Gray Media Agrees to Purchase Block Communications� Television Stations
Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) has announced an agreement to acquire Block Communications' television stations for $80 million. The acquisition includes FOX affiliate WDRB and CW affiliate WBKI in Louisville, Kentucky (DMA 49), NBC affiliate WAND in Springfield-Champaign-Decatur, Illinois (DMA 92), and NBC affiliate WLIO in Lima, Ohio (DMA 190).
The transaction will create a new Big Four duopoly in Louisville, where Gray already owns NBC affiliate WAVE3. Both WAND and WLIO achieved the highest all-day ratings in their respective markets during 2024. Gray expects to close the transaction in Q4 2025, subject to regulatory approvals including FCC ownership rule waivers.
Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) ha annunciato un accordo per acquisire le emittenti televisive di Block Communications per 80 milioni di dollari. L'acquisizione comprende la affiliata FOX WDRB e la affiliata CW WBKI a Louisville, Kentucky (DMA 49), la affiliata NBC WAND a Springfield-Champaign-Decatur, Illinois (DMA 92), e la affiliata NBC WLIO a Lima, Ohio (DMA 190).
L'operazione creerà un nuovo duopolio Big Four a Louisville, dove Gray possiede già la affiliata NBC WAVE3. Sia WAND che WLIO hanno ottenuto le più alte audience giornaliere nei rispettivi mercati durante il 2024. Gray prevede di concludere la transazione nel quarto trimestre 2025, subordinatamente alle approvazioni regolamentari, inclusa la deroga alle regole FCC sulla proprietà .
Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) ha anunciado un acuerdo para adquirir las estaciones de televisión de Block Communications por 80 millones de dólares. La adquisición incluye la afiliada de FOX WDRB y la afiliada de CW WBKI en Louisville, Kentucky (DMA 49), la afiliada de NBC WAND en Springfield-Champaign-Decatur, Illinois (DMA 92), y la afiliada de NBC WLIO en Lima, Ohio (DMA 190).
La transacción creará un nuevo duopolio Big Four en Louisville, donde Gray ya posee la afiliada de NBC WAVE3. Tanto WAND como WLIO lograron las calificaciones más altas durante todo el dÃa en sus respectivos mercados en 2024. Gray espera cerrar la transacción en el cuarto trimestre de 2025, sujeto a aprobaciones regulatorias, incluyendo exenciones a las normas de propiedad de la FCC.
Gray Media (NYSE: GTN)ëŠ� Block Communicationsì� í…”ë ˆë¹„ì „ 방송êµì„ 8,000ë§� 달러ì—� ì¸ìˆ˜í•˜ê¸°ë¡� í•©ì˜í–ˆë‹¤ê³� 발표했습니다. ì´ë²ˆ ì¸ìˆ˜ì—는 켄터키주 루ì´ë¹�(DMA 49)ì� FOX 계열ì‚� WDRB와 CW 계열ì‚� WBKI, ì¼ë¦¬ë…¸ì´ì£� 스프ë§í•„ë“�-샴페ì�-디케ì´í„°(DMA 92)ì� NBC 계열ì‚� WAND, 오하ì´ì˜¤ì£� 리마(DMA 190)ì� NBC 계열ì‚� WLIOê°€ í¬í•¨ë©ë‹ˆë‹�.
ì´ë²ˆ 거래ë¡� GrayëŠ� ì´ë¯¸ NBC 계열ì‚� WAVE3ë¥� ë³´ìœ í•� 루ì´ë¹Œì—ì„� 새로ìš� ë¹� í�(Big Four) 듀오í´ë¦¬ë¥¼ 형성하게 ë©ë‹ˆë‹�. WAND와 WLIOëŠ� 2024ë…� ê°� 시장ì—서 하루 ì¢…ì¼ ê°€ìž� ë†’ì€ ì‹œì²ë¥ ì„ ê¸°ë¡í–ˆìŠµë‹ˆë‹¤. GrayëŠ� FCC ì†Œìœ ê·œì¹™ ë©´ì œ ë“� ê·œì œ ìŠ¹ì¸ ì¡°ê±´ì� 충족하면 2025ë…� 4분기ì—� 거래ë¥� 완료í•� 것으ë¡� 예ìƒí•˜ê³ 있습니다.
Gray Media (NYSE : GTN) a annoncé un accord pour acquérir les stations de télévision de Block Communications pour 80 millions de dollars. L'acquisition comprend la chaîne affiliée FOX WDRB et la chaîne affiliée CW WBKI à Louisville, Kentucky (DMA 49), la chaîne affiliée NBC WAND à Springfield-Champaign-Decatur, Illinois (DMA 92), ainsi que la chaîne affiliée NBC WLIO à Lima, Ohio (DMA 190).
Cette transaction créera un nouveau duopole Big Four à Louisville, où Gray possède déjà la chaîne affiliée NBC WAVE3. WAND et WLIO ont obtenu les audiences les plus élevées tout au long de la journée dans leurs marchés respectifs en 2024. Gray prévoit de finaliser la transaction au quatrième trimestre 2025, sous réserve des approbations réglementaires, y compris des dérogations aux règles de propriété de la FCC.
Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) hat eine Vereinbarung zum Erwerb der Fernsehsender von Block Communications für 80 Millionen US-Dollar bekannt gegeben. Zum Erwerb gehören der FOX-Affiliate WDRB und der CW-Affiliate WBKI in Louisville, Kentucky (DMA 49), der NBC-Affiliate WAND in Springfield-Champaign-Decatur, Illinois (DMA 92) sowie der NBC-Affiliate WLIO in Lima, Ohio (DMA 190).
Die Transaktion schafft ein neues Big-Four-Duopol in Louisville, wo Gray bereits den NBC-Affiliate WAVE3 besitzt. Sowohl WAND als auch WLIO erzielten 2024 die höchsten Tagesreichweiten in ihren jeweiligen Märkten. Gray erwartet, die Transaktion im vierten Quartal 2025 abzuschließen, vorbehaltlich behördlicher Genehmigungen, einschließlich Ausnahmen von den FCC-Besitzregeln.
- Acquisition creates new Big Four duopoly in Louisville market
- Adds top-ranked local news stations in two Midwest markets
- WAND and WLIO both achieved highest all-day ratings in their markets in 2024
- Strategic expansion strengthens Gray's Midwest presence
- Acquired stations complement Gray's existing operations in adjacent markets
- Transaction requires FCC ownership rule waivers for completion
- Significant capital expenditure of $80 million required for acquisition
Insights
Gray Media's $80M acquisition of Block Communications' TV stations strengthens Midwest presence with high-rating NBC affiliates and creates a new duopoly.
Gray Media's
This acquisition creates meaningful operational synergies in Louisville, where Gray already owns NBC affiliate WAVE3, creating a powerful Big Four duopoly that should generate cost efficiencies while strengthening advertising leverage. The company is particularly acquiring strong-performing assets - both WAND and WLIO held the highest all-day ratings in their respective markets during 2024, according to Comscore data.
This transaction aligns with Gray's established consolidation strategy in the local television market. The company already reaches approximately
The transaction faces regulatory hurdles, particularly requiring FCC ownership rule waivers. This regulatory contingency creates some execution risk, though the company expects to close in Q4 2025. The acquisition reinforces Gray's position as the nation's largest owner of top-rated local television stations, further solidifying its dominant market position in smaller DMAs across the Midwest region.
ATLANTA, Aug. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gray Media, Inc. (“Gray�) has reached an agreement with Block Communications, Inc. (“BCI�) to acquire its television stations for
The transaction includes WDRB and WBKI, the FOX and CW affiliates for the Louisville, Kentucky, market (DMA 49), where Gray owns and operates NBC affiliate WAVE3. The transaction also includes WAND, the NBC affiliate for the Springfield-Champaign-Decatur, Illinois, market (DMA 92), and WLIO, the NBC affiliate for the Lima, Ohio, market (DMA 190) as well as WLIO’s associated low power television stations. WAND and WLIO each had the highest all-day ratings among television households in their markets during 2024, according to Comscore.
Gray anticipates closing these transactions in the fourth quarter of this year following receipt of regulatory approval, including certain waivers of the FCC’s current ownership rules, and other customary closing conditions.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based largely on Gray’s current expectations and reflect various estimates and assumptions by Gray. These statements are statements other than those of historical fact and may be identified by words such as “estimates,� “expect,� “anticipate,� “will,� “implied,� “assume� and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such risks, trends and uncertainties, which in some instances are beyond Gray’s control, include the inability to complete the proposed transaction within the expected timeframe, or at all, and other future events. Gray is subject to additional risks and uncertainties described in its quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including in the “Risk Factors,� and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations sections contained therein, which reports are made publicly available via www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statements in this communication should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. This press release reflects management’s views as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by applicable law, Gray undertakes no obligation to update or revise any information contained in this communication beyond the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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 .
Gray Contact:
Kevin P. Latek, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Development Officer, 404-266-8333
#ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý#ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý#
