Business Highlights

SAN FRANCISCO — The two dominant public television stations in San Francisco and San Jose agreed to merge into one organization to cut programming costs and expand production of local shows, the stations said.

The merger of San Francisco’s KQED, which is seen in 1.5 million households per month, and San Jose’s KTEH, which reaches about 918,840 households a month, will create the Northern California Public Broadcasting entity, which will oversee programming and operations for both stations.

The boards of each station approved the deal late last week after eight months of negotiations, the stations said Monday.

The arrangement still needs regulatory approval from the Federal Communications Commission, which is expected to review the matter this summer.

Fewer than 15 jobs will be eliminated from a total of about 284 between the two stations, said Jeff Clarke, KQED’s president and chief executive officer, who will assume the same title at the new organization. The move will save about $1 million a year in operating costs, and will allow the new organization to leverage its larger audience to buy content for less, Clarke said.

Frontier increases service in California

DENVER — Frontier Airlines said Tuesday it will begin nonstop service between San Francisco and Los Angeles next month, the first point-to-point service in California for the low-cost carrier.

The new service will be offered five times daily beginning June 29, Frontier said.

"We feel strongly that the San Francisco market is underserved for high-value, low fare service and there is clearly a strong business and leisure connection between these two cities,” said John Happ, senior vice president of marketing and planning for Frontier.

The Denver-based airline said it is hiring 40 new employees in Los Angeles for a total of 70, and more than 40 will be hired in San Francisco.

———

On the Net: http://www.frontierairlines.com

<