Laff, Grit, Escape Diginets Add New Markets

With the additions for the Katz Broadcasting networks, Laff climbs to 76.3% of U.S. and 86.5 million homes, Grit to 88%/99 million HHs and Escape to 78%/88.4 million.

By Staff | January 19, 2016 | 9:26 a.m. ET.

Multiple stations in multiple markets have recently launched the three emerging Katz Broadcasting multicast networks Grit, Escape and Laff.

The new markets are:

Laff: Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (WLTV-TV), Portland, Ore. (KPTV), Nashville (WTVF), San Antonio, Texas (KNIC), Grand Rapids, Mich. (WOOD), Norfolk, Va. (WSKY), Louisville, Ky. (WKYI), Fort Myers-Naples, Fla. (WFTX) and Knoxville, Tenn. (WATE).

Grit: Sarasota, Fla. (WSNN), West Palm Beach, Fla. (WFLX), Grand Rapids, Mich. (WOTV), Shreveport, La. (KSLA), Jackson, Miss. (WDBD) and Myrtle Beach-Florence S.C. (WMBF).

Escape: Portland, Ore. (KPDX), Grand Rapids, Mich. (WXSP), Richmond, Va. (WWBT), Fort Myers-Naples, Fla. (WFTX) and Dayton, Ohio (WDTN).

This recent growth accelerates the penetration of Laff to 76.3% of the United States, which equals 86.5 million households, Grit to 88% of the U.S. and 99 million homes and Escape to 78% and 88.4 million homes.

BRAND CONNECTIONS

These launches also come with “considerable cable carriage” for the networks locally, Katz said.

“The addition of these powerful stations in so many strong markets widens our already robust and expansive market coverage for our three young networks,” said Jeffrey Wolf, chief distribution officer for Katz Broadcasting.