Gray Media has renewed its affiliation agreement with Paramount Global that will see the CBS network remain on dozens of local TV stations across the country — but one Gray-owned station will lose its CBS affiliation later this year.
Starting August 16, the CBS affiliation in Atlanta will move from WANF (Channel 46) to WUPA (Channel 69), a move that will give CBS a network owned-and-operated station in Atlanta for the first time in decades. CBS will also launch a streaming channel for the Atlanta market, which will offer local news on Paramount Global, Xumo Play, Local Now and other free streaming apps with CBS-owned local news stations.
“Launching our first owned CBS station in Atlanta is a milestone moment for us,” a Paramount Global executive said in a statement on Monday. “This expansion allows us to bring the full strength of CBS’ award-winning news, sports and entertainment programming directly to one of the most vibrant and influential markets in the country. With WUPA and the launch of the CBS News Atlanta streaming channel, we’re not just delivering content – we’re investing in the community, local journalism and ensuring Atlanta viewers receive the same trusted, high-quality journalism that defines CBS in every market we serve.”
Like WANF, WUPA is expected to be offered on Paramount Plus, the streaming service operated by Paramount Global, as well as other streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV and Fubo.
“As residents of Atlanta along with our families, this company’s leadership and our corporate colleagues have been keenly focused on improving what we watch every day on WANF and its sister station, WPCH PeachtreeTV,” Hilton Howell, Gray Media’s executive chairman, said in a statement. “We are excited to now take WANF in a new direction that puts full control of the station’s offerings in local hands and that allows us to expand our investment in local news, weather and sports by, for and about the people who, like us, live in Greater Atlanta.”
“Since acquiring WANF and WPCH in December 2021, Gray has invested tens of millions of dollars to reinvigorate the stations and expand their capabilities,” Pat LaPlatney, Gray’s co-CEO, said on Monday. “Three years ago, WANF adopted its current call sign to emphasize its new commitment to delivering Atlanta News First. This is not just a slogan, it’s the philosophy for the entire organization. The next chapter as an independent station allows WANF to deliver on that commitment more fully, and our experience and our research make us optimistic that viewers and advertisers will increasingly turn to WANF as a result.”
As for the other 52 CBS affiliates owned by Gray Media, the broadcaster said those stations will also continue to be offered on streaming platforms and will remain with the network for a few more years. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
