Cox Media Group has closed on its purchase of four Newport Television stations in Jacksonville, FL, and Tulsa, OK.

“Countless hours of hard work have taken place over the last few months to prepare for today, and I want to thank everyone at CMG and these stations involved who made today a reality,” Cox Media Group president Doug Franklin said in a statement.  “This is an exciting time as we grow CMG’s presence in these markets, and we are thrilled that these stations are joining our team of media professionals.”

Cox acquired Newport’s Jacksonville duopolies, WAWS (FOX) and WTEV (CBS) and Tulsa’s FOX affiliate KOKI and MyNetworkTV affiliate KMYT.

“The Action News Team is thrilled to be joining the CMG family with their proven 100-plus year record of producing journalism excellence and commitment to the local community,” said Jim Zerwekh, vice president and general manager of WAWS and WTEV.  “This opportunity is a big win for our team, our city and our customers.”

Holly Allen, vice president and general manager of KOKI and KMYT added, “Our team in Tulsa is thrilled to be joining a company that not only has deep historic roots in the news business, but also is continually looking toward the future and making valuable contributions in communities around the nation.”

[TVNewsCheck]