ATLANTA, May 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Gray
Television, Inc. ("Gray," "we," "us" or "our") (NYSE: GTN and
GTN.A) today announced that its stations and professionals have
been honored with an unprecedented number of major awards and
recognitions for their high-quality news, community support, and
leadership. Many annual awards for 2016 have yet to be
announced. Nevertheless, the extraordinary level of honors
bestowed on the Gray stations in just the past few months warrants
this special announcement and recognition of their
achievements.
Service to America Awards
For the first time in its history, Gray is included in a select
group of broadcasters whose radio and television stations were
selected as winners of the annual "Celebration of Service to
America Awards" by the National Association of Broadcasters
Education Foundation (NABEF). In another remarkable
accomplishment, two of the three winning television stations are
owned by the same company: Gray.
KWTX-TV (CBS) in Waco,
Texas, will receive the "Service to America Television
Award," which recognizes a television station for the totality of
its efforts and its commitment to excellence in serving its
community. NABEF explained, "Through a variety of
programming, fundraising and primary support, KWTX-TV met the needs
of the Waco area with invaluable
community outreach."
KOLO-TV (ABC) in Reno,
Nevada, will receive the "Service to Community Award,"
which honors radio and television broadcasters for individual
campaigns, projects or programs that serve the public good or
otherwise provide exemplary service to their local
communities. NABEF recognized "KOLO Cares," a year-round
promotional awareness campaign that provides free, unmatched media
outreach for local non-profit organizations in the northern
Nevada area to help them obtain
their objectives.
Two finalists for the "Service to Community Award" included
Gray's KCRG (ABC) in Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, as well as KWTX-TV.
Additional Significant National
Achievements
The MomsEveryday Show, a new weekly program
produced by Gray, has been honored with a Gracie Award in the
category of "Local Talk Show – Entertainment, Lifestyle or
Health." Gray's MomsEveryday team aims to "make mom's life
easier" featuring lively and relevant panel discussions among moms
from all ages and stages, as well as stories that support, educate,
and entertain parents across the country. Over fifty
television stations broadcast the MomsEveryday Show across
the county. Named after the late Gracie Allen, the Gracie Awards acknowledge
outstanding team leadership and individual achievement. The
Gracie awards focus on women who are making positive change and who
further the discussion of what a fulfilling career in media looks
like. The Gracie Awards benefit the Alliance for Women in
Media Foundation, a charitable non-profit that creates educational
programs, charitable activities and scholarship initiatives to
benefit the public and women in the media.
For the first time in its history, Gray now has individuals
serving on each of the four network affiliate associations as a
result of this spring's elections of Matt Eldredge, General Manager of KOLO-TV,
to the Board of the ABC Television Affiliates Association, and
Chris Gross, General Manager
of KEVN, to the Board of the Fox Affiliate Board of
Governors. (Gray already had representation on the NBC
Television Affiliates Board by CEO Hilton
Howell and on the Board of the CBS Television Network
Affiliates Association by EVP Kevin Latek.)
Vance Luke,
Gray's Controller, has been selected by Media Financial
Management Association as its first leader in the new series
"People to Watch in 2016." In addition, TFM – The
Financial Manager magazine recognized Mr. Luke as "The Shared
Service Innovator."
Jeffrey Marks, Gray's
Talent Development Director and the former long-time General
Manager of WDBJ in Roanoke, has
been selected by The Radio Television Digital News Association
(RTDNA) to receive the 2016 John F. Hogan Distinguished Service
Award. RTDNA's annual John F. Hogan Distinguished Service
Award recognizes one individual's exceptional contributions to our
profession and to freedom of the press. Past honorees include
Walter Cronkite, Jorge Ramos, and Barbara
Cochran.
WSAW-TV (CBS) in Wausau,
Wisconsin, won the "Set of the Year" contest conducted
by NewscastStudio, the trade publication for TV creative
professionals. WSAW-TV prevailed over ABC's "Good Morning
America" in the final round of the fan vote competition.
Major Recent Awards for News and/or Community
Service
Sixteen regional Murrow awards were bestowed upon Gray
stations this year. RTDNA has honored outstanding achievements in
electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since
1971. Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence
that Murrow set as a standard for the profession of electronic
journalism.
- KTUU-TV (NBC), Anchorage,
Alaska, and WDBJ-TV (CBS), Roanoke, Virginia, each won three regional
Murrow awards.
- KOLO-TV (ABC), Reno,
Nevada, KWCH-TV (CBS), Wichita,
Kansas, and WVLT-TV (CBS), Knoxville, Tennessee, each won two
regional Murrow awards.
- Additional Gray stations receiving regional Murrow awards
include KKTV (CBS), Colorado Springs,
Colorado, KWTX-TV (CBS), Waco,
Texas, WJRT-TV (ABC), Flint,
Michigan, and WOWT-TV (NBC), Omaha, Nebraska.
KALB (NBC/CBS) Alexandria,
Louisiana, was honored with several awards recently
including "Station of the Year" (Small Market) from the Louisiana
Association of Broadcasters and First Place in two categories from
the Louisiana Associated Press Broadcasters.
KBTX (CBS), Bryan/College Station,
Texas, received 12 Texas Associated Press Broadcasters
Awards, including three First Place awards and four Second Place
awards. In addition, KBTX received six American Advertising
Awards (formerly the ADDYs), including two Gold and two Silver
awards.
KCRG (ABC), Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, was honored by the Midwest Broadcast Journalists
Association with five Eric Sevareid Awards of Merit. It also
received nine Iowa Broadcast News Awards.
KFYR-TV (NBC), Bismarck, North
Dakota, has been honored by the Midwest Broadcast
Journalists Association with four Sevareid Awards in news, weather
and sports. In 2015, KFYR-TV was nominated for three Emmy
Awards and took home the Emmy for Best Weathercast, and it won four
Teddy Awards and two Merit Awards from the North Dakota
Broadcasters Association.
KGWN (CBS), Cheyenne,
Wyoming, won 10 Wyoming Association of Broadcasting
awards, including four First Place awards and six Second Place
awards. KGWN was also honored with a 2015 Heartland Regional
Emmy.
KJCT (ABC), Grand Junction,
Colorado, was recognized with three awards from the
Colorado Broadcasters Association.
KKCO (NBC), Grand Junction,
Colorado, won two First Place awards from the Colorado
Broadcasters Association.
KKTV (CBS), Colorado Springs,
Colorado, was recently honored with five First Place
awards and 11 Second Place awards from the Colorado Broadcasters
Association. The categories receiving First Place awards were
Best Newscast, Best Hard News, Best Documentary, Best Sportscaster
and Best Sports Program. In addition, the CBA awarded the
prestigious Harry Hoth Public
Service Award to KKTV for its commitment to community.
The Colorado Non Profit Association also named KKTV as the Colorado
Media Partner of the Year.
KMOT-TV (NBC), Minot, North
Dakota, was recently awarded the Minot Area Homeless
Coalition Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award for bringing
awareness to the community of the dramatic increase in
homelessness.
KMVT (CBS), Twin Falls,
Idaho, won First Place awards in seven categories and
Second Place awards in three categories from the Idaho Press
Club.
KNOE (CBS), Monroe,
Louisiana, received the Louisiana Association of
Broadcaster's Prestige Award for Best Sports Show in Louisiana for the second year in a row.
KOLN/KGIN (CBS),
Lincoln, Nebraska last year
won a Regional Emmy Award for Best Daytime Newscast as well as the
Midwest Broadcast Journalism Association's Eric Sevareid Award for Photojournalism.
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts presented KOLN/KGIN with the "Step Forward Award" from
Serve Nebraska (Nebraska's
Volunteer Service Commission), which recognizes a media outlet that
excels in community involvement and demonstrates excellent
community support.
KOLO-TV (ABC), Reno,
Nevada, won a regional Associated Press Broadcasters
award for Best Sports Reporting.
KOSA (CBS), Odessa/Midland,
Texas, was selected as the "Station of the Year" for
overall excellence by the Texas Associated Press
Broadcasters. KOSA was honored with a total of 39 AP Awards,
including seventeen First Place awards and twelve Second Place
awards. KOSA recently wrapped up its Permian Basin Rehab
Center Telethon, which helped to raise over $1,180,000 for the
area's only comprehensive non-profit rehabilitation facility.
KSFY (ABC), Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, won three regional Sevareid Awards, including
Best Newscast for Medium Market Television, from the Midwest
Broadcast Journalism Association.
KTUU (NBC), Anchorage,
Alaska, received 10 Northwest Emmy nominations and won
six awards from Associated Press Broadcasters Television and Radio
Association (APRTA). KTUU won eight First Place awards and 21
total awards from the Alaska Press Club, including Best Newscast,
Best Talk Program, and Best Investigative Reporting. In
addition, KTUU received eight Goldie Awards from the Alaska
Broadcasters Association, including Best Television Newscast, Best
Community Service, and Best Public Affairs Program.
KVLY (NBC) Fargo, North
Dakota, was honored with five Teddy Awards from the
North Dakota Broadcaster's Association. The Midwest Broadcast
Journalists Association awarded KVLY a First Place Sevareid Award
for play-by-play sports coverage of North
Dakota State University Football.
KWCH (CBS), Wichita,
Kansas, was chosen as the "Large Market Station of the
Year" by the Kansas Association of Broadcaster in its most recent
annual competition. The state association also awarded KWCH a
total of 17 awards, including eight First Place awards. Last
year, KWCH also received two bronze Telly's, seven Emmy nominations
from the Heartland Chapter of NATAS, one Emmy win, two regional
Edward R. Murrow Awards, and one national Edward R Murrow
Award.
KWTX (CBS) Waco, Texas,
received 15 Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Awards, including
four First Place awards and five Second Place Awards. KWTX
also received a total of six ADDY Awards, including one Gold Award
and one Silver Award.
KXII (CBS), Sherman,
Texas, was honored with nine Texas Associated Press
Broadcasters Awards, including three First Place awards and three
Second Place Awards. It took First Place awards in the
morning newscast, daytime newscast, and sportscast categories.
WBKO (ABC), Bowling Green,
Kentucky, was a finalist for 17 Kentucky Associated
Press Broadcasters Awards and won six First Place awards (including
Best Political Coverage, Best Website, Best Digital Journalist,
Best TV Reporter and Best TV News Anchor) and six Second Place
awards.
WCAV (CBS), Charlottesville,
Virginia, was honored with 14 awards from the Associated
Press Broadcasters for Virginia/West
Virginia in the small market division, including three
Superior and 11 Meritorious awards.
WCTV (CBS), Tallahassee,
Florida, was selected by journalists in other states for
numerous 2016 Florida Associated Press Broadcaster Awards,
including seven First Place awards and five Second Place
awards. First Place achievements included Best Website, Best
Weathercast, Best Mobile Journalist and Best Individual
Achievement.
WDBJ (CBS), Roanoke,
Virginia, won three Associated Press Broadcasters of the
Virginias Awards. The Virginia Emergency Management Association
presented its first Adam Ward Media Award to WDBJ. The
Society of Professional Journalists presented a national resolution
commemorating the lives and work of Alison
Parker and Adam Ward.
NATAS – National Capital and Chesapeake Bay Chapter presented a
Ted Yates Award to each of
Adam Ward and Alison Parker (posthumously), as well as to the
employees of WDBJ for showing "courage in the face of tragedy."
WHSV (ABC), Harrisonburg,
Virginia, was honored with numerous Associated Press
Broadcasters Awards for Virginia/West
Virginia, including six in the Superior Category and seven
in the Meritorious Category.
WIBW (CBS), Topeka,
Kansas, was named "Station of the Year" by the Kansas
Association of Broadcasters. It also took home seven First Place
awards and 16 awards overall. In addition, WIBW won a Bronze
(2nd place) Telly Award and a Silver ADDY Award.
WIFR (CBS), Rockford,
Illinois, was honored by the Illinois House of Representatives for its
"support to the community and the dedication and hard work" to
improve Rockford Region and the State of
Illinois. The station also won four First Place and
three Second Place awards from the Illinois Associated Press
Broadcasters.
WILX (NBC), Lansing,
Michigan, received nine Broadcast Excellence awards from
the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.
WJHG (NBC) Panama City,
Florida, was honored with more Associated Press
Broadcasters awards in 2016 than any other television station in
the state of Florida. The WJHG news team brought home a total
of 16 Florida Associated Press Broadcasters awards, including First
Place awards in eight categories and Second Place awards in seven
categories. The station also received two Silver ADDY
Awards.
WKYT (CBS), Lexington,
Kentucky, won the top three news reporting awards from
the Kentucky Associated Press Broadcasters in the Lexington/Louisville division. The station also
received 14 News Excellence Awards from Kentucky Associated Press
Broadcasters, including First Place in four categories, and eight
awards from the Kentucky News Photographers Association, including
First Place in three categories.
WLUC (NBC), Marquette,
Michigan, currently holds the title of "Station of the
Year" by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. It also
received six merit awards and seven best in category awards.
WNDU (NBC), South Bend,
Indiana, was recognized as "Station of the Year" by the
Indiana Broadcasters Association along with three other high honors
including Best Newscast, Best Weathercast and Best Breaking News.
In addition, WNDU received three Associated Press
Broadcasters Awards, including top honors in two categories.
WNDU was also nominated for an Emmy Award.
WRDW (CBS), Augusta,
Georgia, was recognized by the Southeast Chapter of
NATAS for Excellence In My Market (EMMAS), with top honors for
Investigative Reporting, Sports Reporting, Best Reporter, and News
Promotion.
WSAZ (NBC), Charleston-Huntington, West Virginia, has been
selected as the "Station of the Year" by the West Virginia
Broadcasters Association. The association also honored WSAZ
with two additional awards.
WTAP (NBC), Parkersburg, West
Virginia, was honored with six Associated Press
Broadcasters Awards for Virginia/West
Virginia, including two in the Superior Category and four in
the Meritorious Category.
WTOK (ABC), Meridian,
Mississippi, took home four Mississippi Associated Press
Broadcasters Awards, including First Place for Best Newscast in the
small market division.
WTVG (ABC), Toledo,
Ohio, is again the most Emmy-nominated television
station in Toledo. It racked up 15 nominations this year,
more than all other stations in its market combined.
WVLT (CBS), Knoxville,
Tennessee, received three nominations for Regional Emmy
Awards. It also took home four Tennessee Associated Press
Broadcasters Awards, including three First Place awards in the
large market division.
WYMT (CBS), Hazard,
Kentucky, was a finalist for nineteen Kentucky
Associated Press Broadcasters Awards and won seven First Place and
three Second Place awards in the small market division.
Additional Recognitions
Mike Braun, Vice President
of Gray Digital Media, has joined the NAB Digital Officer
Committee, an advisory board to NAB's Technology team and Chief
Technology Officer focusing on emerging digital and online
businesses, issues, policies and technologies.
Jason Effinger, Gray's
Chief Digital and Technology Officer, has joined the Board of
Directors of Syncbak, a technology company that replicates
over-the-air broadcasts for delivery over-the-top (OTT) of the
Internet.
Robert Folliard, Gray's
Deputy General Counsel, has become Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance (ATBA),
a non-profit association of broadcasters, technology companies and
content providers working to preserve and promote the efficient and
effective use of all television broadcast spectrum.
Kevin Latek, Gray's Chief
Legal and Development Officer, has been elected to the Board of
Directors of NABEF, a non-profit organization dedicated to
reinforcing the future of broadcasting through a commitment to
education and to advancing excellence in the diversity and
community service efforts of our industry.
About Gray Television:
Gray Television, Inc. (NYSE: GTN and GTN.A) is a television
broadcast company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that owns and operates
television stations and leading digital assets in markets
throughout the United States. We currently own and/or operate
92 television stations across 50 television markets that
collectively broadcast approximately 180 program streams including
35 channels affiliated with the CBS Network, 26 channels affiliated
with the NBC Network, 19 channels affiliated with the ABC Network
and 13 channels affiliated with the FOX Network. We own
number-one or number-two ranked television station operations in
essentially all of our markets, which collectively cover
approximately 9.4 percent of total United
States television households. Gray was named "Station
Group of the Year" for 2016 by TVNewsCheck, a leading
industry publication focusing on news and newsmakers in the
broadcast television business.
www.gray.tv
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