The multi-year contracts cover 24 NBC affiliates and 16 CW stations.
Gray Renews All Its NBC, CW Affiliations
Gray Television has signed multi-year agreements renewing all its NBC and CW affiliations.
The NBC deal covers 24 stations in 21 markets, while the CW renewal compirses 14 existing affiliations and adds two new ones.
“Today is another historic day for Gray Television because we proudly announce the long-term extension of our deep relationship with NBC,” said Gray CEO Hilton H. Howell Jr. “Most of our NBC affiliated stations have been partners with the network since they first began operation.
“Through NBC’s partnership, all of our NBC affiliated stations are able to provide their local communities with quality programming, local news, and unparalleled leadership.”
Gray also said today: “As an early believer in the CW Network, Gray has been proud to have expanded our portfolio of CW channels to become one of the network’s largest affiliate groups. Today’s announcement ensures that Gray and CW will extend and strengthen our strong relationship for years to come.”
The agreement in principle includes early renewals for all 24 Gray-owned NBC affiliates: WSAZ Charleston-Huntington, W.Va.; WOWT Omaha, Neb.; WMTV Madison, Wis.; WNDU South Bend, Ind.; WITN Greenville, N.C.; KSNB Lincoln, Neb.; WILX Lansing, Mich.; KVLY Fargo, N.D.; WEAU Eau Claire, Wis.; KFYR, KMOT, KUMV and KQCD in Minot-Bismarck-Dickinson, N.D.; WJHG Panama City, Fla.; WRGX Dothan, Ala.; KALB Alexandria, La.; KGNS Laredo, Texas; KKCO Grand Junction, Colo.; KBGF Great Falls, Mont.; WTAP Parkersburg, W.Va.; KCWY Casper, Wyo.; KCHY Cheyenne, Wyo.; KTVH Helena, Mont.; and KNOP North Platte, Neb.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
The CW stations covered by the new affiliation agreements are WKYT Lexington, Ky.; WQCW Charleston-Huntington, W.Va.; KWTX Waco, Texas; KBTX Bryan-College Station, Texas; KSFY Sioux Falls, S.D.; KNOE Monroe-El Dorado, La.; WSWG Albany, Ga.; WJHG Panama City, Fla.; WTVY Dothan, Ala.; WBKO Bowling Green, Ky.; WTOK Meridian, Miss.; and KGWN Cheyenne, Wyo.
In addition, the new affiliation agreements will cover two CW stations to which Gray currently provides services, KJCT Grand Junction, Colo., and KMTF Helena, Mont., effective upon Gray’s anticipated acquisition of those stations in the next few weeks. Gray will launch CW Plus on KCWY Casper, Wyo., on Jan. 26, 2015.
Comments (1)
Keith ONeal says:
November 5, 2014 at 10:56 pm
Even though I live in Florida now, I grew up in West Central Wisconsin in the 1960s when there were 2 TV stations at the time ~ WEAU/13 (NBC) in Eau Claire, and WKBT/8 (CBS) in La Crosse. Both stations aired some ABC programming, usually during some free time in the afternoons. Both of these stations have stayed with their network affiliations through all these years and, today, 13 is still with NBC and 8 is still with CBS, and I’m proud of these stations for staying the course. Times have changed, and there are now ABC, FOX, and PBS stations (along with the CW+ subchannels on the ABC stations) in the La Crosse-Eau Claire DMA as well.