FOX 20 sold?

Word has it that Bonten Media Group, owner of Redding-based KRCR Channel 7, is in the process of purchasing Chico’s FOX 20. When asked for comment, Randall Bongarten, the chairman and CEO of Bonten Media, said, “An acquisition by us is officially confidential until such time as an acquisition is completed. That’s not to say we are not in such a process, nor is it to say that we are.”

Current FOX 20 owner Sainte Partners II, L.P. did not respond to calls from the CN&R, nor did Andrew Stewart, KRCR’s general manager. Bob Castro, FOX 20’s general manager, could not be contacted by press time. Budd Schwab, owner of Campus Bicycles, which is located in the same building as FOX 20, said he’s heard the sale should take about eight weeks to complete.

In recent days, the following was posted on Wikipedia: “In 2012, Sainte Television Group’s stations, including MyTV NorCal, were purchased from Sainte by Bonten Media Group, which owns Redding ABC affiliate KRCR-TV and its Eureka sister station KAEF-TV. The acquisition includes KCVU FOX 20 in Chico…”