If you’ve been watching WTVA, you’ve probably already heard the news about Gray Media buying both stations from Allen Media. That might sound like just another business move, but here’s why I think it actually matters.
This is a move the media nerd in me saw coming as soon as Allen Media put the properties on the market.
Gray Media is one of the biggest names in local TV…. they have been for years. They already own over 100 stations, and now they’re planting their flag right here in Tupelo. This isn’t just some national company grabbing small-town stations and gutting them, like the station’s previous owner. Gray has a track record of investing in local news, local sports, and better coverage all around.
Take WDAM in Hattiesburg, for example. Gray took over that station in 2019 when they merged with Raycom Media. Since then, they’ve done more than just slap a new logo on it.
They added a bunch of new content.
If I’m remembering correctly, WDAM has a subchannel that carries New Orleans Pelicans games and other live sports through the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network that carries Saints preseason games and other team coverage without needing a cable package.
That could be a big win for sports fans in Northeast Mississippi.
They also brought in Telemundo Pine Belt, which added Spanish-language programming to a region that didn’t have much of it before. That’s not something most companies think about unless they actually care about reaching everybody in the community.
And here’s where it gets even better.
Gray runs something called Local News Live. It’s a free, 24/7 streaming news network. You can watch it on your phone, smart TV, or laptop. It takes live reports from Gray stations all over the country, including Mississippi, and gives you real-time updates.
During the transition with WDAM, leadership stayed local and focused. They kept experienced people in charge, invested in the newsroom, and kept pushing their digital presence. – which WTVA is already ahead of that game. The WDAM app and website gives fast, accurate updates, and the coverage feels like it’s still rooted in the community.
If Gray does the same thing here in Northeast Mississippi, we could see big improvements. More news. Better local sports coverage. Real investment in the community. And fewer of the downsides that sometimes come with station buyouts, hopefully.
Judging by employees’ reactions on social media, this is welcome news and I’m happy that’s the case for my friends!
So yeah, a big company just bought two of our local stations. But if what happened in Hattiesburg is any sign of what’s coming to Tupelo, I’m not worried.
I’m actually looking forward to it.
GORESPORTS.net 
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