Television: Ellis Communications Inc. hired Goldman, Sachs...

Television: Ellis Communications Inc. hired Goldman, Sachs & Co. to explore a sale or merger of the closely held television company, Chief Executive Bert Ellis said. The Atlanta-based owner of 12 television stations and a regional sports production company could be worth as much as $900 million, a banker familiar with Ellis said. The possibility of a sale comes as TV and other media companies are pursuing mergers or acquisitions as Congress considers a bill that would increase the number of stations a single company can own. “What’s going on here is a major consolidation in the broadcasting industry,” said Chris Dixon, a media analyst at PaineWebber.