CBS-affiliate KPSP is merging news operations with ABC-affiliate KESQ in Palm Springs, the two stations announced today. The merger is effective immediately.

In announcing the merger, KPSP owner James Houston said the station was a “labor of love” for his wife, Jackie Lee Houston, who died in September.

“With her passing, we have now made the difficult decision to find a new owner for our television operation,” he said. “While a number of options were carefully considered, a merger with the Bradley family, owners of Gulf-California (KESQ-TV) was ultimately chosen as the best opportunity.”

Gulf-California Broadcast company also owns three more stations in the market: Fox-affiliate KDFX, CW-affiliate KCWQ and Telemundo-affiliate KUNA. All four stations are headquartered in the same facilities in Palm Desert. Read more

Jackie Lee Houston, a philanthropist and socialite in Palm Springs who was the owner of CBS affiliate KPSP, died this morning from pancreatic cancer. She was 76.

Houston suffered a stroke yesterday afternoon and passed away at 6 a.m. this morning, with her family members, including husband Jim, by her side at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, CA. “I know you will join me in sending your prayers and good thoughts to Jim Houston and the entire family at this difficult time,” KPSP vice president and general manager Don Perry said in a statement.

The Houstons purchased KPSP through their company, Desert Television, in 2005. They also owned KYAV, a Spanish-language station which folded in 2009.