Publisher & Media Owner · vs · Publisher & Media Owner · Agency & Consultancy
CBS vs Gray Media
Structured technology and market comparison · 2026
Direct Feature Comparison
CBS · vs · Gray MediaUS broadcast, news and sports media network with digital streaming.
US local broadcaster and cross-channel advertising media owner.
Analyze all overlapping signals and tech stacks for CBS and Gray Media
Compare mutual enterprise clients, monetization models, live market signals, and partner networks directly in the interactive Knowledge Graph.
Comparison Analysis
What is the main difference between CBS and Gray Media?
When comparing CBS and Gray Media, both platforms operate within the Broadcast Platform, Connected TV (CTV) & OTT, and Publisher & Media Owner ecosystem. CBS is positioned as US broadcast, news and sports media network with digital streaming, whereas Gray Media focuses on US local broadcaster and cross-channel advertising media owner. Decision-makers evaluate both solutions when orchestrating their commercial monetization and technology stack.
What are the top alternatives to CBS and Gray Media?
When evaluating CBS and Gray Media, enterprise buyers also consider other platforms in Broadcast Platform, Connected TV (CTV) & OTT, and Publisher & Media Owner. You can discover the full competitive landscape and evaluate other alternatives by viewing their respective footprint profiles on Polaris7.
How do the corporate scale, structure, and headquarters of CBS and Gray Media compare?
CBS is headquartered in United States (founding year unrecorded) with >5,000 employees. Gray Media is based in United States (founded in 1946) with >5,000 employees. Complete ownership, subsidiary trees, and corporate affiliations are documented across Polaris7.
Market Signals
Recent Market Signals & Activity: CBS vs Gray Media
Documented market movements, strategic partnerships, product releases, and regulatory developments mapped across Polaris7.
CBS
Recent Signals
- ·AdweekAudience Measurement
Evening News Ratings: All Broadcasts Grow in Week of Oct. 19
For the week of October 19, 2026, all three major U.S. evening newscasts showed week-over-week growth in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demographic. ABC World News Tonight with David Muir maintained its top position, averaging 8.837 million total viewers and 1.198 million in the demo, its best total viewer performance since early March. CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil posted double-digit growth in total viewers, up 10% week-over-week and 13% year-over-year, while growing 5% in the demo. NBC Nightly News saw modest gains, up 1% in total viewers and 9% in the demo, with year-over-year increases of 15% and 38%, respectively. Data is based on Nielsen live+same-day big data and panel ratings.
- ABC World News Tonight averaged 8.837 million total viewers and 1.198 million A25-54 for the week of Oct. 19, up 6% in both measures week-over-week.
- CBS Evening News total viewers grew 10% week-over-week and 13% year-over-year, the only telecast with double-digit weekly growth.
- NBC Nightly News was second with 6.72 million total viewers and 1.107 million A25-54, up 1% and 9% week-over-week respectively.
- ·Cord Cutters NewsMedia Trends
Cable TV Viewership Drops 3.6% as Streaming Grows
Nielsen's The Gauge data for August 2025 to August 2026 shows cable TV viewership dropped 3.6%, while broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) declined 1.6%. Streaming platforms increased viewership by 3.2%, and other TV viewing rose 2%. The trend reflects ongoing cord-cutting as viewers shift to cheaper ad-supported streaming tiers and alternative services. Total engagement remains strong, but advertisers are reallocating budgets toward measurable, targeted platforms.
- Cable TV viewership declined by 3.6% from August 2025 to August 2026.
- Broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) saw a 1.6% decrease in viewership.
- Streaming platforms increased viewership by 3.2% in the same period.
- ·Cord Cutters NewsMedia Distribution
TNT Sports Could Move to Free CBS over-the-Air TV
Following the completion of the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, forming Skydance, CBS is poised to potentially redistribute TNT Sports programming to its free over-the-air network. CBS Sports president David Berson will lead the combined sports group after TNT Sports chief Luis Silberwasser's departure. Industry speculation centers on shifting high-value events like the Stanley Cup Final and other TNT/TBS properties to CBS to increase reach, as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman advocated. However, pre-merger carriage agreements with distributors like Comcast, DirecTV, and YouTube TV may complicate moves due to exclusivity-based fees. No immediate changes are planned, but the merger positions CBS to broaden free access to premium sports for antenna-only viewers.
- The $110 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger closed on October 6, 2026, creating Skydance.
- CBS Sports president David Berson will lead the combined global sports group.
- TNT holds rights to the Stanley Cup Final, which may move to CBS.
Gray Media
Recent Signals
- ·SEC APIfinancials
8-K Financial Filing Analysis for Gray Media (2026-08-18)
On August 17, 2026, Gray Media, Inc. announced the pricing of an offering of $750 million aggregate principal amount of 7.500% senior secured first lien notes due 2034 in a private placement under Rule 144A and Regulation S. The proceeds from the debt issuance are designated to redeem a portion of the company's existing 10.500% senior secured first lien notes due 2029, repay outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility, and cover related transaction fees and expenses. This refinancing transaction improves Gray Media's debt maturity profile and significantly lowers interest expenses by refinancing high-cost 10.500% debt with 7.500% paper.
- Priced $750 million aggregate principal amount of 7.500% senior secured first lien notes due 2034.
- Proceeds will be used to partially redeem existing 10.500% senior secured first lien notes due 2029 and pay down revolving credit facility borrowings.
- Issued via private placement to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A and Regulation S.
- ·Cord Cutters NewsDistribution
Atlanta Hawks to Stream Local Games Exclusively on Prime Video
The Atlanta Hawks announced a historic deal making Prime Video the exclusive streaming home for their locally distributed NBA games starting the 2026-27 season. The agreement covers 74 regular-season games, available at no extra cost to Amazon Prime members within the team's regional territory spanning parts of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Mississippi. This marks the first time an NBA team has chosen Prime Video for exclusive local game streaming. The Hawks will also continue their existing free over-the-air broadcast partnership with Gray Media on WANF and Peachtree Sports Network. This move reflects the growing trend of teams bypassing traditional regional sports networks, especially after the parent company of the former RSN, Main Street Sports Group, ceased operations. Prime Video is also expanding its national NBA coverage, while the NBA reportedly plans a local streaming hub for the 2027-28 season.
- Atlanta Hawks becomes first NBA team to stream local games exclusively on Prime Video for the 2026-27 season.
- The deal covers 74 regular-season games, available to Amazon Prime members in the team's regional territory at no extra cost.
- The Hawks will also continue free over-the-air broadcasts via Gray Media stations WANF and Peachtree Sports Network.
- ·SEC APIfinancials
8-K Financial Filing Analysis for Gray Media (2026-10-09)
On October 8, 2026, Gray Media, Inc. executed the Seventh Amendment to its Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank as administrative agent. The refinancing transaction establishes a new $600 million Term Loan G maturing on July 15, 2030, and adjusts the revolving credit facility by extending its maturity to July 15, 2030, while downsizing aggregate commitments from $750 million to $680 million. Proceeds from the Term Loan G were utilized to pay transaction fees and pay down the existing Term D Loan, reducing its outstanding balance to $150 million. The Term Loan G carries an interest rate of Term SOFR plus 3.50% (or Base Rate plus 2.50%) with 0.25% quarterly principal amortization, and includes springing maturity provisions tied to the remaining balances of the Term D Loan and 2029 First Lien Notes.
- Issued a new $600 million Term Loan G maturing on July 15, 2030, priced at Term SOFR plus 3.50% (or Base Rate plus 2.50%) with 0.25% quarterly amortization.
- Used Term Loan G proceeds to pay down the existing Term D Loan maturing December 1, 2028, reducing the outstanding principal to $150 million.
- Extended the maturity of the Revolving Credit Facility to July 15, 2030, while resizing total commitments from $750 million to $680 million.
Compare their exact ecosystem overlaps.
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