Gray Media Agrees to Purchase Two Television Stations from SagamoreHill Broadcasting
Gray Media (NYSE:GTN) has announced an agreement to acquire two television stations from SagamoreHill Broadcasting: WLTZ (NBC affiliate in Columbus, Georgia - DMA 127) and KJTV (FOX affiliate in Lubbock, Texas - DMA 140).
Gray already provides back-office services to both stations through its existing ABC and NBC affiliates in these markets. The company expects to close these transactions in Q4 2025, subject to regulatory approval. Gray will seek FCC waivers under the "failing station" standard, similar to its recent KXLT acquisition in Rochester, Minnesota.
Gray Media is currently the largest owner of top-rated local television stations in the US, reaching approximately 37% of US television households across 113 markets.
Gray Media (NYSE:GTN) ha annunciato un accordo per acquisire due stazioni televisive da SagamoreHill Broadcasting: WLTZ (affiliata NBC a Columbus, Georgia - DMA 127) e KJTV (affiliata FOX a Lubbock, Texas - DMA 140).
Gray già fornisce servizi di back-office a entrambe le stazioni tramite le sue affiliate ABC e NBC presenti in questi mercati. L'azienda prevede di concludere queste operazioni nel quarto trimestre del 2025, soggette all'approvazione regolamentare. Gray cercherà deroghe dalla FCC secondo lo standard delle "stazioni in difficoltà", simile alla recente acquisizione di KXLT a Rochester, Minnesota.
Gray Media è attualmente il maggiore proprietario di stazioni televisive locali di prima fascia negli Stati Uniti, raggiungendo circa il 37% delle famiglie televisive americane in 113 mercati.
Gray Media (NYSE:GTN) ha anunciado un acuerdo para adquirir dos estaciones de televisión de SagamoreHill Broadcasting: WLTZ (afiliada a NBC en Columbus, Georgia - DMA 127) y KJTV (afiliada a FOX en Lubbock, Texas - DMA 140).
Gray ya proporciona servicios administrativos a ambas estaciones a través de sus afiliadas ABC y NBC en estos mercados. La compañía espera cerrar estas transacciones en el cuarto trimestre de 2025, sujeto a la aprobación regulatoria. Gray solicitará exenciones de la FCC bajo el estándar de "estación en dificultades", similar a su reciente adquisición de KXLT en Rochester, Minnesota.
Gray Media es actualmente el mayor propietario de estaciones de televisión locales de alta audiencia en EE. UU., alcanzando aproximadamente al 37% de los hogares televisivos estadounidenses en 113 mercados.
Gray Media (NYSE:GTN)는 SagamoreHill Broadcasting으로부터 두 개의 텔레비전 방송국을 인수하는 계약을 발표했습니다: WLTZ (조지아주 콜럼버스 NBC 계열사 - DMA 127)와 KJTV (텍사스주 러벅 FOX 계열사 - DMA 140).
Gray는 이미 이 시장에서 기존 ABC 및 NBC 계열사를 통해 두 방송국에 백오피스 서비스를 제공하고 있습니다. 회사는 규제 승인에 따라 2025년 4분기에 이 거래를 완료할 것으로 예상합니다. Gray는 미네소타주 로체스터에서 최근 KXLT 인수와 유사하게 "부진 방송국" 기준에 따른 FCC 면제를 신청할 예정입니다.
Gray Media는 현재 미국 내 최고 등급의 지역 텔레비전 방송국을 가장 많이 보유한 회사로, 113개 시장에서 약 미국 TV 가구의 37%에 도달하고 있습니다.
Gray Media (NYSE:GTN) a annoncé un accord pour acquérir deux stations de télévision auprès de SagamoreHill Broadcasting : WLTZ (affiliée NBC à Columbus, Géorgie - DMA 127) et KJTV (affiliée FOX à Lubbock, Texas - DMA 140).
Gray fournit déjà des services administratifs aux deux stations via ses affiliées ABC et NBC présentes sur ces marchés. La société prévoit de finaliser ces transactions au quatrième trimestre 2025, sous réserve d'approbations réglementaires. Gray sollicitera des dérogations auprès de la FCC selon le critère des "stations en difficulté", similaire à sa récente acquisition de KXLT à Rochester, Minnesota.
Gray Media est actuellement le plus grand propriétaire de stations de télévision locales de premier plan aux États-Unis, atteignant environ 37 % des foyers télévisés américains dans 113 marchés.
Gray Media (NYSE:GTN) hat eine Vereinbarung zum Erwerb von zwei Fernsehsendern von SagamoreHill Broadcasting bekannt gegeben: WLTZ (NBC-Affiliate in Columbus, Georgia - DMA 127) und KJTV (FOX-Affiliate in Lubbock, Texas - DMA 140).
Gray erbringt bereits Back-Office-Dienstleistungen für beide Sender über seine bestehenden ABC- und NBC-Affiliates in diesen Märkten. Das Unternehmen erwartet den Abschluss dieser Transaktionen im 4. Quartal 2025, vorbehaltlich der behördlichen Genehmigung. Gray wird bei der FCC eine Ausnahmegenehmigung nach dem "Failing Station"-Standard beantragen, ähnlich wie bei der kürzlichen Übernahme von KXLT in Rochester, Minnesota.
Gray Media ist derzeit der größte Eigentümer von lokal führenden Fernsehsendern in den USA und erreicht etwa 37 % der US-Fernsehaushalte in 113 Märkten.
- Strategic expansion in existing markets where Gray already has operations
- Potential operational synergies through existing back-office services
- Strengthens Gray's market position in Columbus and Lubbock markets
- Follows successful precedent of similar 'failing station' acquisitions
- Regulatory approval required with FCC ownership rule waivers
- Integration costs and expenses associated with acquisitions
- Increased market concentration may face regulatory scrutiny
Insights
Gray Media's acquisition of two TV stations strengthens its local market position with minimal regulatory risk given previous FCC waiver precedents.
Gray Media's acquisition of NBC affiliate WLTZ and FOX affiliate KJTV from SagamoreHill Broadcasting represents a strategic consolidation in markets where Gray already has operational presence. The company already provides back-office services to both stations through existing Gray-owned affiliates in these markets (WTVM in Columbus and KCBD in Lubbock), making this a natural integration with minimal operational disruption.
The request for FCC waivers under the "failing station" standard has strong precedent for approval, as Gray successfully used this approach earlier in 2025 for their KXLT acquisition. This significantly reduces regulatory risk for the transaction's completion, expected in Q4. The acquisition aligns with Gray's established strategy of building dominant positions in local TV markets - they already own the top-rated station in 78 markets and first/second highest-rated stations in 99 markets.
These additions in DMA 127 (Columbus) and DMA 140 (Lubbock) strengthen Gray's impressive market coverage, which currently reaches approximately
ATLANTA, July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gray Media has reached an agreement to acquire SagamoreHill Broadcasting’s WLTZ, the NBC affiliate for the Columbus, Georgia, market (DMA 127), and KJTV, the FOX affiliate for the Lubbock, Texas, market (DMA 140). For the past several years, Gray has provided back-office services to both stations through its Columbus ABC affiliate WTVM and its Lubbock NBC affiliate KCBD, respectively.
Gray anticipates closing these transactions in the fourth quarter of this year following receipt of regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. In that regard, Gray will request waivers of the FCC’s current local broadcast ownership rule under the same “failing station” waiver standard through which the FCC has authorized similar combinations over the past 25 years, including earlier this year in connection with Gray’s acquisition from SagamoreHill Broadcasting of KXLT, the FOX affiliated television station in the Rochester, Minnesota, market.
About Gray Media:
Gray Media, Inc. (NYSE: GTN) is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company is the nation’s largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets serving 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 37 percent of US television households. The portfolio includes 78 markets with the top-rated television station and 99 markets with the first and/or second highest rated television station during 2024, as well as the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 44 markets. The company also owns Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Gray’s additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios. For more information, please visit www.graymedia.com.
Gray Contact:
Kevin P. Latek, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Development Officer, 404-266-8333
FAQ
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