THE VISION TO SERVE
We have a strong and influential leadership team that empowers each member of our company to grow, thrive and deliver positive impact to those around us. While our footprint is expanding, we remain committed to keeping news local and doing what we can to ensure our stations continue to remain fixtures in their communities. Connecting with communities will always remain central to our mission.
OUR STORY
Gray Television's roots begin in January 1891 with the creation of the Albany Herald in Albany, Georgia. Over the next several decades, the company transformed in parallel to the ever-changing media landscape, expanding with additional newspaper acquisitions and later television stations to eventually became known as Gray Communications Systems. Between the early 1990s and today, the company was transformed through strategic acquisitions and subtle, yet critical transitions. During that period, Gray Television divested all the newspapers and television stations that it owned prior to 1993 other than WJHG. In their place, Gray Television acquired and, in some cases, built from scratch market-leading television stations focused on local communities. On January 2, 2019, Gray Television completed its acquisition of Raycom, transforming it from a small, regional broadcaster to a leading media company with nationwide scale. Today, Gray Television owns and/or operates television stations and leading digital properties in 93 television markets, including the number-one rated television station in 68 markets and the first or second highest rated television station in 87 markets. Gray's television stations cover approximately 24 percent of US television households and broadcast approximately 400 separate programming streams, including nearly 150 affiliates of the CBS/NBC/ABC/FOX networks. Gray Television also owns video program production, marketing, and digital businesses including Raycom Sports, Tupelo-Raycom, and RTM Studios, the producer of PowerNation programs and content. We are continuing to expand with a strategic focus on providing value to our audiences.
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The Herald Publishing Company was founded with the creation of the Albany Herald in Albany, Georgia.
1897 -
James Harrison Gray, Sr. acquired the Herald Publishing Company.
1947 -
The Company entered the television business when it constructed WALB-TV (Albany, GA) to complement its radio station, WALB(AM).
1954 -
The Company acquired WJDM-TV (Panama City, FL) and changed the call letters to WJHG-TV to complement Mr. Gray's initials.
1960 -
The Company changed its name to Gray Communications Systems, Inc. and launched an initial public stock offering . It also acquired KTVE-TV (Monroe, LA/El Dorado, AK).
1967 -
Hugh E. Norton joined Gray's Board of Directors.
1987 -
James H. Gray, Jr. resigned as President and surgeon William E. Mayher, III joined Gray's Board of Directors.
1990 -
Barry Lewis, Richard L. Boger and Howell W. Newton joined Gray's Board of Directors, and James H. Gray, Jr. resigned from the Board.
1991 -
John T. Williams named President and Chief Executive Officer.
1992 -
Atlanta businessman J. Mack Robinson purchased control of Gray Communications Systems from the estate of James H. Gray, Sr.Mr. Robinson, Robert S. Prather, and Hilton H. Howell, Jr. joined Gray's Board of Directors.
The Albany Herald converted to a morning publication to serve better the needs of southwest Georgia.
1993 -
The Company acquired daily newspapers The Rockdale Citizen (Conyers, GA) and The Newton Citizen (Newton County, GA), plus four weekly advertising shoppers and a weekly newspaper in southwest Georgia.
The Company acquired WKYT-TV (Lexington, KY) and WYMT-TV (Hazard, KY), at which time their General Manager, Ralph W. Gabbard, joined Gray as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
1994 -
The Company acquired daily newspaper the Gwinnett Post-Tribune (Lawrenceville, GA).
The Company moved to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), trading under the symbol GCS. In addition, Ralph W. Gabbard became the Company's President and CEO.
1995 -
The Company acquired WCTV-TV (Tallahassee, FL) and WVLT (formerly WKXT) (Knoxville, TN), as well as satellite and production services and Porta Phone Paging services from John H. Phipps, Inc. It also purchased WRDW-TV (Augusta, GA) and sold KTVE-TV (Monroe, LA/El Dorado, AK).
1996 -
Harriett J. Robinson joined the Board of Directors.
The Company acquired WITN-TV (Greenville-Washington-New Bern, NC). The Company also acquired Gulflink Communications, Inc., a satellite uplink service.
1997 -
James C. Ryan, formerly CFO of Busse Broadcasting Corporation, named Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
The Company purchased Busse Broadcasting Corporation and its television stations, KOLN/KGIN-TV (Lincoln/Grand Island, NE) and WEAU-TV (Eau Claire, WI). The Company also sold WALB-TV (Albany, GA).
1998 -
The Company acquired the Goshen News daily newspaper (Goshen, IN).
The Company merged with Bostick Broadcasting and its television stations, KWTX-TV (Waco, TX), KBTX-TV (Bryan-College Station, TX), and KXII-TV (Sherman, TX).
1999 -
Mr. Robinson named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hilton H. Howell, Jr. named Vice Chairman, Robert S. Prather named President and Chief Operating Officer, and James C. Ryan named Senior Vice President.
The Company changed its name to Gray Television, Inc. Ray Deaver, who formerly oversaw KWTX-TV, KBTX-TV, and KXII-TV joined Gray's Board of Directors.
The Company purchased fourteen television stations from Benedek Broadcasting: WMTV-TV (Madison, WI), WOWT-TV (Omaha, NE), KKTV-TV (Colorado Springs, CO), KAKE-TV (Wichita, KS), WIBW-TV (Topeka, KS), WIFR-TV (Rockford, IL), WILX-TV (Lansing, MI), WTVY-TV (Dothan, AL), WBKO-TV (Bowling Green, KY), WTOK-TV (Meridian, MS), WSAW-TV (Wausau, WI), WTAP-TV (Parkersburg, WV), WVAW-TV (Charlottesville, VA) and WHSV-TV (Harrisonburg, VA). Concurrent with the Benedek acquisition, Gray acquired KOLO-TV (Reno, NV) from Smith Television Group
2002 -
T.L. (Gene) Elder joined the Board of Directors
2003 -
The Company launched start-up station WCAV-TV in Charlottesville, VA.
2004 -
Former U.S. Senator and Georgia Governor Zell B. Miller joined from the Board of Directors.
The Company purchased KKCO-TV (Grand Junction, CO), WSWG (Albany, GA), and WSAZ-TV (Huntington, WV) in three separate transactions.In addition, the Company spun off its five daily newspapers and wireless messaging business into the newly formed Triple Crown Media.
2005 -
The Company purchased WNDU-TV (South Bend, IN) from the University of Notre Dame.
2006 -
Mr. Robinson resigned as Chief Executive Officer and continued as Chairman Emeritus. Hilton H. Howell, Jr. named Chief Executive Officer.
2008 -
Governor Miller resigned from the Board of Directors.
2011 -
Mr. Robinson did not stand for re-election to the Board. Robin R. Howell joined Board of Directors. Kevin P. Latek named General Counsel.
The Company constructed and launched new HD television stations WECP-TV (Panama City, FL), WSVF-TV (Harrisonburg, VA), WIYE-TV (Parkersburg, WV) and WOVA-TV (Parkersburg, WV).
2012 -
Mr. Deaver resigned from the Board of Directors. Mr. Prather resigned from all positions with the Company. CEO Hilton Howell named President. Kevin Latek, Nick Waller, Bob Smith, and Jason Effinger named Senior Vice Presidents.
The Company acquired KSNB-TV (Lincoln, NE), and it constructed and launched new HD television stations WRGX-TV (Dothan, AL) and KNPL-TV (North Platte, NE).
The Company launched a new logo, website, and mission statement, establishing for itself a new brand of excellence and localism based on the strength of its employees.
The Company began providing sales and other services to KJCT-TV (Grand Junction, CO).
The Company purchased Yellowstone Television stations KGNS-TV (Laredo, TX), KGWN-TV/KSTF-TV and KCHY-LP (Cheyenne, WY) and KCWY-TV (Casper, WY).
2013 -
The Company announced the passing of “Second Founder” J. Mack Robinson.
The Company purchased WQCW-TV (Charleston, WV) from Lockwood Broadcasting.
The Company purchased KEVN-TV/KIVV-TV (Rapid City, SD) from Mission TV, LLC.
The Company purchased the Hoak Media stations: KVLY-TV (Fargo-Valley City, ND); KSFY-TV/KABY-TV/ KPRY-TV (Sioux Falls, SD); KFYR-TV/ KMOT-TV, KUMV-TV/ KQCD-TV (Minot-Bismarck, ND); KALB-TV (Alexandria, LA); KNOE-TV (Monroe-El Dorado, LA); KNOP-TV and KIIT-LP (North Platte, NE).
The Company purchased the operations other than the FCC licensed assets of six stations: KHAS-TV (Lincoln-Hastings, NE) from Hoak Media; KNDX-TV/KXND-TV (Minot-Bismarck, ND) from Prime Cities Broadcasting; KJCT-TV (Grand Junction, CO) from Excalibur Broadcasting; and KXJB-TV (Fargo, ND) and KAQY-TV (Monroe, LA) from Parker Broadcasting. The Company terminated existing joint sales and services agreements with these stations and sold their licensed assets to Chang Media, Legacy Broadcasting, and MMB LLC.
The Company purchased WJRT-TV (Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, MI) and WTVG-TV (Toledo, OH) from SJL Holdings, LLC.
The Company renewed essentially all of its affiliation agreements with the ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and CW networks.
The Company renewed over 250 retransmission consent agreements at year-end with no disruptions to local viewers.
2014 -
The Company announced the opening of its Washington D.C. News Bureau.
The Company and NBC enter into TV Everywhere Agreement, and the Company launches all of its CBS stations on the “CBS All Access” platform.
The Company purchased KMVT-TV and KSVT-TV (Twin Falls, ID) from Neuhoff Media.
The Company purchased WAGM-TV (Presque, ME) from NEPSK, Inc.
The Company purchased KOSA-TV (Odessa, TX) from Investment Company of America.
The Company purchased the operations other than the FCC licensed assets of WFXS-TV (Wausau-Rhinelander, WI) and KVTV-TV (Laredo, TX) from Davis Television, LLC and Eagle Creek Television, respectively.
The Company announced the election of Beth Neuhoff to its Board of Directors.
The Company announced that it would directly represent essentially all of its television stations in national sales, ending its long-standing national ad rep relationships as of the first of the new year.
The Company purchased KCRG-TV (Cedar Rapids, IA) from The Gazette Company.
The Company announced its purchase of all of the television and radio stations owned by Schurz Communications, Inc. The Company subsequently announced the divestiture of all the radio stations and certain television stations to facilitate regulatory approvals.
The Company selected by TVNewsCheck as "2016 Station Group of the Year".
2015 -
The Company announced the promotion of its five Senior Vice Presidents to new roles as Executive Vice Presidents.
The Company closed on the swap of KAKE-TV (Wichita, KS) for WBXX-TV (Knoxville, TN).
The Company announced the passing of its Chairman since 1993, Dr. Billy Mayher, III.
The Company closed its acquisition of television stations from Schurz Communications, Inc. and related station acquisitions and divestitures with other counter-parties.
The Company made a $3 million strategic equity investment in Syncbak, a technology company that replicates over-the-air broadcasts for delivery over-the-top (OTT) of the Internet.
The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) selected KWTX-TV (CBS) in Waco, Texas, and KOLO-TV (ABC) in Reno, Nevada, to receive two of the three annual Service to America Awards.
The Company reached an agreement with Withers Broadcasting Company to acquire WDTV (CBS) and WVFX (FOX/CW) in Clarksburg, West Virginia.
Gray reached an agreement with Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. to acquire two television stations that Nexstar will divest upon its merger with Media General, Inc.: WBAY (ABC), in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and KWQC (NBC) in Davenport, Iowa, both previously owned and operated by Media General.
The Board of Directors unanimously voted to expand the Board by one seat and elected Luis A. Garcia as a Director to fill that position.
The Board of Directors unanimously voted to expand the Board by one seat and elected Richard B. Hare as a Director to fill that position.
Fortune Magazine announced that Gray Television ranked 77th in its ranking of the Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in the World for 2016.
The Company announced that KSFY-TV will begin broadcasting from its new downtown state-of-the-art Sioux Falls Studio.
2016 -
The Company announced that it anticipated receiving $90,824,000 in proceeds resulting from the Federal Communications Commission’s reverse auction for broadcast spectrum.
The Company reached an agreement with Diversified Communications to acquire WABI (CBS/CW) in Bangor, Maine and WCJB (ABC/CW) in Gainesville, Florida.
The Company reached an agreement with Mt. Mansfield Television, Inc. to acquire WCAX (CBS) in Burlington, Vermont-Plattsburgh, New York.
Fortune Magazine announced that Gray Television ranked 96th in its ranking of the Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in the World for 2017.
The Company announced that it was recognized with the Ad Council’s 2017 Crystal Bell Award at Forward 2017, the Television Bureau of Advertising’s (TVB) annual leadership conference in New York City.
The Company announced that it had reached a multi-year deal that renews station affiliation agreements covering all 32 markets in which Gray own and operates its 39 CBS-affiliate television stations.
The Company announced record-setting audience rankings during the November 2017 sweeps period conducted by the Nielsen Company.
2017 -
The Company wins 19 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for excellence in journalism.
The National Association of Broadcasting Educational Foundation chose Gray's WJRT (ABC) in Flint, Michigan, as the winner of its 2018 Service to Community Award in the Media Market category and WCTV (CBS) in Tallahassee, Florida, as the winner in the Small Market category. They also named three other Gray stations as finalists for these prestigious awards.
The Company agrees to acquire KDLT-TV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Gray names Bob Smith as Chief Operating Officer and Nick Waller as its Chief Administrative Officer.
The Company breaks ground on new WRDW-TV Station facility in Georgia.
The Company partners with Loyola University New Orleans School of Mass Communications to create a "Producer Incubator Lab."
The Company opens newly remodeled 20,000 sq. ft. facility for KEVN and KOTA Stations in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Gray consummated its transformative transaction with Raycom Media, Inc., including the divestitures of nine television stations in overlap markets. The transaction completes Gray's transformation from a small, regional broadcaster to a leading media company with nationwide scale based on high-quality stations with exceptional talent in attractive markets. (January 2nd, 2019)
2018 -
Gray closes on its acquisition of Raycom Media, Inc. and all required divestitures. The acquisition of Raycom completes Gray’s transformation from a small, regional broadcaster to a leading media company with nationwide scale based on high-quality stations with exceptional talent in attractive markets.
The Company opens a significantly remodeled, state-of-the-art facility for KNOE-TV (CBS, ABC) in Monroe, Louisiana.
Chairman & CEO, Hilton H. Howell, Jr., along with several other executives, rang the Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange to commemorate the Company’s acquisition of Raycom Media, Inc.
The Company reaches an agreement with United Television to acquire WWNY-TV (CBS) and WNYF-TV (FOX) in Watertown, New York (DMA 178) and KEYC-TV (CBS/FOX) in Mankato, Minnesota (DMA 199).
Gray announces that it has entered into agreements with the ABC network, CBS network and NBC network that extend the terms of the affiliation agreements for all ABC, CBS and NBC affiliated stations acquired in the Raycom Merger as well as the ABC affiliations for all of the legacy Gray stations.
The Company announces that Greta Van Susteren has joined Gray as Chief National Political Analyst.
The Company agrees to acquire WVIR (NBC) in Charlottesville, Virginia, and to divest television stations WCAV (CBS/FOX) and WVAW (ABC) in that market.
Gray Television’s InvestigateTV receives two first place National Headliner Awards. InvestigateTV was launched in 2018 and provides innovative, original journalism from a dedicated investigative team and key partners.
The Company wins 57 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for excellence in journalism in 23 Markets.
Gray reaches a Joint Venture Agreement with Opry Entertainment Group (Ryman Hospitality Properties) to create a premium content broadcast and OTT service focused on the Country Lifestyle.
Gray Television’s WVUE (FOX, New Orleans, Louisiana) receives three Sigma Delta Chi Awards from The Society of Professional Journalists.
Six Gray Stations honored with Service to America Finalists and Winners by the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation, including the second consecutive Small Market Winner award for WCTV, Gray’s CBS affiliate in Tallahassee, Florida.
Gray Television reaches a multi-year deal with Fox Television Network that renews station affiliation agreements covering all of its Fox affiliated stations across 21 markets.
The Company launches a syndicated Weekend Political Show “Full Court Press” with Greta Van Susteren.
Gray Television’s Chairman and CEO, Hilton H. Howell, Jr. is named Broadcast & Cable’s Broadcaster of the Year (2019).
The Company closes the acquisition of KDLT-TV (NBC, Sioux Falls, South Dakota).
The Company closes the sale of WCAV-TV (CBS/FOX) and WVAW (ABC) and the purchase of WVIR-TV (NBC), all in Charlottesville, Virginia. Gray now owns nine of the top ten ranked NBC affiliates in the country.
The Company revives the daily tradition of airing the National Anthem by its stations each morning.
2019 -
On January 1, Circle officially launches. Circle is a Country lifestyle network joint venture with partner Opry Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of Ryman Hospitality Properties.
The Company acquires minority ownership interest in TEGNA’s Premion, a leading OTT advertising business, and becomes a a reseller of Premion’s services in its local markets.
The Company launches “Full Court Press Now” a late night newscast providing the latest developments on COVID-19 Pandemic.
The Company’s television stations create an online Local Business Directory for thousands of local companies who remain open for business.
The Company announced the promotion of seven Vice Presidents to Senior Vice President, thirteen individuals to Vice President and six additional individuals to new officer positions.
The Company announced that the “Singing For Their Supper” telethon raised over one million dollars for local food banks through its broadcast one afternoon across 50 of its markets.
2020
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY
We know that the world is waking up to its environmental responsibility. We are working hard as a company to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet. That's why we are continually examining our own business practices and initiatives to see how we can make changes to promote sustainability for the good of tomorrow. From community outreach efforts to green initiatives, we are striving to make a meaningful difference in the world in which we live.
CONTACT US
EXECUTIVE OFFICES
4370 Peachtree Road, NESuite 400
Atlanta, GA 30319
(404) 266-8333
COMPUTERSHARE
P.O. Box 43006Providence, RI 02940-3006
Phone: 888-835-2869
www.computershare.com/investor