Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) named Jim Hays as General Manager of WTHI (CBS/Fox) in Terre Haute, Indiana, effective April 13, 2026. Hays is an Emmy Award-winning marketing executive with more than 30 years of brand and local revenue experience.
He most recently served as Marketing Director for Gray Media stations in Cleveland and has held leadership roles at WIS-TV, WLTX, KATV, WXLV, and WLOS. Gray Media serves 117 full-power television markets reaching about 37% of US TV households and owns the largest Telemundo affiliate group with 47 markets.
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News Market Reaction – GTN
+1.24%
+1.24%Session close to close
In the Apr 8 session, GTN gained 1.24%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
This announcement highlights Gray Media’s continued emphasis on experienced leadership at its local ...
Analysis
This announcement highlights Gray Media’s continued emphasis on experienced leadership at its local stations, appointing a general manager with over 30 years in marketing and brand-building. The company already reaches about 37% of U.S. TV households across 117 full-power markets, with strong ratings positions in many of them. When assessing impact, investors may focus on how local leadership supports advertising revenue, sports partnerships, and digital initiatives alongside recent financing and governance disclosures.
Key Figures
Industry experience:30 yearsEffective date:April 13, 2026TV markets served:117 full-power television markets+5 more
8 metrics
Industry experience30 yearsJim Hays’ experience building brands and local revenue
Effective dateApril 13, 2026Start date as General Manager of WTHI in Terre Haute
TV markets served117 full-power television marketsGray Media local television footprint
Household reach37% of US television householdsCombined reach of Gray Media stations
Top-rated stations80 marketsMarkets where portfolio includes the top-rated station
Top 2 rated markets100 marketsMarkets with first and/or second highest rated station
Nielsen measured markets116 markets in 2025Markets measured by Nielsen for average all-day ratings in 2025
Telemundo affiliates47 marketsSize of Gray’s Telemundo Affiliate group
Announced quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share with March 31 payment.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Pattern Detected
Recent news shows mixed alignment: positive sports partnerships and dividends sometimes saw strong gains, while other positive rights deals and partnerships coincided with declines. Negative distribution disputes aligned with price drops.
Recent Company History
Over the last several weeks, Gray Media issued a mix of partnership and corporate updates. Sports content deals with the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves expanded free over-the-air game coverage, yet shares moved between -3.9% and +3.19% following those announcements. A carriage dispute with DISH on Mar 11, 2026 coincided with a -4.38% move. A quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share on Feb 26, 2026 preceded a strong +23.79% reaction. Today’s management appointment fits into this cadence of operational updates.
Key Terms
regional sports network, full-power television markets, digital agency
3 terms
regional sports networktechnical
"Rock Entertainment Sports Network, an Ohio-based regional sports network partly owned by Gray."
A regional sports network is a TV or streaming channel that has the local rights to broadcast professional and college sports for a specific geographic area. Think of it like a neighborhood movie theater that alone can show popular local games; its income from subscriber fees, advertising and rights deals directly affects revenue and profit, so changes in viewership, distribution agreements or streaming trends can materially move an investor’s assessment of value.
full-power television marketstechnical
"serving 117 full-power television markets that collectively reach approximately 37% of US television households."
Full-power television markets are areas served by licensed TV stations that operate at higher transmitter strength and coverage, reaching most homes in a region rather than a small neighborhood. For investors, these markets matter because stations with full-power status command larger audiences and stronger carriage and advertising rights—similar to a full-size retail store versus a small kiosk—affecting potential revenue, regulatory obligations, and the value of broadcast assets.
digital agencytechnical
"Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies"
A digital agency is a company that designs, builds and promotes a business’s presence online—through websites, mobile apps, social media and online advertising. For investors, these agencies matter because they turn digital attention into measurable sales and recurring service fees, acting like a marketing workshop whose client demand, pricing power and ability to scale talent and technology affect revenue growth and profit margins.
ATLANTA, April 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- . Gray Media has named Jim Hays as the next General Manager of WTHI (CBS/Fox) in Terre Haute, Indiana, effective April 13, 2026.
Jim is an Emmy Award-winning marketing executive with more than 30 years of experience building brands, driving local revenue, and helping stations have a positive impact on the communities they serve. He most recently served in Cleveland, OH as the Marketing Director for Gray Media’s WOIO (CBS), WUAB(MyNet), and WTCL (Telemundo), and for the Rock Entertainment Sports Network, an Ohio-based regional sports network partly owned by Gray.
Jim’s career includes leadership roles at WIS-TV and WLTX in Columbia, SC, KATV in Little Rock, AR, WXLV in Greensboro, NC, and WLOS in Asheville, NC. During his time in Columbia, Gray’s WIS-TV was honored with the NAB Service to America Award for Families Helping Families, an annual Christmas Giving campaign that helps thousands of needy children and families during the holidays.
Jim is a graduate from the University of North Carolina with a degree in Radio, Television, and Motion Pictures.
AboutGray 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 serving 117 full-power television markets that collectively reach approximately 37% of US television households. The portfolio includes 80 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first and/or second highest rated television station in average all-day ratings across the 116 of such markets that were measured by Nielsen in 2025. We also own the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 47 markets and Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Our 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.
Who is Jim Hays and when does he start as WTHI general manager (GTN)?
Jim Hays is an Emmy Award-winning marketing executive and will begin as WTHI general manager on April 13, 2026. According to Gray Media, he brings more than 30 years of experience building brands and driving local revenue across multiple stations.
What roles did Jim Hays hold before joining WTHI (GTN)?
Hays most recently served as Marketing Director for Gray Media's Cleveland stations and Rock Entertainment Sports Network. According to Gray Media, his prior leadership roles include WIS-TV, WLTX, KATV, WXLV, and WLOS.
How large is Gray Media's reach and which markets does GTN serve?
Gray Media reaches approximately 37% of US TV households across 117 full-power television markets. According to Gray Media, the portfolio includes 80 markets with a top-rated station and 47 Telemundo affiliate markets.
What is Jim Hays's background and education for the WTHI (GTN) role?
Jim Hays holds a degree in Radio, Television, and Motion Pictures from the University of North Carolina and is an Emmy Award winner. According to Gray Media, his background emphasizes marketing, local revenue growth, and community-focused campaigns.
