Grit (TV network)

Grit
Type Digital broadcast television network
(Movies)
Country United States
Availability Nationwide via OTA digital television
(covering 93% of the U.S.)[1]
Founded April 3, 2014 (2014-04-03)
by Jonathan Katz
Slogan Television with Backbone
Headquarters Atlanta, Georgia
Owner Grit Media, LLC
Parent Katz Broadcasting, LLC
Key people
 Jonathan Katz (president/CEO, Katz Broadcasting)
Bill Cox (SVP of programming, Grit)[2]
Launch date
 August 18, 2014 (2014-08-18)[3]
Picture format
 480i (SDTV)
Affiliates List of Grit affiliates
Official website
 www.grittv.com

Grit is an American digital multicast television network that is owned by Katz Broadcasting.[4] The network features classic TV series and feature films targeted at men between the ages of 25 and 54 years old.

The network is available in many media markets via the digital subchannels of broadcast television stations and on the digital tiers of select cable providers through a local affiliate of the network.

Originally, Katz sold the network to affiliated TV stations via ad split but by October 2015 had moved to paying carriage fees in exchange for distributing the network's ad inventory.[5]1 Grit used direct response advertising as a meter of viewers before switching to Nielsen rating C-3.[5]3 It is available on Dish Network channel 217.

History

Grit was announced by Katz Broadcasting along with a sister network Escape on April 3, 2014, with a formal launch scheduled for that summer with initial affiliates announced at this time being Univision Communications owned stations.[4] On August 11, 2014, Katz announced that the two networks would launch simultaneously on August 18. Grit launched at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on that date,[6] with the 1952 film High Noon as the network's inaugural broadcast, leading off a week-long festival of John Wayne films.[3]

Katz estimated, based on direct response advertising business by September 2015, the network had over 250,000 prime time viewer and available in 91 million homes and 81% of the country. At that time, Grit along with its sister network, Escape, were signing up for national ratings from Nielsen. Previously handling the network's direct response advertising, Marathon Ventures would continue after the change over with advertising and sponsorship sales.[7]

Programming

Grit's program schedule is a mix of action/adventure television series such as Sgt. Preston of the Yukon and Lassie (particularly the U.S. Forest Service era of the program), westerns such as Laramie, Walker, Texas Ranger, and Zane Grey Theatre, and movies encompassing all of the aforementioned genres.[8]

Katz Broadcasting president and CEO Jonathan Katz based the demographic-targeted concept of Escape and Grit after Bounce TV, a network Katz co-founded with Martin Luther King III and Andrew Young in 2011 that is targeted at African American audiences. Katz stated Escape and Grit are "the country’s first ever male-centric and female-centric broadcast networks," featuring different programming from other classic television multicast networks that Katz referred to as "generic brands with generic names, created by studios to serve the studios."[9]

Movies

Grit's program schedule features an extensive library of films through multi-year program licensing agreements with several major film studios: Warner Bros. Pictures,[10] Universal Pictures,[11] Paramount Pictures [12] and Sony Pictures Entertainment.[13]

Affiliates

As of June 2016, Grit has current or pending affiliation agreements with television stations covering approximately 78% of the United States.[14]

When the network was first announced, Grit entered into an affiliation agreement with Univision Communications, which launched the network in 24 markets served by a station owned by the group or operated through local marketing agreements with Entravision Communications – giving Grit affiliates in 12 of the 20 largest U.S. television markets (including markets such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth). The network immediately sought carriage on the digital subchannels of television stations owned by other broadcasting companies;[4] on June 17, 2014, Katz signed group deals to carry Grit on stations owned and/or operated by Raycom Media in 26 markets.[15]

On July 17, 2014, Katz announced affiliation deals with the Cox Media Group to carry Grit on WFTV in Orlando and KMYT-TV in Tulsa; as well as KJWP in the Philadelphia market, and Citadel Communications-owned stations in Providence (WLNE-TV) and Lincoln (KLKN). It also expanded its affiliation deal with Univision Communications to add stations in Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Phoenix to the network's originally announced Univision-owned charter affiliates.[16][17]

On October 9, 2014, the Sinclair Broadcast Group announced that it would carry the network on stations it owns and/or operates in 47 markets.[18]

On November 16, 2015, Katz announced an affiliation deal with Media General adding the network to five more markets.[19]

On June 15, 2016 Katz announced a more affiliation deal with Nexstar Broadcasting Group and Cordillera Communications's KATC-TV.[20]

List of affiliates

City of license/market Station[21] Virtual
channel		 Owner Notes †
Birmingham WBRC 6.3 Raycom Media Launched August 18, 2014
Huntsville WAFF 48.3
Montgomery WSFA 12.3
Mobile-Pensacola-
Fort Walton Beach 		WJTC 44.2 Deerfield Media Launched January 1, 2015
Ozark (Dothan) WDFX-TV 34.3 Raycom Media Launched August 18, 2014
Phoenix KASW 61.3 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched August 2016
KTVW-DT 33.3 Univision Communications Launched August 18, 2014
Tucson KOLD-TV 13.3 Raycom Media
Fort Smith KFLU-LD 20.2 DTV America Corporation
KNWA-TV 51.3 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched September 2016
Little Rock KATV 7.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched January 2015
Bakersfield KBAK-TV 29.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched May 2015
Eureka K39KR-D 39.3 Translator of Satellite Station KCBY-TV
Hanford (Fresno) KFTV-DT 21.4 Univision Communications Launched August 18, 2014
Ontario (Los Angeles) KFTR-DT 46.4
Vallejo (San Francisco–
Oakland–San Jose) 		KFSF-DT 66.4
San Diego (San Diego) KFMB-TV 8.3 Midwest TV inc Launched July 2016
Stockton (Sacramento) KTFK-DT 64.4 Univision Communications
Sterling (Denver) KCDO-TV 3.2 Channel 3 TV Company LLC
New Haven WCTX 59.2 Media General
Wilmington (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) KJWP 2.3 PMCM TV, LLC Launched August 18, 2014
Fort Myers WGPS-LP 22.6 WGPS of Southwest Florida, LLC
Hollywood (Miami) WAMI-DT 69.4 Univision Communications Launched August 18, 2014
Live Oak WKBJ-LD 20.3 DTV America Corporation Launched February 2016
Orlando WRDQ 27.4 Cox Media Group Launched August 18, 2014
Panama City WPGX 28.3 Raycom Media
Tampa–St. Petersburg WFTS-TV 28.3 E. W. Scripps Company Launched April 15, 2015
West Palm Beach WFLX 29.3 Raycom Media
(operated by the E. W. Scripps Company) 		Launched August 18, 2014
Albany WALB 10.3 Raycom Media
Atlanta WGCL-TV 46.3 Meredith Corporation [14]
Augusta WFXG 54.3 Raycom Media Launched August 18, 2014
Columbus WTVM 9.3
Savannah WTOC-TV 11.3 Launched March 18, 2015
Honolulu KHNL 13.3 Raycom Media Launched August 18, 2014
Boise KBOI-TV 2.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched December 31, 2014
Champaign WCIA 3.4 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched August 23, 2016
Joliet (Chicago) WGBO-DT 66.3 Univision Communications Launched August 18, 2014
Rockford WTVO 17.4 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched September 1, 2016
Springfield WICS 20.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched January 2, 2015
Evansville WFIE 14.3 Raycom Media Launched October 28, 2014
Fort Wayne WEDX-LD 29.1 DTV America Corporation Launch date TBD
Indianapolis WRTV 6.2 E. W. Scripps Company
Terre Haute WAWV-TV 38.2 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched August 23, 2016
Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Dubuque-Iowa City KFXA 28.2 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched December 31, 2014
Des Moines KDSM-TV 17.3 Launched December 29, 2014
Ottumwa–Keokuk, IA–Kirksville, MO KYOU-TV 15.3 American Spirit Media
(operated by Raycom Media) 		Launched August 18, 2014
Sioux City KPTH 44.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched 2015
Lawrence–Kansas City, MO KMCI-TV 38.4 E. W. Scripps Company Launched April 15, 2015
Wichita KGPT-CD 26.3 Great Plains Television Network
Bowling Green WCZU-LD 39.5 DTV America Corporation Launched September 23, 2016
Lexington WDKY-TV 56.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched December 31, 2014
Louisville WAVE 3.2 Raycom Media Launched August 18, 2014
Newport (Cincinnati, Ohio) WXIX-TV 19.3 Launched July 2015
Baton Rouge WBXH-CD 39.3 Raycom Media Launched August 1, 2015
Lafayette KATC-TV 3.3 Cordillera Communications Launch Date June 28, 2016/Also Broadcasts On Cox Lafayette 124
Lake Charles KPLC 7.2 Raycom Media Launched December 31, 2015
Monroe/El Dorado KARD 14.3 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched September 12, 2016
New Orleans WVUE-DT 8.3 Louisiana Media Company
(operated by Raycom Media) 		Launched August 18, 2014
Shreveport KSLA 12.2 Raycom Media Launched December 31, 2015
Waterville WPFO 23.2 Corporate Media Consultants Group
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group) 		Launched December 2014
Baltimore WUTB 24.2 Deerfield Media Launched October 2014
New Bedford (Providence, Rhode Island) WLNE-TV 6.2 Citadel Communications Launched August 18, 2014
Battle Creek–Kalamazoo–Grand Rapids WOTV 41.3 Media General Launched January 2016
Bay City–Saginaw–Flint WBSF 46.3 Cunningham Broadcasting
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group) 		Launched January 2015
Lake City–Cadillac–Traverse City WMNN-LD 26.5 Freelancer Television Broadcasting Replaced original Grit affiliate WPBN-DT3 in early 2016
Mount Clemens–Detroit WADL 38.2 Adell Broadcasting Corporation Launched July 15, 2015
Jackson WDBD 40.3 Raycom Media Launched October 2014
Cape Girardeau–Paducah, KY KFVS-TV 12.3 Raycom Media Launched October 6, 2014
Jefferson City–Columbia KRCG 13.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched January 3, 2015
Joplin KODE 12.2 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched August 25, 2016
St. Louis KDNL-TV 30.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched December 31, 2014
Springfield KOLR 10.3 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched August 20, 2016
Billings–Hardin KHMT 4.3 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched September 2, 2016
Lincoln KLKN 8.2 Citadel Communications Launched August 18, 2014
Omaha KXVO 15.3 Mitts Telecasting Company
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group) 		Launched October 2014
Derry (Boston, Massachusetts) WBIN-TV 50.3 Carlisle One Media Launched December 2014
Paterson (New York City) WXTV-DT 41.4 Univision Communications Launched August 18, 2014
Albuquerque KWBQ 19.2 Tamer Media Launched January 11, 2016
Clovis–Portales KVIH-TV 12.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched December 29, 2014
Albany WCWN 45.2 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched March 2015[22]
Buffalo WUTV 29.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched January 2015
Rochester WHAM-TV 13.3 Deerfield Media Launched December 31, 2014
Syracuse WTVH 5.2 Granite Broadcasting Corporation
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group) 		Launched January 2015
Utica WUTR 20.3 Mission Broadcasting
(operated by Nexstar Broadcasting Group) 		Launched September 3, 2016
Charlotte WBTV 3.3 Raycom Media Launched October 8, 2014
Greenville WPDU-LD 45.1 DTV America Corporation TBD
Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville WRDC 28.2 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched January 2015
Wilmington WSFX-TV 26.3 American Spirit Media
(operated by Raycom Media) 		Launched August 18, 2014
Winston-Salem–Greensboro–High Point WXLV-TV 45.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched January 2, 2015
Fargo/Valley City/Grand Forks KRDK-TV 4.6 (38) Major Market Broadcasting Launched January 2015
Cincinnati WXIX-TV 19.3 Raycom Media Launched July 2015
Columbus WWHO 53.2 Manham Media
(Operated by Sinclair Broadcasting Group) 		Launched January 1, 2015
Dayton WKEF 22.4 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched January 1, 2015 on 22.3; December 4, 2015, moved to 22.4
Lorain (Cleveland) WUAB 43.3 Raycom Media Launched August 18, 2014
Toledo WTOL 11.3 Launched November 18, 2014
Oklahoma City KOKH-TV 25.2 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched December 31, 2014
Tulsa KMYT-TV 41.3 Cox Media Group Launched August 18, 2014
Coos Bay KCBY-TV 11.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched December 31, 2014
Eugene KVAL-TV 13.3
La Grande–Portland KUNP-LD 47.3
Medford KTVL 10.4
Roseburg KPIC 4.3
Erie WFXP 66.3 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched August 28, 2016
Lancaster–Lebanon–York–Harrisburg WXBU 15.1 Howard Stirk Holdings Launched December 2014
Johnstown–Altoona–State College WJAC-TV 6.4 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched December 2014
Pittsburgh WPGH-TV 53.3
Wilkes-Barre–Scranton WBRE-TV 28.3 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched August 27, 2016
Anderson (Asheville, North Carolina-Greenville-Spartanburg) WMYA-TV 40.4 Cunningham Broadcasting
(operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group) 		Launched January 1, 2016
Moved from WLOS-DT3
Charleston WCSC-TV 5.3 Raycom Media Launched December 31, 2015
Columbia WIS 10.2
Myrtle Beach WMBF-TV 32.3 Launched August 18, 2014
Jackson WYJJ-LD 27.5 DTV America Corporation Launched February 2016
Knoxville WTNZ 43.3 Raycom Media Launched August 18, 2014
Memphis WMC 5.3 Launched December 31, 2015
Nashville WNAB 58.3 Sinclair Broadcasting Group Launched January 1, 2015
Abilene KRBC-TV 9.2 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched August 25, 2016
Alvin (Houston) KFTH-DT 67.3 Univision Communications Launched August 18, 2014
Amarillo KCIT 14.2 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched August 25, 2016
Austin KNVA 54.2 Media General Launched January 29, 2016[23]
Beaumont–Port Arthur KFDM 6.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched December 29, 2014
El Paso KFOX-TV 14.3 Launched December 22, 2014
Irving (Dallas–Fort Worth) KSTR-DT 49.3 Univision Communications Launched August 18, 2014
Lubbock KCBD 11.3 Raycom Media
Midland-Odessa KMID 2.2 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched September 2016
San Angelo KLST 8.3 Launched August 25, 2016
San Antonio KWEX-DT 41.3 Univision Communications Launched August 18, 2014
Waco KZCZ-LD 34.3 DTV America Corporation
Wichita Falls KJTL 18.3 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched September 1, 2016
Provo (Salt Lake City) KUCW 30.3 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched September 2, 2016
Burlington WVNY 22.3 Nexstar Broadcasting Group Launched August 23, 2016
Arlington (Washington, D.C.) WFDC-DT 14.3 Univision Communications
(operated by Entravision Communications 		Launched August 18, 2014
Ashland (Richmond) WUPV 65.3 Raycom Media
Norfolk WTVZ-TV 33.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched December 31, 2014
Seattle KOMO-TV 4.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched December 31, 2014
Yakima KIMA-TV 29.3 Launched January 2015
Charleston–Huntington WCHS-TV 8.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched January 2015
Green Bay WACY-TV 32.2 E. W. Scripps Company Launched August 11, 2015
La Crosse WLAX 25.4 Nexstar Broadcasting Group August 30, 2016
Madison WMSN-TV 47.3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Launched December 2014
Milwaukee WCGV 24.3 Launched December 30, 2014

References

  1. ↑ Buckman, Adam (July 26, 2016). "Diginets Keep Growing, Despite Auction Cloud". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Cox, Naar named Grit, Escape Programmers". TVNewsCheck. July 22, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Grit, Escape Diginets To Launch Aug. 18". TVNewsCheck. August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Lafayette, Jon (April 3, 2014). "Exclusive: Bounce TV Exec Plans Two New Channels". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Jessell, Harry A. (October 13, 2015). "OTA The Bedrock of Katz's Growing Diginets". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  6. ↑ "New Grit and Escape Networks Set For August 18 Launch". August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  7. ↑ Lafayette, Jon (September 15, 2015). "Diginets Grit and Escape Sign Up for National Ratings". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
  8. ↑ Lafayette, Jon (June 3, 2015). "Grit Network Buys Rights to 'Walker'". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  9. ↑ Guider, Elizabeth (June 18, 2014). "Classic TV Diginets Make The Old New Again". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  10. ↑ Downey, Kevin (June 10, 2014). "Grit, Escape Diginets In Warner Bros. Deal". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Grit & Escape Add 157 NBCU Movies To Library". TVNewsCheck. June 24, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Paramount Movies Added to Escape, Grit Networks". Broadcasting & Cable. July 22, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Grit, Escape Add Sony Pictures Films". TVNewsCheck. September 3, 2014.
  14. 1 2 Lafayette, Jon (March 20, 2015). "Meredith To Carry Grit, Escape, LAFF Networks". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Raycom To Carry New Escape, Grit Diginets". TVNewsCheck. June 17, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Escape, Grit Diginets Expand Market Reach". TVNewsCheck. July 17, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  17. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (July 17, 2014). "Cox, Univision & Others to Launch New Networks Escape and Grit in Major Markets". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  18. ↑ Lafayette, Jon (October 9, 2014). "Sinclair to Carry New Grit Multicast Network". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  19. ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/katz-broadcasting-announces-major-distribution-agreements-with-media-general-and-tribune-media-300179251.html
  20. ↑ http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/95521/katz-bounce-boost-diginet-distribution
  21. ↑ "Stations for Network - Grit". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  22. ↑ http://www.grittv.com/find-us/#albany_ny
  23. ↑ Gary Dinges (November 16, 2015). "Austin viewers get 2 new over-the-air TV networks". Austin American-Statesman.

External links

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