Independent Station WMBC & Spanish-Language Broadcaster WKOB Will Use Tower For TV
Rosenberg & Estis, P.C., New York City’s premier real estate law firm, recently served as legal counsel to the Durst Organization in deals to relocate WMBC and WKOB to the 90th-floor broadcast facilities at One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan.
The deals, which allow WMBC and WKOB to broadcast their signals from the 408-foot spire that caps the 1,776-foot tower, underscore One World Trade Center’s unique stature among telecommunications companies in recent years, from TV stations to phone providers. Rosenberg & Estis, P.C. has previously served as legal counsel to the Durst Organization in deals to similarly relocate CBS, WNBC, WNJU, PBS, FOX and ION Media to One World Trade Center.
Robert M. Kessler, a member, and Jean S. Tom, of counsel, at Rosenberg & Estis represented the Durst Organization in the WMBC and WKOB transactions. Robert Becker and Marc Musgrove handled negotiations for Durst Broadcasting LLC. Developed by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, One World Trade Center is managed, operated, and leased by The Durst Organization. The tower offers an unparalleled platform for high-definition broadcasting and other wireless spectrum applications.
To date, the Rosenberg & Estis telecommunications subspecialty team consisting of Mr. Kessler, Ms. Tom and others has worked on more than 40 television and radio broadcast license agreements for the Durst Organization for its One World Trade Center and 4 Times Square towers. Among other telecommunications infrastructure uses, Rosenberg & Estis negotiates agreements on behalf of building owners with telecommunications providers for various telecommunications infrastructure uses, including cell phones, television signals and fiber optic networks to provide service to tenants at those buildings or to the general public.
One World Trade Center’s latest broadcast additions include Newton, NJ-based WMBC, a free, independent commercial TV station that operates virtual channel 63 and UHF digital channel 18. WMBC provides over-the-air programming and high-definition service via cable, Fios and satellite TV throughout the New Jersey-New York Metro Area. The station offers children’s, general interest and news programming with broadcast and digital options in English and a variety of foreign languages, including Chinese, Spanish and East Indian.
WMBC’s broadcasting infrastructure will be decommissioned at its current location, a 567-foot tower in Montclair, NJ, owned by the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority. Other current tower users will continue using the New Jersey facilities. WKOB’s broadcasting infrastructure also will be decommissioned at its current broadcasting location, a tower at the Trump World Tower at 845 United Nations Plaza, which will still accommodate other broadcasters.
WKOB is a low-powered TV station, serving New York City, while operating local channel 2 and virtual channel 42. WKOB is a key East Coast Spanish-language affiliate for New York City-based Azteca América, a subsidiary of TV station owner INNOVATE Corp. WKOB broadcasts telenovelas, drama series, news programming, and reality and variety series. WKOB is mounting its new directional antenna atop communications ring 108 of One World Trade Center’s Master Antenna.
As the tallest building in the western hemisphere, One World Trade Center offers advanced communications and technology infrastructure and unobstructed 360-degree signals to serve the tri-state region. Its state-of-the-art master antenna system emits approximately 2.2 megawatts of effective radiated power. And with its patented variable polarization technology, One World Trade’s broadcasting system is positioned to offer NextGen TV service, also known as ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV.
As new technologies emerge, Rosenberg & Estis will continue, and looks forward, to regularly representing building owners in the preparation and negotiation of agreements involving broadcast licenses, access, building space licenses and other transactions for telecommunications providers to gain building access to mount, build out and/or install equipment and wireless facilities.