Publisher & Media Owner · vs · Publisher & Media Owner
Cox Media Group vs Gray Media
Structured technology and market comparison · 2026
Direct Feature Comparison
Cox Media Group · vs · Gray MediaUS local broadcaster and advertising sales operator.
US local broadcaster and cross-channel advertising media owner.
Comparison Analysis
What is the main difference between Cox Media Group and Gray Media?
Cox Media Group and Gray Media both dominate the US local broadcasting landscape, focusing on regional audience monetization through multi-channel advertising. While Cox Media Group differentiates through its robust managed-service model emphasizing planning and measurement, Gray Media leverages a broader ownership scale across streaming and sports. Both target regional advertisers, but Gray prioritizes omnichannel integration across its massive owned-station footprint, whereas Cox emphasizes high-touch campaign execution.
How do the features of Cox Media Group and Gray Media compare?
Both platforms provide comprehensive TV and digital advertising solutions, yet their feature sets diverge in focus. Cox Media Group excels in managed services, offering sophisticated planning and measurement tools for local campaigns. Conversely, Gray Media provides superior integration for streaming news and live sports content, enabling more diverse programmatic and direct sponsorship opportunities. Gray prioritizes cross-channel fluidity, while Cox focuses on high-precision targeting within its owned inventory.
What are the top alternatives to Cox Media Group and Gray Media?
When evaluating Cox Media Group and Gray Media, enterprise buyers also consider other platforms in Demand-Side Platform (DSP), TV (linear), and Media Sales & Inventory Monetisation. You can discover the full competitive landscape and evaluate other alternatives by viewing their respective footprint profiles on Polaris7.
Market Signals
Recent Market Signals & Activity: Cox Media Group vs Gray Media
Documented market movements, strategic partnerships, product releases, and regulatory developments mapped across Polaris7.
Cox Media Group
Recent Signals
- ·Cord Cutters NewsTV (linear)
Orlando Magic Local TV Rights Move to Cox Media Group
The Orlando Magic announced Cox Media Group will become the team’s local television partner beginning in the 2026–27 season, moving many locally televised regular-season games to free over-the-air broadcast. In the Orlando market games will air on WRDQ‑TV 27 with select games on WFTV Channel 9; in Jacksonville games will air on Action Sports Jax TV (WJAX‑TV 47.2) with some broadcasts on CBS47 and FOX30. The deal covers local regular-season games, pregame/postgame shows, replays and other team programming; nationally televised games remain with the NBA’s national partners. The article frames this as part of a broader industry shift away from regional sports networks toward free local broadcast and potential centralized local streaming solutions in future seasons.
- Cox Media Group will be the Orlando Magic’s new local television partner beginning with the 2026–27 season.
- Games will air free over the air on WRDQ‑TV 27 in Orlando, with select games on WFTV Channel 9.
- In Jacksonville, Magic games will air on Action Sports Jax TV (WJAX‑TV 47.2), with some games also available on CBS47 and FOX30.
- ·Cord Cutters NewsTV (linear)
Charlotte Hornets Move Local Games to Free TV
The Charlotte Hornets announced that Cox Media Group’s WSOC Channel 9 and TV64 will become the team’s local broadcast home for the 2026–27 NBA season, airing every regular-season game not nationally televised free over the air in the Charlotte area. The agreement expands a prior experiment that put a small number of Hornets games on free TV in 2025 and a 12-game simulcast in 2025–26. The team says a direct-to-consumer streaming solution will be announced later as the NBA explores a centralized local streaming hub for local rights. The move is part of a broader league trend away from the traditional RSN model toward free broadcast and alternative streaming arrangements.
- Cox Media Group’s WSOC Channel 9 and TV64 will be the Charlotte Hornets’ local broadcast home for the 2026–27 season.
- Stations will air every Hornets regular-season game that is not nationally televised free over the air in the Charlotte market.
- The 2026–27 deal expands prior free-TV experiments: a five-game free-TV package announced in January 2025 and a 12-game simulcast during the 2025–26 season.
- ·Cox Media Group
Cox Media Group expands television brand portfolio from 15 to 17
Cox Media Group now delivers 17 high-quality, market-leading television brands in 9 markets, up from 15 previously.
Gray Media
Recent Signals
- ·Cord Cutters NewsCTV & Streaming
Cavaliers to Air 15 Free Games on Local TV
The Cleveland Cavaliers announced that 15 regular-season games for the 2026-27 season will be available free over-the-air, simulcast on Gray Media stations and streamed on DAZN. This move extends the NBA's broader trend of moving local games to broadcast television following the decline of regional sports networks. Fans in the Cleveland market can watch on WOIO, WUAB, and Rock Entertainment Sports Network, with other markets also carrying the games. The free games will have pregame and postgame coverage. The team's full local streaming package is available via DAZN subscriptions, with plans ranging from $19.99 monthly to $139.99 for a season pass. The Cavaliers join other teams like the Hornets, Magic, and Suns in offering free over-the-air viewing options.
- Cleveland Cavaliers will air 15 regular-season games free over-the-air on Gray Media stations.
- Games will also be streamed free on the DAZN app, requiring a free DAZN account.
- DAZN is the Cavaliers' streaming home, with season passes from $119.99 to $139.99.
- ·Gray Media
Gray Sets Date for Second Quarter Earnings Release and Earnings Conference Call
Gray Media announced the date for its Q2 2026 earnings release and conference call on July 8, 2026.
- ·Gray Media
Gray Media Completes Offering of $70 Million of Additional 7.250% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2033 and Repurchases $50 million of Series A Preferred Stock
Gray Media announced the completion of an offering of $70 million in additional 7.250% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2033 and repurchased $50 million of Series A Preferred Stock.
Compare their exact ecosystem overlaps.
Explore all deep relationships in Polaris7. Discover exactly which mutual clients, integrated technologies, and overlapping partners Cox Media Group and Gray Media share across the market ecosystem.