Gray Media Names Jay Hiett as General Manager of WDRB, WAVE, and WBKI in Louisville, Kentucky
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.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – GTN
In the May 18 session, GTN gained 1.45%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +6.3% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -2.3% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 16 alerts that day, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 13 | Leadership hire | Positive | -2.8% | Appointed Joanie Vasiliadis to lead digital transformation efforts. |
| May 11 | Investor conferences | Neutral | +1.1% | Announced participation in three upcoming investor conferences. |
| May 11 | Executive promotion | Positive | +1.1% | Promoted James Finch to Senior Vice President of News Services. |
| May 07 | Dividend declaration | Positive | -20.1% | Declared quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share. |
| May 07 | Earnings release | Neutral | -20.1% | 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.
Recent corporate and capital-markets updates often saw mixed to negative price reactions, including sharp declines following earnings and dividend news, while some management announcements aligned with modest gains.
Over the last few weeks, Gray Media has combined financial updates with strategic and leadership announcements. On May 7, Q1 2026 results showed total revenue of $768 million and a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share, yet the stock fell about 20%. Subsequent leadership moves, including promoting James Finch and appointing Joanie Vasiliadis, saw modest reactions around +1.15% to -2.8%. Participation in multiple investor conferences on May 11 coincided with a small gain. Today’s Louisville GM appointment fits this pattern of operational leadership updates alongside a stock trading well below its 52‑week high.
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
# # #
