Emery Telcom through its subsidiary Emery Telcom Video, LLC, purchased the Sun Advocate and the Emery County Progress on October 5, 2018. The two papers will be combined with ETV News and will continue as a weekly paper.
CEO Brock Johansen said, “The owners of the Sun Advocate and Emery County Progress approached me through an agent earlier this summer about the possibility of purchasing the papers. Of course, ETV was interested in this possibility because of the long history associated with both papers. Throughout the process, the management team of Brehm Communications, Inc. has been great to work with. Ryan Schuyler and Jeff Johnson had a great interest in ensuring that the paper would continue.”
ETV has been printing its own weekly newspaper since March, 2013. ETV News has become the primary news source throughout Carbon and Emery counties. ETV News has a robust online presence where it averages over 200,00 unique views each month. ETV News combines this with its live coverage of local sports on Channel 6, Channel 10 and on its website.
“There are a lot of decisions still to be made with this acquisition. ETV is committed to continuing the tradition and history of the Sun Advocate and Emery County Progress. ETV is working to archive all the past articles of the Sun Advocate and the Emery County Progress to preserve the history associated with those papers. However, ETV News had a lot larger distribution base and a considerably larger web presence. ETV News is the primary news source and will become stronger as it combines with the Sun Advocate and Emery County Progress,” stated Mr. Johansen.
ETV News will continue to go to every residence and business in Carbon and Emery counties and will continue to be the area’s best source for news. ETV News has been a free news source, whereas the Sun Advocate and Emery County Progress have been subscription based. ETV plans to continue as a free newspaper. Mr. Johansen explained, “ETV is analyzing how to make it right with the subscribers of the Sun Advocate and Emery County Progress. They will continue to get the ETV News paper for free. We are looking at how to refund those subscribers that are already receiving the ETV News’ printing who were subscribers of the Sun Advocate and Emery County Progress. We are hoping to continue to mail to those subscribers that the Sun Advocate and Progress have outside the area. We are working through these issue.”
“ETV is excited about purchasing the Sun Advocate and Emery County Progress. We are excited that both papers are locally owned and controlled again. Emery Telcom is a nonprofit cooperative owned by the residents locally. We are excited to continue to bring the community the best coverage of local news and to help promote our community.”
Future information will be posted as it becomes available.
For more on the history of the Sun Advocate and Emery County Progress, please click here.