Gray Television, Inc. has entered into a new agreement with Paramount Global to renew all of Gray’s existing CBS network affiliations.
“At a time when local news is more valued than ever – and under greater pressure than ever – Gray is very pleased to have reached an agreement that builds upon the decades-long relationship with CBS in dozens of markets, large and small,” said Pat LaPlatney, co-ceo of Gray Television. “With this renewal, we intend to continue to invest in local news, weather and sports reporting, while bringing CBS’ premium programming to our local communities.”
In its press release, the Atlanta based station group talked about Meredith, which it bought in a $2.8 billion deal in 2021.
Gray said the deal includes seven markets acquired from Meredith Corporation and 47 legacy markets. It also said that it has improved the stations once owned by Meredith by launching local news bureaus, adding state of the art equipment, creating more than 100 hours of additional locally produced news programming each week, and adding 154 full-time local journalists and other station employees. It also made it a point to say it’s recruiting to fill an additional 74 open positions in those seven CBS markets.
Gray is the largest independent owner of CBS affiliates in the country, covering nearly 18% of the U.S. television households and nearly 22 million households. Nearly all of Gray’s CBS affiliates have been broadcasting CBS network programming from their very first days on the air.
Gray’s television stations serve 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 36 percent of US television households. The television station portfolio includes 80 markets with the top-rated television station and 102 markets with the first and/or second highest rated television station.