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Get After It Media
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Get After It Media LLC, formerly known as Luken Communications and Reach High Media Group, is a privately owned American broadcast holding company, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which owns or operates around 80 television stations in the United States and five digital television multicast networks. The flagship station of the company is located in Chattanooga with the low-power station, WOOT-LD.
Key Information
History
[edit]Luken Communications was formed in 2008 by Henry Luken III, formerly president and CEO of Equity Media Holdings. Luken Communications agreed to purchase six TV stations from Equity Media for $17.5 million and paid a $5 million installment with the rest pending on regulatory approval. In June 2008, Equity sold to Luken Retro Television Network for $18.5 million and $8.05 million Equity warrants for $1.5 million.[1]
On January 4, 2009, a contract conflict between Equity and Luken Communications interrupted RTN programming on many of its affiliates with Luken alleging that Equity had left many obligations to RTN's creditors, including programming suppliers, unpaid. As a result, Luken restored a national feed of the network from its Chattanooga headquarters.[2] As a result of this dispute, Luken pulled out of a deal to purchase Equity's stations in southwestern Florida.
In June 2009, Luken and Seals Entertainment Company LLC launched the male-oriented digital multicast channel Tuff TV.[3] On March 22, 2011, Luken became part-owners of My Family TV in a joint venture with existing owner ValCom[4] (the network later rebranded as The Family Channel after ValCom and Luken Communications ended their partnership). In June 2011, Luken Communications announced the purchase of 78 low-power translator stations from the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council for $390,000; the purchase was made in order to expand coverage of its ten existing and planned digital multicast networks with hopes to eventually acquire 400 low-power stations.[5] In late summer 2011, Luken and Classic Media launched PBJ, featuring classic children's programs from the Classic Media library.[6] With Frost Cutlery's shopping network and outdoor shows, Luken launched in 2011 the Frost Great Outdoors network.[7]
On April 16, 2012, Luken Communications and Jim Owens Entertainment announced that the companies had teamed to relaunch The Nashville Network as a digital broadcast television network set for a late summer 2012 launch (TNN previously existed as a cable channel started by Gaylord Entertainment Company in 1983). The network was rebranded the next year as Heartland.
On June 21, 2013, an Arkansas jury awarded a $47.4 million verdict against Luken Communications for a claim of fraudulent transfer of the ownership of RTV six years prior. In order to appeal, Luken Communications filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a protection measure.[8] The appeal spanned more than a year but was ultimately successful, and in October 2014, the company announced it was emerging from bankruptcy protection and continued to grow and expand its network offerings.[9] In December 2014, Luken Communications launched a new digital network, Rev'n, with a focus on automotive enthusiasts.
In December 2019, Luken Communications rebranded as Reach High Media Group, as Joel Wertman had by then taken over as president and CEO of the company from Luken.[10] It again rebranded in early 2021 to Get After It Media, with Wertman remaining as president.[11]
Assets owned by Get After It Media
[edit]Digital multicast networks
[edit]- The Family Channel
- Heartland, formerly The Nashville Network[12]
- Retro TV
- The Action Channel[13]
- Rev'n[14]
Broadcast television stations
[edit]| City of license / Market | State | Station | VC | Subchannels | FID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | Alabama | WSWH-LD |
|
|
1008 |
| Huntsville | WNAL-LD |
|
|
67953 | |
| Phoenix | Arizona | K23PL-D | 23 | Silent | 68020 |
| Little Rock | Arkansas | WPYM-LD | 38.1 | PBJ | 129503 |
| Chico–Redding | California | KXCH-LD |
|
|
68097 |
| Denver | Colorado | KAVC-LD |
|
|
68077 |
| Jacksonville | Florida | WJVF-LD |
|
|
190202 |
| Tampa | WDNP-LD |
|
|
67986 | |
| Columbus | Georgia | WXVK-LD |
|
|
58773 |
| Savannah | WSVG-LD |
|
|
129370 | |
| Idaho Falls–Pocatello | Idaho | KPTO-LD |
|
|
67918 |
| Peoria–Bloomington | Illinois | WSIO-LD |
|
|
1013 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | WSWY-LD |
|
|
68035 |
| Davenport | Iowa | W35DY-D | 19 | Silent | 1006 |
| Des Moines | K31PO-D | 44 | Silent | 67879 | |
| Wichita, KS | Kansas | KSMI-LD |
|
|
56518 |
| Baton Rouge | Louisiana | WRUG-LD |
|
|
190207 |
| Shreveport | KVPO-LD |
|
|
60814 | |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota | KKTW-LD |
|
|
68054 |
| Rochester | K27OW-D | 40 | Silent | 129454 | |
| Columbus–Tupelo | Mississippi | WLMS-LD | 25 | Silent | 68080 |
| Kansas City | Missouri | K26PI-D | 15 | Silent | 68040 |
| Springfield | KSFZ-LD |
|
|
68046 | |
| Las Vegas | Nevada | KVGA-LD |
|
|
67974 |
| Albuquerque–Santa Fe | New Mexico | KWHY-LD | 36 | Silent | 129009 |
| K33OB-D | 50 | Silent | 129875 | ||
| Buffalo | New York | WBUO-LD | 30.1 | Retro TV | 68012 |
| Raleigh–Durham | North Carolina | WDRH-LD |
|
|
67783 |
| Fargo–Valley City | North Dakota | KFGX-LD | 35 | Silent | 68013 |
| Minot | K21GQ-D | 21 | Silent | 129668 | |
| K28QQ-D | 40 | Silent | 68087 | ||
| Omaha | Nebraska | K36QD-D | 21 | Silent | 68018 |
| Zanesville | Ohio | WOOH-LD |
|
|
190268 |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | KWRW-LD |
|
|
68085 |
| Tulsa | KTUO-LD |
|
|
190113 | |
| Scranton | Pennsylvania | WSRG-LD |
|
|
68090 |
| Charleston | South Carolina | WLOW-LD |
|
|
190344 |
| Spartanburg–Greenville | WASV-LD |
|
|
47722 | |
| WNGS-LD |
|
|
190222 | ||
| Rapid City | South Dakota | KRPC-LP |
|
|
68066 |
| Sioux Falls | KSXF-LD | 56 | Silent | 67998 | |
| Chattanooga | Tennessee | WOOT-LD |
|
|
31862 |
| Knoxville | WKXT-LD |
|
|
67926 | |
| San Antonio | Texas | K24OJ-D | 15 | Silent | 68042 |
| KRTX-LD |
|
|
68095 | ||
| Wichita Falls | KTWM-LD | 49 | Silent | 67912 | |
| Charleston–Huntington | West Virginia | WHWV-LD | 45 | Silent | 68037 |
| Green Bay | Wisconsin | W21EF-D | 8 | Silent | 67935 |
| Wausau–Rhinelander | K18NQ-D | 32 | Silent | 129701 |
References
[edit]- ^ Marich, Robert (June 26, 2008). "Equity Media Sells RTN to Ease Crunch". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
- ^ Jessell, Harry A. (January 5, 2009). "Financial Dispute Disrupts RTN Diginet". tVNewsCheck. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
- ^ "New TUFF TV Network Scheduled For Launch". April 29, 2009.
- ^ Frank, Judy (March 22, 2011). "Chattanooga's Luken Communications Enters Joint Venture With ValCom Entertainment Company". Chattanoogan. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
- ^ Jessell, Harry A. (June 16, 2011). "RTN Parent Buys 78 TV Translators". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
- ^ "Luken, Classic Media To Debut New Network". TVNewsCheck. May 5, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ Flessner, Dave (June 10, 2012). "Chattanooga businessman Henry Luken goes country". ChattanooganTimes Free Press. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
- ^ Luken Communications files bankruptcy after Arkansas jury verdict against company, June 23, 2013[dead link]
- ^ "Luken announces plan to exit bankruptcy". timesfreepress.com. September 19, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
- ^ Courter, Barry (December 12, 2019). "Chattanooga-based television hub adds programming, national streaming access". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ Miller, Mark K. (March 24, 2021). "Get After It Media To Launch 'It's Real Good TV' Streaming Platform". Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "Jim Owens Entertainment ends licensing deal with Luken". Radio-TV Business Report. October 31, 2013.
- ^ The Action Channel website
- ^ Marcucci, Carl (October 31, 2012). "Luken RTV affiliate losses not a big hit". Radio-TV Business Report. Streamline RBR, Inc. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
External links
[edit]Get After It Media
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Overview
Company profile
Get After It Media LLC is a privately owned American broadcast holding company headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The company was founded in 2008 as Luken Communications by Henry G. Luken III. It rebranded to Reach High Media Group in 2019 before adopting its current name in 2021.[10][3][5] Get After It Media operates as a holding company focused on broadcast television, affiliated with approximately 353 stations across more than 100 markets in the United States while managing five digital multicast networks.[11] These networks are distributed through over-the-air broadcasts, cable, satellite, and streaming services, reaching audiences via affiliations with local stations in multiple markets. The company's business model emphasizes accessible, wholesome entertainment, with programming that includes family-oriented lifestyle shows, action-packed series, and classic retro content. Networks such as Retro TV and The Action Channel exemplify this approach, offering diverse viewing options suitable for broad audiences.[1][4]Leadership
Get After It Media was founded in 2008 by Henry Luken III as Luken Communications, with Luken serving as the initial president and CEO.[10] Under his leadership, the company acquired and operated several digital multicast networks, establishing a foundation in broadcast television distribution. Joel Wertman has served as President and CEO of the company since 2017, initially appointed by Luken to lead operations across its networks including Retro TV, Heartland, Rev'n, The Family Channel, and The Action Channel.[12] Wertman oversaw the company's rebranding from Luken Communications to Reach High Media Group in 2019 following Luken's departure, focusing on stabilizing and expanding multicast operations.[13] Now titled Co-President and CEO, he continues to guide strategic direction, emphasizing family-friendly programming and affiliate growth. In June 2025, Otto Padrón was appointed as Co-President and Chief Operating Officer, also joining as co-owner and board member, reporting to Wertman.[11] With over three decades in media leadership from roles at Telemundo, Univision, and Meruelo Media, Padrón focuses on operational expansion, including enhancing efficiency, original content development, acquisitions, and partnerships to grow the company's reach across its five networks serving over 88 million U.S. homes (as of August 2025).[11] His efforts emphasize digital integration and visibility in more than 100 markets through 353 affiliates.[14] Recent leadership additions include Lino Alvarez, appointed Vice President of Sales and Head of Advertising Sales in March 2025, tasked with driving revenue through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions across the company's brands and digital platforms reaching over 80 million homes.[15] In July 2025, David Hanono joined as Vice President of Digital Strategy and Revenue Operations, leading business development, platform integration, operator engagement, and ad monetization to advance digital growth for networks like The Heartland Network, Retro TV, Rev'n, The Action Channel, and The Family Channel.[16] Also in July 2025, David Gray was appointed Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Engineering, bringing over four decades of experience in building scalable broadcast systems to support the company's technological infrastructure and expansion.[17]History
Founding and early development
Get After It Media was originally established in 2008 as Luken Communications by Henry G. Luken III in Chattanooga, Tennessee, focusing on broadcast television opportunities in the evolving digital landscape.[10] Luken, a veteran in telecommunications who had previously built successful ventures in long-distance services, aimed to capitalize on the nascent potential of digital subchannels following the U.S. transition to digital television.[18] The company quickly acquired the Retro Television Network (RTN) from Equity Media Holdings in June 2008 for $18.5 million, positioning itself as a provider of niche programming for multicast slots on local stations.[19] In 2009, shortly after the full digital TV transition on June 12, Luken Communications launched Tuff TV, a male-oriented digital multicast network in partnership with Seals Entertainment Company, targeting underserved audiences with action, adventure, and lifestyle content.[20] This initiative leveraged the increased channel capacity from digital broadcasting to reach smaller markets and rural areas often overlooked by major networks, emphasizing cost-effective distribution via over-the-air signals.[21] The network debuted on June 30, expanding to multiple affiliates and establishing Luken's model of filling subchannels with specialized programming to boost station revenue without high production costs.[22] By 2011, the company's growth accelerated with the launch of PBJ, a children's network featuring classic animated series from the 1950s to 1980s, developed in collaboration with Classic Media (now DreamWorks Classics).[23] PBJ began broadcasting in late summer, initially airing on 19 affiliates and focusing on family-friendly content to attract younger viewers in secondary markets.[24] That same year, in June, Luken Communications acquired 78 low-power translator stations from the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council for $390,000, significantly enhancing its reach into underserved rural and small-town communities through these Class A and low-power facilities.[25] This expansion underscored the company's strategy of utilizing post-DTV multicast infrastructure to deliver targeted, low-cost networks to niche demographics, fostering early development amid a shifting broadcast environment.[26]Financial challenges and rebranding
In June 2013, Luken Communications, the predecessor to Get After It Media, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Chattanooga, Tennessee, shortly after a federal jury in Little Rock, Arkansas, awarded a $47.4 million verdict against the company and its founder Henry Luken III.[27] The verdict stemmed from a distribution dispute involving the alleged fraudulent transfer of ownership of the Retro Television Network (RTN) assets from the bankrupt Equity Media Holdings to Luken Communications in 2008.[28] The bankruptcy proceedings involved significant restructuring, including negotiations with creditors and a reorganization plan that aimed to stabilize operations while addressing the substantial judgment.[29] Luken Communications emerged from Chapter 11 in October 2014 after reaching a settlement with the Equity trustee and confirming its plan of reorganization, which allowed the company to retain control of its core broadcast assets.[30] As part of its recovery, the company shifted focus toward expanding its digital multicast networks, launching Rev'n—a programming service dedicated to automotive and motorsports content—on December 1, 2014, with initial carriage on 26 affiliates reaching nearly 29 million U.S. households.[31] This initiative underscored a strategic pivot to niche, enthusiast-driven content amid the post-bankruptcy emphasis on operational efficiency and asset optimization.[32] Following a leadership transition, Luken Communications rebranded to Reach High Media Group in December 2019, with Joel Wertman succeeding Henry Luken as president and CEO.[33] The change marked the end of the Luken era and positioned the company under new management to oversee its portfolio of multicast networks from its Chattanooga base.[3] In early 2021, Reach High Media Group underwent another rebranding to Get After It Media, reflecting ongoing efforts to streamline its identity while continuing to prioritize digital broadcast operations and content distribution.[26] These successive rebrandings facilitated further asset restructuring, enabling the company to concentrate resources on its established multicast channels without disrupting affiliate relationships or programming slates.[33]Expansion and recent milestones
Following its rebranding in 2021, Get After It Media pursued aggressive growth strategies, expanding its digital multicast footprint and operational infrastructure across the United States. By 2025, the company had grown its affiliate network to 353 stations nationwide, reaching approximately 88 million households and enabling broader distribution of its five core networks: Retro TV, The Heartland Network, Rev'n, The Action Channel, and The Family Channel.[11] This expansion marked a significant recovery and scaling phase, focusing on underserved markets and enhanced content delivery. A key milestone came in December 2024 with the launch of a new digital multicast station, WSRG-LD, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, which became the first in the market to carry all five of Get After It Media's networks simultaneously. This addition strengthened the company's presence in the Northeast, providing local viewers access to a diverse lineup of classic television, family-oriented programming, automotive content, action series, and inspirational shows.[4] In 2025, Get After It Media accelerated its operational buildup with high-profile leadership and infrastructure developments. On June 24, 2025, Otto Padrón joined as co-president and chief operating officer, bringing extensive media experience to oversee day-to-day operations and strategic implementation across the portfolio.[11] Complementing this, the company opened new offices and studios in Nashville's historic Marathon Village on October 31, 2025, designating the city as its primary home base to leverage the region's creative ecosystem for content production and partnerships. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell honored the move with a proclamation declaring October 29, 2025, as "Get After It Media Day."[9][34] Further enhancing its programming slate, The Heartland Network rolled out a revamped primetime lineup on November 3, 2025, featuring expanded verticals, new content partnerships, and original productions aimed at deepening viewer engagement with rural and lifestyle themes. This initiative, announced on October 9, 2025, underscored the company's commitment to evolving its offerings amid the shifting broadcast landscape.[35]Assets and operations
Digital multicast networks
Get After It Media operates five core digital multicast networks, each targeting distinct audience interests through specialized programming formats. These networks are distributed primarily via over-the-air digital subchannels using ATSC 1.0 standards on owned and affiliated broadcast stations across the United States, as well as through streaming on the company's It's Real Good TV platform available on devices such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and mobile apps.[36][4] Retro TV focuses on classic television reruns, offering a mix of vintage sitcoms, dramas, and game shows from past decades to appeal to nostalgia-driven viewers. Launched in 2005, it serves as the company's flagship network and is carried on subchannels of Get After It Media's owned stations, such as those in markets like Scranton, Pennsylvania, and affiliates nationwide.[36][37][4] Heartland, dedicated to country music content, features a 24/7 lineup of classic and contemporary country music videos, vintage programs, and live broadcasts of artists to engage music enthusiasts. It is distributed on ATSC 1.0 subchannels of owned and affiliated stations, with additional availability via streaming for broader accessibility.[36][38][36] Rev'n specializes in automotive and outdoor enthusiast programming, including shows on cars, trucks, motorcycles, and motorsports, catering to performance-oriented viewers. The network launched on December 1, 2014, and is multicast on subchannels of Get After It Media's stations and affiliates, supplemented by streaming options.[36][39] The Action Channel provides action-oriented movies, series, and adventure content, emphasizing high-energy sports, thrill-seeking pursuits, and adrenaline-fueled narratives suitable for a wide audience. It airs on digital subchannels of the company's broadcast properties and is accessible through streaming platforms.[36][4] The Family Channel offers family-oriented programming, including wholesome shows on cooking, DIY projects, and light entertainment designed for all ages in a safe viewing environment. Distributed via ATSC 1.0 multicast on owned and affiliated stations, it also reaches viewers through the It's Real Good TV streaming service.[40][36]Broadcast television stations
Get After It Media owns and operates a portfolio of 62 low-power television stations across the United States, primarily through subsidiaries like Digital Networks, which focus on digital multicast distribution rather than traditional primary network affiliations.[41] These stations, mostly translators and low-power outlets, enable the carriage of the company's suite of digital networks on multiple subchannels, reaching rural and smaller markets where full-power stations may be limited.[1] The company's broadcast holdings expanded substantially in June 2011, when its predecessor Luken Communications acquired 78 low-power translator stations from the assets of the bankrupt Equity Broadcasting Corporation, forming the core of its current footprint.[25] More recently, in December 2024, Get After It Media added WSRG-LD (channel 59) in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as an owned-and-operated station dedicated to its digital multicast channels.[4] Representative examples of these stations illustrate their role in multicast delivery:- WSWH-LD (Tuscaloosa/Birmingham, Alabama; virtual channel 22, physical channel 46): Operates subchannels including Heartland (22.1), Retro TV (22.2), and Rev'n (22.3), serving the Birmingham-Anniston-Tuscaloosa market.[42][38]
- WOOT-LD (Chattanooga, Tennessee; virtual channel 6, physical channel 19): The company's flagship low-power station, featuring similar subchannel configurations for its networks in the Chattanooga designated market area.[42][43]
- K23PL-D (Shonto, Arizona; virtual channel 23, physical channel 38): A low-power translator in northern Arizona carrying the company's multicast networks.[44]