Cowles Co. to buy Montana TV stations

The Cowles Co. announced plans to buy a group of seven television stations in Montana. Spokane-based Cowles, which publishes The Spokesman-Review and owns television station KHQ, is acquiring the seven Montana stations from Max Media of Montana Co. They include KULR-TV, the Billings NBC affiliate; KTMF-TV (ABC/FOX) in Missoula; KTMF-LD (ABC/FOX) in Kalispell; KWYB-TV (ABC/FOX) in Butte; KWYB-LD (ABC/FOX) in Bozeman; KFBB-TV (ABC/FOX) in Great Falls; and KHBB-TV (ABC/FOX) in Helena. The deal needs approval from the Federal Communications Commission. The companies expect to close the transaction by Dec. 1.