Gray Media's WANF TV Charts Bold New Course as Independent Station in Atlanta Market

On August 15, 2025, a significant shift will take place in Atlanta’s media landscape. Gray Media has announced that WANF TV, its flagship station in the city, will transition from a 31-year affiliation with CBS Network to become an independent television station. This strategic repositioning represents more than a technical change in network alignment—it signals a substantial bet by Gray Media on the future of local journalism and community-focused broadcasting.

The move comes after Gray Media acquired WANF TV and its sister station WPCH PeachtreeTV in December 2021. Over the past three and a half years, the company has channeled tens of millions of dollars into transforming these operations, fundamentally reshaping how Atlanta residents consume news and entertainment. According to executives, this latest decision reflects a deliberate strategy to deepen the company’s roots in the Atlanta market while maintaining operational independence.

Strategic Rationale and Market Positioning

Gray Media’s leadership frames this transition as an opportunity to maximize WANF TV’s potential as a locally controlled news powerhouse. Executives emphasize that becoming an independent station allows the station to maintain complete control over its programming schedule and editorial direction—advantages that network-affiliated stations typically cannot leverage. The company anticipates further financial investments to support this transition and expects WANF TV to achieve competitive positioning similar to other successful independent stations in Gray Media’s portfolio.

The company references its experience with three major independent stations—KTVK in Phoenix, WJXT in Jacksonville, and WHDH in Boston—all of which have achieved strong viewership rankings in their respective markets by prioritizing local news coverage and community engagement.

Expansion of Local News and Programming Infrastructure

Under Gray Media’s stewardship since 2021, WANF TV has undergone substantial expansion. The station increased its regularly scheduled local newscast hours from 40 to 60 per week—a 50 percent jump. These hours now include Local News Live broadcasts drawing content from Gray Media’s network of stations across multiple markets, plus five hours weekly of investigative journalism programming.

WANF TV has also built what executives describe as the Southeast’s largest weather team, a strategic investment aimed at serving the growing Atlanta metropolitan area. Beyond news operations, the station has launched original programming including “ATL Live” and “Monica Pearson One-on-One,” while also acquiring and integrating Telemundo Atlanta into its operations.

The station’s sports coverage infrastructure expanded significantly with the creation of Peachtree Sports Network, establishing partnerships with the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Dream, and various local high school athletic programs.

Newsroom Growth and Awards Recognition

The transformation has included the addition of over 50 new positions across the organization. This expanded workforce has contributed to the station’s journalism quality, earning recognition through duPont-Columbia Awards, multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards at regional and national levels, and regional Emmy Awards, along with nominations for a National Emmy and Peabody recognition.

Corporate Context and Financial Implications

Gray Media operates in 113 television markets and reaches approximately 37 percent of U.S. television households through its portfolio of 78 markets with top-rated stations and 99 markets with first or second-rated stations. The company also operates the nation’s largest Telemundo affiliate group across 44 markets.

Management expects that transitioning WANF TV to independent status will support the company’s broader financial objectives, including leverage reduction and improved balance sheet flexibility, even as the company continues to invest in the Atlanta operation.

The August 15 transition date marks the beginning of a new chapter for WANF TV’s relationship with its audience and advertising partners—one predicated on the premise that local control and editorial independence, combined with significant newsroom resources, will strengthen the station’s competitive position in one of America’s largest media markets.