Gray Media - General Thread

[SDHIll1980 101]

13 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

This partnership extends into the other regional sports channels that Gray has created, to pretty much align with the Braves' territory.

 

Hopefully something similar happens in Cleveland because it looks like Major League Baseball is going to be controlling those games directly for the Guardians.

 

I think all of these teams that are now aligned with MLB Local should offer a small package of games to any over-the-air outlet that's interested, even if they're simulcasts. That way, you could entice other fans who may be hesitant to buy the full season of games to do so, and especially for those who no longer have cable and/or satellite service.  Hell, take it back old-school, where some teams (before the growth of independent TV stations and cable TV) were only offering probably no more than 30 games on TV each season.  Of course, a lot of that had to do with certain owners thinking locally-televised games would affect game attendance, while other owners (mostly with the Chicago and NYC teams, and later Boston and the Braves) using TV as a means to advertise and entice fans to come see games in person. 

 

Certainly in Cincinnati, where Rock Entertainment Sports Network is available via WXIX, if the Guardians were to ever align with them, they would have to put alternate programming on in place because of territorial exclusivity.  Why not put Reds games on in place, especially on days/nights where the Guardians would schedule a game on RESN.  Gray does have stations within the Reds' broadcast footprint, including in some of the places where their Braves package will be available.

[tyrannical bastard 3948]

2 hours ago, SDHIll1980 said:

 

I think all of these teams that are now aligned with MLB Local should offer a small package of games to any over-the-air outlet that's interested, even if they're simulcasts. That way, you could entice other fans who may be hesitant to buy the full season of games to do so, and especially for those who no longer have cable and/or satellite service.  Hell, take it back old-school, where some teams (before the growth of independent TV stations and cable TV) were only offering probably no more than 30 games on TV each season.  Of course, a lot of that had to do with certain owners thinking locally-televised games would affect game attendance, while other owners (mostly with the Chicago and NYC teams, and later Boston and the Braves) using TV as a means to advertise and entice fans to come see games in person. 

 

Certainly in Cincinnati, where Rock Entertainment Sports Network is available via WXIX, if the Guardians were to ever align with them, they would have to put alternate programming on in place because of territorial exclusivity.  Why not put Reds games on in place, especially on days/nights where the Guardians would schedule a game on RESN.  Gray does have stations within the Reds' broadcast footprint, including in some of the places where their Braves package will be available.

Things are almost returning to the way they were before the RSN's took total control of the rights away from local stations.

 

I remember with SportsChannel Ohio carrying the Indians alongside WUAB, where SportsChannel was an a-la-carte service that Warner Cable scrambled during the games and sold access, until it was eventually "bundled" into expanded basic like the other channels.  Then in 2001, Fox Sports Ohio (their successor) took total rights and WUAB ended their coverage.

 

Now, MLB appears to have distribution rights in Cleveland since whatever the RSN is for the time being (FanDuel) is no longer carrying the Guardians.  It would be a good gesture for at least some of the games be made available for broadcast.

[SDHIll1980 101]

1 hour ago, tyrannical bastard said:

Things are almost returning to the way they were before the RSN's took total control of the rights away from local stations.

 

I remember with SportsChannel Ohio carrying the Indians alongside WUAB, where SportsChannel was an a-la-carte service that Warner Cable scrambled during the games and sold access, until it was eventually "bundled" into expanded basic like the other channels.  Then in 2001, Fox Sports Ohio (their successor) took total rights and WUAB ended their coverage.

 

Now, MLB appears to have distribution rights in Cleveland since whatever the RSN is for the time being (FanDuel) is no longer carrying the Guardians.  It would be a good gesture for at least some of the games be made available for broadcast.

 

We had SportsChannel here in Los Angeles back in the late '80/early '90s before their parent company (Rainbow Media) shut it down at the end of 1992, and they had the cable rights to the Angels and Dodgers (and the Clippers as well).  The Los Angeles version was the former Z Channel, and it inherited the broadcast contracts of the three aforementioned teams prior to the changeover.  The Angels went to what's now FanDuel Sports Network West in 1992, while the Clips and Dodgers help launch what's now FanDuel Sports Network SoCal in early 1997.  A part of SportsChannel L.A.'s issue was that it was competing with the original Prime Ticket network, which was on basic cable, and was available on more systems throughout the L.A. DMA; it wasn't until SCLA's final seven months on the air that converted to a basic cable channel, although some events were kept on a pay-per-view basis.  It wasn't until the mid-2000s that both local MLB teams started beefing-up their local TV packages, where virtually every game were now being shown between over-the-air and regional cable.

 

I do remember reading the then-Indians broadcast situation when they left WUAB, and went all-in with Fox Sports Ohio...Larry Dolan's brother's company (Rainbow) were still part owners of the Fox Sports/SportsChannel RSN collective at the time, and when Rainbow sold the SportsChannel networks to Fox, that's when the Cleveland Dolans went ahead to create SportsTime Ohio.  Perhaps the best example of "keeping things in the family" lol.

[Howard Beale 57]

On 12/18/2024 at 8:58 AM, Georgie56 said:

The Atlanta Braves have announced a partnership with Gray that will include an OTA simulcast of 15 regular season games and 10 spring training games.

Big whoop.  That amounts to one in ten games being shown on WPCH and elsewhere in the Gray universe.  But, judging by how Gray promoted this, you'd think all 194 games (32 pre-season and 162 regular season) were coming to WPCH.

[channel2 978]

It's more than nothing!

[Howard Beale 57]

16 hours ago, channel2 said:

It's more than nothing!

Technically, it is.  But, despite what the Gray hype would have you believe, it's not that much more than nothing.

[tyrannical bastard 3948]

In this day and age, it's a win for broadcast. 

The path for any sport other than the NFL and NCAA football is a murky one since the RSN's and leagues have pretty much swallowed up baseball, basketball and hockey aside from marquee games on the networks.

[Howard Beale 57]

1 hour ago, tyrannical bastard said:

In this day and age, it's a win for broadcast. 

The path for any sport other than the NFL and NCAA football is a murky one since the RSN's and leagues have pretty much swallowed up baseball, basketball and hockey aside from marquee games on the networks.

It is a win, small as it is, but the wins will not last.  Broadcast's monopoly as THE place for live sports is no more.  It's still the number-one reason why people watch broadcast TV, but the major sports leagues have already put some games on streaming services.  I get it, Gray's just trying to grab any fruit off the tree, and I don't blame them for it.  But this is not a hurrah for broadcast TV.  It's a metaphorical fleeting jab from a boxer who's two or three more blows away from a knockout.

[TheRolyPoly 2410]

Gray + ABC = Renewed until 2028.

 

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1063303115810240&id=100063916838737

[TheRolyPoly 2410]

Its been officially known as Gray Television for quite some time. I think though that we'll soon have to rebrand this thread as the official company will become Gray Media, Inc. on New Year's Day at 12:01 a.m. ET.

 

https://graytv.gcs-web.com/node/22976/pdf

[T.L. Hughes 889]

On 11/7/2023 at 4:51 PM, T.L. Hughes said:

The365 is basically a rehash of Bounce (interestingly and kind of fittingly, the name harkens McDonald’s old 365Black campaign)

Well, after only one year on the air, the network is already changing its name: starting January 1, The365 will become 365BLK, sharing (a stylized variant of) the name with the 2003-19 McDonald’s Black history and cultural outreach initiative. (Promos using the new name and updated logo were rolled out shortly after Christmas to promote a New Year’s Day marathon of the Lethal Weapon movies.) The network’s website URL has already changed to 365blk.tv.

 

Edited December 31, 2024 by T.L. Hughes

[TheRolyPoly 2410]

A new year means new lineup pairings at WTVG Toledo now that Diane Larson has retired.

 

Kristian Brown has taken over Diane's 11:00pm and now, it'll be Sashem Brey who'll trade her longtime morning post for the evening post at 5:00 and 6:00pm (Kristian continues at 5:30pm).

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.13abc.com/2024/12/31/13-action-news-announces-new-anchor-lineup-2025/%3foutputType=amp

[TheRolyPoly 2410]

Gray wants to purchase KXLT outright for $490,500 from SagamoreHill.

 

https://northpine.com/2025/01/12/gray-media-group-seeks-purchase-of-rochester-fox-affiliate/

[Kingpeytonifx 6]

5 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

Gray wants to purchase KXLT outright for $490,500 from SagamoreHill.

 

https://northpine.com/2025/01/12/gray-media-group-seeks-purchase-of-rochester-fox-affiliate/

I thought that a company couldn't own the top rated stations in the same market 

[johnintx 20]

On 1/18/2025 at 5:17 PM, TheRolyPoly said:

Gray wants to purchase KXLT outright for $490,500 from SagamoreHill.

 

https://northpine.com/2025/01/12/gray-media-group-seeks-purchase-of-rochester-fox-affiliate/

The Fox affiliate in Rochester, MN is valued at $495,000. I know the market is small, but that's not much money.

I presume a good chunk of that is tied up in being the local home of the Vikings.

[GoldenShine_10 96]

On 1/18/2025 at 5:23 PM, Kingpeytonifx said:

I thought that a company couldn't own the top rated stations in the same market 

 

They probably see it as going away, or perhaps it was #5 last year?

[TheRolyPoly 2410]

We're getting another season of Investigate TV+. Third for the daily series, fifth for the weekend series.

 

https://tvnewscheck.com/journalism/article/gray-renewsinvestigatetv-and-investigatetv-weekend-for-2025-26/?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Gray+Renews%26%23039%3bInvestigateTV%2b%26%23039%3b+And+%26%23039%3bInvestigateTV%2b+Weekend+For+2025-26&utm_campaign=Murdoch%3a+Fox+To+Launch+DTC+Service+This+Year

[mer764KCTV5 150]

On 1/19/2025 at 9:43 PM, GoldenShine_10 said:

 

They probably see it as going away, or perhaps it was #5 last year?

Wot? But then, who would be in 4th place, KSMQ?

[TheRolyPoly 2410]

Another day, another sports rights agreement with Gray. This time, a deal with FanDuel Sports Network K.C. will carry 10 Sunday games on KCTV, KSMO, and some other Gray stations across Royals territory.

 

https://www.facebook.com/GrayTelevision/posts/pfbid0cvFbdF11e26HYatjcwtHXLki8jNtnpmSHNcbwDFq1NBpSMTRkv5EuNX4Vag4w7Bcl

[TheRolyPoly 2410]

Say it with me... another day, another Gray sports rights deal.

 

This time, a spring training deal to carry MY Boston Red Sox. In Hartford, they'll be carried on The WAX, the WFSB brother station that's also the flagship for UConn sports.

 

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1177192713764135&id=100044202531212

[TheRolyPoly 2410]

A major shift for Telemundo in Columbia, S.C.

 

The network has moved from WKTC 63.2 to... Gray's WTES-LD 16.1. This must've happened within the last couple of weeks, and WTES also carries WIS' Palmetto Sports and Entertainment Network on 16.2 in HD (WIS also carries it in SD on 10.4).

 

Nominally licensed to Florence, S.C., it was a translator of WMBF for its first two years on the air starting in 2022 until it moved to the Columbia market and became a WIS translator for the last year before becoming the newest Telemundo affiliate.

[TheRolyPoly 2410]

KCRG Cedar Rapids has converted the 4:30pm weekday news into... you guessed it... a half-hour weekday all-weather broadcast.

 

First Alert Weather NOW (not to be confused with First Alert Plus, their 24/7 live weather stream) now airs between their 4:00 and 5:00pm newscasts.

 

The all-weather shows trend at Gray continues and they seem to take this trend to a whole new level with 24/7 streams, half-hour dedicated weather programs, etc.

[tyrannical bastard 3948]

8 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said:

KCRG Cedar Rapids has converted the 4:30pm weekday news into... you guessed it... a half-hour weekday all-weather broadcast.

 

First Alert Weather NOW (not to be confused with First Alert Plus, their 24/7 live weather stream) now airs between their 4:00 and 5:00pm newscasts.

 

The all-weather shows trend at Gray continues and they seem to take this trend to a whole new level with 24/7 streams, half-hour dedicated weather programs, etc.

For some of these smaller markets with umpteen hours of local news, the move sort of makes sense.  Most of the material is C-block grade and local weather is much more appealing than the new "Krispy Kreme donut" or the latest "caught on video" story ...

[TheRolyPoly 2410]

At Gray's WCAX Burlington, don't be surprised to hear this... MAX Advantage Weather is out and First Alert Weather is in.

 

https://www.wcax.com/2025/02/17/wcax-weather-coverage-evolves-with-first-alert/

[TheRolyPoly 2410]

Another day, another Gray sports rights deal.

 

This time, a five-game deal in simulcast with FanDuel Sports Network Southeast to carry the Grizzlies.

 

TL;DR

• Memphis: WMC 5.1 (NBC) and WMC 5.3 (News/WX)
• Nashville: WSMV 4.1 (NBC) and WSMV 4.2 (Tennessee Valley Sports and Entertainment)
• Knoxville: WBXX 20.1 (CW) and WVVLT 8.2 (MNT)

https://graytv.gcs-web.com/static-files/c3a43f92-d0ca-48a6-8bdb-1384b097caef