Gray Media - General Thread

[MD TV 389]

An unfortunate error at WTOC concerning Michael Penix Jr:

 

 

[ColtFromGulfcoast 869]

1 hour ago, MD TV said:

An unfortunate error at WTOC concerning Michael Penix Jr:

 

 

It was gonna happen sooner or later. 

[mre29 1967]

At least his first name isn't Harry.... 

 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Gray and FOX have reupped.

 

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gray-media_gray-media-has-reached-an-agreement-with-activity-7363163781100670976-tQ-_?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABqGw-0BrOQ_9csrv95OAtvM37gqLkE_dSc

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

1 hour ago, TheRolyPoly said:

Gray and FOX have reupped.

 

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gray-media_gray-media-has-reached-an-agreement-with-activity-7363163781100670976-tQ-_?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABqGw-0BrOQ_9csrv95OAtvM37gqLkE_dSc

The deal likely sets in stone any branding standards that the Fox affiliates have to abide by.  Aside from stations like WBRC, many will have a tough time trying to rebrand like many of Gray's other stations.  

[GoldenShine_10 263]

Comprehensive exhibit for the first deal (the Scripps trade):

 

https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff39819f0d001982eaeca591644

 

Overall, Colorado Springs is the market that looks to be a potential issue. However, they have an out in that Scripps can turn off KOAA and use the Pueblo satellite (say, have 11.1 and 30.2 as CBS and 11.2 and 30.1 as NBC), even if the waiver doesn't happen and the ruling is overturned - neither Gray nor Scripps have a duopoly there. The rest looks fair game. This shouldn't be a huge issue.

 

While Lansing would be a top-4 duopoly (currently permitted due to the court ruling), it also shouldn't create any antitrust issues. The gap between #2 and #3 in the market is gargantuan.

Edited August 20, 2025 by GoldenShine_10

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

KCTV's tower will soon be lighting up Kansas City's skyline once more... for the first time in 21 years.

 

https://www.kctv5.com/2025/08/20/kctv5-broadcast-tower-shine-once-again-with-relighting-ahead-2026-world-cup/

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

KWQC is partially changing their weekday daytime lineup starting next month.

 

Kelly Clarkson at 2pm is out and Local News Live at 1pm is in.

 

https://www.kwqc.com/2025/08/20/kwqc-change-weekday-programming/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMUOOdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHvoATzfObbiOpUsHCGoMEWR2Pu6iiqdiUIOkKT8BudaznC0fRAZzzvF-UtPq_aem_JCp7OdcVIwz1-5XoQPuf8Q

[NEOMatrix 1319]

WOIO is bringing back a 9pm newscast…on WUAB!

 

https://www.cleveland19.com/2025/08/22/wuab-become-clevelands-43-launch-additional-newscast/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR41hPUEXaCHLdE6VtuoRgeLdluK4jKJ5lneMAzRHjHvcdlHRsjkjBVTxhGYXA_aem_df6TFbZBVYgP03QBvCuyGw#eqwl4s795hvcy68vqxza6i56qksvrw3

[ScottSchell 423]

KXII is rebranding their News 12 AM to KXII News 12 Daybreak starting this Friday along with adding additional newscast starting September 8th from 7-8am on FOX and See tv channels of theirs. They will also be dropping the Weather Authority branding and going to First Alert Weather.

[GoldenShine_10 263]

Comprehensive exhibit is up for Gray/Block: 

https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f91989faf5b0198aff578690ddf 

 

A failing station waiver is requested for WBKI to create the triopoly. I'd argue that it should become available for Tegna --> Nexstar (WHAS) or Hearst (WLKY) first, since neither have duopolies. One way out could be to trade it to Nexstar for a market that creates a problem with the Tegna deal where Gray can take on a second station, or if combined with more pieces, for a new market for Gray (or Nexstar in a hypothetical future deal). If I were the regulators, I would put that condition on the deal.

Edited August 26, 2025 by GoldenShine_10

[mre29 1967]

14 hours ago, GoldenShine_10 said:

A failing station waiver is requested for WBKI to create the triopoly. I'd argue that it should become available for Tegna --> Nexstar (WHAS) or Hearst (WLKY) first, since neither have duopolies. One way out could be to trade it to Nexstar for a market that creates a problem with the Tegna deal where Gray can take on a second station, or if combined with more pieces, for a new market for Gray (or Nexstar in a hypothetical future deal). If I were the regulators, I would put that condition on the deal.

 

Well, it won't be Hartford-New Haven -- Gray's already there.

 

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

Here's a list of the current contracts that Gray holds (including affiliation agreements and their expiration dates)
https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/manager/download/f3b17ed2-ba72-2238-e3ea-5059313c19e9/95931e93-1049-436d-bd95-f3c7d73029b9.pdf

 

It says WUAB is under agreement until 2027 with the CW.  How was Nexstar able to swoop in and grab it back for themselves to put on WBNX?

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

1 hour ago, tyrannical bastard said:

Here's a list of the current contracts that Gray holds (including affiliation agreements and their expiration dates)
https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/manager/download/f3b17ed2-ba72-2238-e3ea-5059313c19e9/95931e93-1049-436d-bd95-f3c7d73029b9.pdf

 

It says WUAB is under agreement until 2027 with the CW.  How was Nexstar able to swoop in and grab it back for themselves to put on WBNX?

 

The only exceptions are the FOX affiliates in which Gray reupped with FOX for those with current expiration dates on them currently unclear.

[nathannah 2792]

Nice to know exactly when WMEI will get the remainder of Weigel's channels back from WBAY through this, and the expiration date of their MyNetworkTV affiliation feels like a red letter date to see if Fox pulls it back next year. It also provides a window to see when WPGA will be able to ramp up and try to see if they can get the ABC affiliation back.

It is out of date on some details; WDNN's month-to-month deals with Get After It's networks are already done, along with the Sonlife affiliations (cited to end in 2019) long gone for Telemundo.

[JCB4TV 362]

On 8/25/2025 at 4:55 PM, ScottSchell said:

KXII is rebranding their News 12 AM to KXII News 12 Daybreak starting this Friday along with adding additional newscast starting September 8th from 7-8am on FOX and See tv channels of theirs. They will also be dropping the Weather Authority branding and going to First Alert Weather.

A new logo as well!

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Just saw the new KXII logo post above. Disregard this post, please delete it.

 

 

Edited August 28, 2025 by TheRolyPoly
Edit for deletion of post.

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Another day, another Gray-limited sports rights contract. This time, 17 games of the Dallas Stars via an agreement with Victory+.

 

https://thedesk.net/2025/08/gray-media-victory-plus-dallas-stars/

[GoldenShine_10 263]

Paperwork is up on the acquisition of the Allen stations: https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f9198d1eb470198e7e7b5b10b27

 

WTHI, WLFI and WTVA are clean.

 

As long as the 8th Circuit ruling holds, they would be okay in Huntsville with WAFF and WAAY (1st and 4th place), KFVS and WSIL(+KPOB) (1st and 3rd place), WFIE and WEVV (1st and 4th place), and KATC and KADN (2nd and 3rd place). WIFR is low-power so WREX is not an issue.

 

The red lights, in my opinion, are Fort Wayne and Montgomery. I would put a condition that one station must be divested in those markets as the failing station waiver shouldn't create a triopoly when alternatives exist. In Fort Wayne, there's an easy out - trade WISE or WFFT to Nexstar (along with WBKI in Louisville) for something that creates major issues for them in the Tegna acquisition (such as KTHV). In Montgomery, most likely they would have to either turn off WIYC, or sell it to a religious broadcaster, as the other incumbent there (Bahakel) also has issues.

 

One thing I could also see is KFVS put a satellite up on 3.2 to improve coverage for CBS in the northern part of the market.

Edited September 3, 2025 by GoldenShine_10

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

It looks like Gray is further deepening into the syndication world.

 

Seems like another new daily syndicated show is coming, focusing on health and consumer issues from their home base: Atlanta.

 

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gray-media_big-news-from-gray-media-were-launching-activity-7371546481876701184-atIe?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABqGw-0BrOQ_9csrv95OAtvM37gqLkE_dSc

[mre29 1967]

1 hour ago, TheRolyPoly said:

It looks like Gray is further deepening into the syndication world.

 

Seems like another new daily syndicated show is coming, focusing on health and consumer issues from their home base: Atlanta.

 

Better that than yet another court show or conflict talker.

 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Introducing Gray's third syndicated program, The Good Side from Local News Live.

 

Hosted by Debra Alfarone, it begins this weekend.

 

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1274015474739002&id=100063916838737

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

On 8/20/2025 at 11:57 PM, TheRolyPoly said:

KCTV's tower will soon be lighting up Kansas City's skyline once more... for the first time in 21 years.

 

https://www.kctv5.com/2025/08/20/kctv5-broadcast-tower-shine-once-again-with-relighting-ahead-2026-world-cup/

 

Update:

 

KCTV's tower is relit once more. It was just after 9 pm when it was relit. It even brought back its 1999-2002 logo on its time/temp bug with the current logo to mark the occasion.

 

https://www.kctv5.com/2025/09/18/history-rekindled-iconic-kctv5-tower-once-again-shine-over-kansas-city/

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

WHOI is no longer a diginet but an actual legitimate television station, even if MyNetworkTV is not a network.

 

Now that Gray owns WHOI, WEEK has turned it into a MNT-affiliated station, now known as MyTeam Channel 19. Keeping up the tradition of Gray's expansion of sports networks, it features a mix of MyNetworkTV primetime, syndicated programs, sports programs seen on Gray's other networks, and WEEK's half-hour weekday newscasts at 7:00am and 9:00pm that were previously seen on streaming only, plus the new weeknight 25 Sports Overtime at 10:35pm.

 

https://www.25newsnow.com/2025/09/19/week-tv-announces-new-channel-more-options-sports-entertainment-local-news/

 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

The Phoenix Rising is extending their FREE OTA broadcasts on Gray's KTVK, KPHO, and KPHE for another three years.

 

https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/arizonas-family-extends-phoenix-rising-contract/