Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced this afternoon that it has signed a new long-term agreement for national sales representation with two units of Katz Television Group, transferring 22 stations in 14 of its markets from Petry Media Corp. subsidiaries Blair Television and Petry Media Sales.

Nexstar owns, operates, programs or provides sales and other services to 50 TV stations in 29 markets.

“We have worked with Katz for the past year since the acquisition of WTAJ, our CBS affiliate in the Johnstown-Altoona, Pa., market," said Nexstar CEO Perry Sook.

"Based on their outstanding performance for us in that market, we have decided to extend our relationship with them to meet the specific sales needs of 22 additional stations. We look forward to working with them in this expanded relationship and are confident that they will prove to be an important asset to our company.”

Moving to Katz Continental Sales are the company’s stations in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Erie, Pa.; Hagerstown, Md.; Rochester, N.Y.; Champaign/Springfield/Decatur, Ill.; St. Joseph, Mo.; and Terre Haute, Ind.

Transferring to Katz Millennium Sales and Marketing are Nexstar’s Little Rock and Ft. Smith/Fayetteville, Ark., properties as well as its stations in Evansville and Ft. Wayne, Ind., Peoria/Bloomington, Ill.; Shreveport, La.; and Springfield, Mo.

Jim Beloyianis, president of Katz Television Group commented: “We are delighted to expand our relationship with Nexstar, one of the most innovative broadcast groups in the industry. The combination of Nexstar’s valuable management team with our sales, research and programming departments best position us to meet and exceed Nexstar’s long term goals.”

Blair picked up another Petry station last November when WPSD Paducah, Ky., moved its representation from Blair after 30 years to Katz Continental Sales.

Last month, TVNEWSDAY reported that Petry was undergoing a major restructuring, involving layoffs of between 40 and 60 people.

A Petry representative was unavailable for comment before press time.