United Communications Corporation (UCC) was a privately owned operator of three television stations in the U.S. states of Minnesota and New York. The company was the publisher of the Kenosha News of Kenosha, Wisconsin and two other daily newspapers.
History Founded in 1961 by the Brown family, upon its purchase of the News, the company added a Massachusetts newspaper in the 1970s, buying two competing newspapers—the Attleboro Sun and North Attleborough Chronicle—and merging them into The Sun Chronicle."Family Tradition Will Continue in Watertown, SD" . Press release, Dirks, Van Essen and Murray. March 31, 2002. Accessed February 26, 2007.
UCC then entered the television business through two sales mandated by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) competition rules. The Watertown Daily Times of Watertown, New York, sold WWNY-TV for $8.2 million in 1981;"50 Years of Service to the North Country" , WWNY-TV Website. Accessed February 26, 2007. the national media chain Lee Enterprises sold KEYC-TV in Mankato, Minnesota, in 1977.
In the 21st century, UCC added its last two properties, founding WNYF-LP, a low-power television station in Watertown, New York, in 2001, and a year later buying the Watertown Public Opinion in eastern South Dakota.
Owner and President Howard J. Brown died April 29, 2011."Howard J. Brown dies ." Kenosha News. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
In March 2013, his daughter Lucy Brown Minn was named president of the company. Her mother, Elizabeth K. Brown, serves as chairwoman of the board.
Former properties Newspapers Kenosha News of Kenosha, Wisconsin, acquired 1961, sold 2019. The Sun Chronicle of Attleboro, Massachusetts, acquired 1970, sold 2018. Watertown Public Opinion of Watertown, South Dakota, acquired 2002, sold 2016.
Television KEYC-TV, a CBS (DT1) and Fox (DT2) affiliate, of Mankato, Minnesota, acquired 1977, sold in 2019. WWNY-TV, a CBS affiliate, of Watertown, New York, acquired 1981, sold in 2019. WNYF-CD, a Fox affiliate, of Watertown, New York, founded 2001, sold in 2019.
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