TVB ePort has secured the support of 507 committed stations in 176 markets, representing 95.6 percent of the United States, as the Ebiz open-standards platform nears the rollout of its first phase, the Television Bureau of Advertising announced today. It will be available in 97 of the top 100 markets.

“TVB ePort's coverage is just about universal,” said TVB President Chris Rohrs. “And we are adding additional TV stations every day.” The project was announced on Feb. 21 with an infusion of seed money from the National Association of Broadcasters, with the remainder of funding to come from broadcast groups and rep firms.

The 507 stations are drawn from 51 owner groups: ABC Owned Television Stations, Acme Television, Allbritton Communications Co., Banks Broadcasting, Barringer Broadcasting, Belo Corporation, Bonneville International, CBS Television Stations, Citadel Communications, Cordillera Communications, Cox Television, the Dispatch Broadcast Group, Duhamel Broadcasting Enterprises, E.W. Scripps Co., Emmis Communications, Fisher Communications, Fox Television Stations, Freedom Broadcasting, Gannett Broadcasting, Global Broadcasting, Hearst-Argyle Television, Hubbard Broadcasting, Journal Broadcast Group, KAZT LLC, LIN Television Corp., McGraw-Hill Broadcasting, Media General Broadcast Group, Meredith Broadcasting, Montgomery Communications, Morgan Murphy Stations, National Communications, NBC Universal Television Stations, New Vision Group, News-Press & Gazette, Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Ottumwa Media Holdings, Pappas Telecasting Companies, Post-Newsweek Stations, Quincy Newspapers, Ramar Communications, Raycom Media, Sagamore Hill Broadcasting, Sarkes Tarzian Inc., Schurz Communications, Second Generation Television, Smith Media, South Jersey Radio, the University of Missouri, Woods Communication Corp, Young Broadcasting and Tribune Broadcasting.

TVB ePort's first phase will start within weeks, enabling Spot TV buyers to send first quarter 2008 orders electronically. The entire suite of open standard transactions—from avail through invoice for stations' airtime, websites, digital subchannels and other multiplatform offerings—is expected to be available through TVB ePort by March.

To view the list of committed broadcasters, click here.