: ** •v ,. ' , _;. . ;' . . . . -. • Network puts Channel 39 up for said Continued from Page IE. Metromedia Inc. That was followed by disclosure . of the sale in August of KTWS-TV (Channel 27) to a group of inves tors. May 25,1984, Dallas-based Gulf Broadcast Co. announced an agree ment to purchase KTXA-TV (Chan nel 21) for an estimated minimum of $62.5 million. Baeiwolf said he expects Chan nel 39 and its associated production company also to command top dol lar because the station boasts an ex tensive program library and has been profitable since 1976. The sale will enable officials to more aggressively pursue the pro duction business as well as lend fi nancial muscle needed to aggres sively promote the station in the highly competitive Dallas market CBN has its own production fa cility in Virginia Beach, Va., where the firm produces a variety of pro grams for commercial and cable use. “That’s separate from what we (in Dallas) are doing,” Baerwolf said. “They don’t see that aspect (Continental Productions) as im portant in their operation.” KXTX eventually seeks to fill a. significant portion of its program ming requirements with shows that it creates for national syndication, Baerwolf said. “The way the marketplace is lin ing up gives the 1 station excellent opportunities for growth in the fu ture,” he said. Sharon Armbrust, vice president with Paul Kagan Associates Inc., a firm specializing in media invest ment analysis, said growth in the Sun Belt is driving up the price of television stations. “High multiples and strong pric ing in the Sun Belt will continue,” she said. In the last year, Dallas has ad vanced from 10th to ninth place in the ranking of the nation’s major media markets. Dallas-Fort Worth television stations generate about $225 million in revenues annually, Ms. Armbrust said. Federal Communications Com-' mission consideration of fewer TV station ownership restrictions has increased demand for TV stations and hiked prices, she said. And the recent KTXA sale may have motivated CBN to pursue a transac tion. S “They see this is a really* good time to sell because there are^a lot of buyers around,” she said. KXTX was acquired, in -April 1973, Baerwolf said. It began opera tions in February 1968. Originally, "the station was to serve as a Christian outlet, pro gramming evangelist Pat Robert son’s Christian Broadcasting-Net work. „ ,1- “Our primary goal is torsave souls for Christ, so we’re is the business to evangelize,” Baerwolf said in a July 1978 account ijt The News. w- But in recent years, the station has shifted toward the mainstream, retaining only Robertson’s 700 Club as prime-time religious fare. - . New ownership is needed to fur ther set the station apartTrom- com petitors, Baerwolf said. “Wejdpn't want to be an independent televi sion station that just shows reruns.” \ • . . ■ - XK ■ “The way the marketplace is lining up gives the station excellent opportunities for growth in the future.” — Roger K. Baerwolf, general manager