Wednesday update: Freedom, Cox sell stations

Freedom Communications is exiting the TV business, selling its eight-station group to Sinclair for $385 million. The deal includes two stations in NERW-land, both in the Albany market: CBS affiliate WRGB (Channel 6) and CW affiliate WCWN (Channel 45). The new stations fit nicely with an existing Sinclair footprint in the region that includes stations in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Portland, Maine. Sinclair takes over right away under an LMA, and hopes to close on the sale in early 2012.

(Freedom had also owned WLNE in the Providence market, but sold it several years ago.)

Meanwhile in Connecticut, the long-rumored sale of Cox’s WNLK (1350 Norwalk) and WSTC (1400 Stamford) is now official: Sacred Heart University is taking over those orphaned AM signals on Saturday, adding them to its WSHU public radio network.

Much more in Monday’s NERW, here at the new fybush.com (And thanks for bearing with us as we move content over and get these boxes unpacked…)