Gray Media Names Jay Hiett as General Manager of WDRB, WAVE, and WBKI in Louisville, Kentucky
Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) appointed Jay Hiett as General Manager of WDRB, WAVE, and WBKI in Louisville, Kentucky, effective immediately.
Sentiment and the balance of points
Rhea-AI Sentiment reads the wording of the document, how positive or negative its language is on a 1 to 5 scale. The balance of points shown with the takes weighs what the document actually discloses, so the two can disagree, for example when a trial that missed its main goal is described in upbeat language.
Rhea-AI Summary
Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) appointed Jay Hiett as General Manager of WDRB, WAVE, and WBKI in Louisville, Kentucky, effective immediately.
Hiett brings 25+ years of broadcast leadership, most recently leading WFIE in Evansville. Gray Media serves 117 markets, reaching about 37% of US TV households as of May 15, 2026.
Details
News Market Reaction – GTN
On May 18, the day this news came out, GTN closed 1.45% above the previous close.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the May 18 session.
Key Figures
- Industry experience
- 25+ years
- Jay Hiett’s broadcast executive experience
- Television markets served
- 117 markets
- Full-power television markets as of May 15, 2026
- US TV household reach
- 37%
- Share of US television households reached
- Top-rated station markets
- 78 markets
- Markets where Gray owns the top-rated station
- Top 1st/2nd rated markets
- 101 markets
- Markets with first and/or second highest rated station
- Telemundo affiliate markets
- 46 markets
- Size of Gray’s Telemundo affiliate group
- Corporate phone
- 404-266-8333
- Gray Media contact number in release
Historical Context
-
Appointed Joanie Vasiliadis to lead digital transformation efforts.
-
Announced participation in three upcoming investor conferences.
-
Promoted James Finch to Senior Vice President of News Services.
-
Declared quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share.
-
Reported Q1 2026 results with $768M revenue at high end of guidance.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
ATLANTA, May 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gray Media has named Jay Hiett as the next General Manager of WDRB, WAVE, and WBKI in Louisville, Kentucky, effective immediately.
“We’re excited to have someone with Jay’s experience and track record of success lead our team in Louisville as we bring these stations together to serve the community with the highest quality local journalism and meaningful service,” said Ronna Steber, Kentucky native and Senior Operating Officer for Gray Media.
Jay is a veteran broadcast executive with more than 25 years of experience driving station performance across news, sales, digital platforms, and audience development. He most recently served as General Manager of WFIE (14NEWS), the NBC affiliate serving Evansville, Indiana. Under his leadership, the station maintained a strong market presence while advancing growth across ratings, revenue, digital platforms, and audience engagement.
Jay joined WFIE as General Sales Manager in 2010 and has served as the station’s General Manager since 2015. Prior to WFIE, he held leadership roles at WTVW (FOX) in Evansville from 1999 to 2010 and at KARD (FOX) in Monroe, Louisiana from 1997 to 1999. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his focus on strategic revenue growth, cross-department collaboration, and innovative approaches to local news and community outreach. Originally from Paducah, Jay earned a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Western Kentucky University.
About Gray Media:
Gray Media, Inc. (NYSE: GTN) is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We are the nation’s largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets. As of May 15, 2026, we serve 117 full-power television markets that collectively reach approximately
Gray Contact:
Sandy Breland, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, 404-266-8333
# # #
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.