Full Breakdown
Gray Media Secures Georgia-Wide Broadcast Home for Atlanta Hawks Games
7/17/2026, 1:08:05 AM
Partnership Overview
On July 16, 2026 Gray Media announced a broadcast agreement with the Atlanta Hawks that will place every non-nationally televised regular-season game on the company’s local stations and the newly branded Peachtree Sports Network for the 2026-27 NBA season. The deal also includes three preseason contests and a selection of nationally televised games that will be carried on the same outlets.
Distribution Reach
The partnership covers Gray Media’s stations across the state: WAN (F — Atlanta News First) in Atlanta, WAFF in Huntsville, WBRC in Birmingham, WALB in Albany, WTVM in Columbus, WRDW in Augusta, WPGA in Macon, and WTOC in Savannah. All stations will broadcast the games free over-the-air, and WANF will be available on major cable and streaming platforms including Xfinity, Spectrum, DirecTV, DISH Network, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, and Fubo.
Viewership Data
During the 2025-26 season a 13-game package on WANF generated ratings more than 1.5 times higher than the Hawks’ other local broadcasts, according to Nielsen Local TV Viewership data. Gray Media cites this performance as a benchmark for the expanded coverage.
Official Statements & Responses
Gray Media Chairman and CEO Hilton H. Howell emphasized the company’s community focus, noting that the agreement aligns with its mission to deliver content fans value. Hawks President of Business Enterprise and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Saltzman highlighted the shared commitment to fan experience, while WANF General Manager Erik Schrader described the partnership as an elevation of the station’s long-standing dedication to Atlanta sports coverage.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This partnership is a reflection of what Gray Media does best — serving our communities with the content they care about most,” — Hilton H. Howell, Chairman and CEO, Gray Media
- “This agreement reflects our shared commitment to putting our fans first and delivering an outstanding fan experience for as many fans as possible.” — Andrew Saltzman, President of Business Enterprise and Chief Commercial Officer, Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena
- “WANF has always been committed to Atlanta, and this partnership takes that commitment to a new level,” — Erik Schrader, General Manager, WANF and WPCH
- “This is a significant moment for our stations and for the fans we serve.” — Hilton H. Howell, Chairman and CEO, Gray Media
