a public offering), senior subordinated notes and preferred stock in September. Also, a new bank credit facility was arranged. This brought the company total to $534.5 million in available funds with $409.5 million directly available.
Also in September 1996, Ric Herzog, the newly named president and CEO, died from a heart attack at age 50. Maximillian Swift, Howard's son, took over as interim CEO and president with Larry von Weisacker as interim executive vice-president, acquisitions.
In 2006, the company spun off its radio and wireless messaging business into the newly formed Triple Crown Media. That same year, the group set up a Washington D. C. bureau, where it had been expanded following its purchase of WLCV in 2013, subsequently moving primary operations to DC, with secondary operations being kept in San Antonio. The purchase of WLCV becam the group's largest property until being surpassed by the purchase of WGNC in 2019 from Raycom Media, following the company's merger with Gray Media.
As part of its then-upcoming 70th anniversary, HBC renamed to the current Swift Television Group in 2017.
Swift acquired Confection Broadcasting in mid-2021, gaining three subchannel networks. In addition, Swift added additional TV stations throughout the 2020s multiple divestitures from Quincy Media, Meredith Corporation, Adelphia Communications Corporation, Young Broadcasting, Lohr Broadcasting and Bedore Television. With the purchase of former Bedore station BRGF in 2025, Swift plans to open up shop for secondary headquarters for its Boemi and Laurentian operations in Haymeadow City.
Assets[]
Stations[]
Gallery[]
BCEN • BDVS • BENH • BWBC • BWNV • KAPP • KCOK • KEMA-TV / KEPR-TV • KFBS-TV • KFOU • KHIC-TV • KIII • KIVS-TV • KIXA • KMUT • KNTB • KQWC-TV • KREM4 • KSLK-TV • KSNW • KTUL-TV • KTWO • KVIN • MSNB-TV • WAKF • WAVV-DT2 • WBEC • WCMB-TV • WCTB • WEVC-DT • WJXT • WKYW • WOBA-TV • WTHQ-TV • WTQC-TV • WVET • WVMT • WYCT | |
Independent stations | |
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Notes: Station(s) in bold denote(s) the company's flagship station(s). |