A Scientology-affiliated group is moving to buy a Florida television station for $30 million, sparking concern among some Clearwater locals. The proposed acquisition would give the organization ownership of a station serving the wider Tampa Bay area, including Clearwater, where the Church of Scientology has a major presence. The news comes amid ongoing tensions over the church’s influence in the city, with one commenter warning that alarm bells should be ringing.
According to The Desk, the buyer, Sunset Boulevard Broadcasting Corporation, has filed paperwork with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to acquire WFTT-TV from Entravision Communications. The organization already operates a television station in Los Angeles, which it acquired through a similar $30 million deal. The Florida purchase is still awaiting regulatory approval, with the sale expected to close by early 2027.
Interestingly, Scientology already has a presence on WFTT-TV, with the station carrying its programming under an agreement dating back to December 2022. The channel is available to Tampa Bay viewers through several television providers, including Spectrum, DISH and over-the-air broadcasts. If the sale goes through, the organization would move from supplying the station’s programming to owning the station itself, giving it more direct control over a local broadcasting outlet.
Clearwater Locals Raise Concerns Over Scientology’s Growing Media Presence
The proposed acquisition has sparked concern among users on Reddit, with some questioning what the deal could mean for Clearwater. “Alarm bells should be going off. I don’t hear a sound,” warned one commenter, while another went further, claiming, “A dangerous cult is taking over an American city.”
Others focused on the station’s programming. One user pointed out, “Apparently, Scientology already has 24/7 programming established on another channel in the Tampa Bay area.” Another responded, “Yes, it’s on direct tv. Who has that anymore? On Spectrum you say? I don’t have that either. So I can avoid scrolling past all the propaganda channels.”
Meanwhile, one commenter took a more sarcastic approach to the acquisition, writing, “Buying tv stations might be considered ‘backwards compatibility’.“
With the $30 million deal still awaiting approval, questions remain about what the change in ownership could mean for Tampa Bay viewers. For some Clearwater locals, however, the bigger concern is how much further Scientology’s influence in the area could grow.
