Gray Media, Inc. (NYSE:GTN) has secured a multi-year agreement with the New Orleans Saints to become the team’s official television partner. This partnership will provide fans with exclusive access to their favorite team through various broadcasting channels.
Key Details of the Agreement
- Live Broadcasts: All three 2025 preseason games will be broadcast live on WVUE Fox 8 and other stations within Gray Media, Inc.’s network.
- Expanded Programming: Fans can look forward to more Saints-related programming on the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network and Gray Media, Inc.’s 15-station Saints Pre-Season Network.
- New Shows:
- "The Draft Show LIVE"
- "Daily Training Camp Show"
These programs will offer behind-the-scenes insights into the team’s activities during training camp leading up to kickoff in September.
Executive Insights
Sandy Breland, Chief Operating Officer at Gray Television, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "We’re excited about this opportunity because it gives us access to even more exclusive fan content than ever before." Gray Media has a long history of regional sports broadcasting dating back decades.
Negotiation Highlights
This deal was facilitated through negotiations involving several key figures:
- Dennis Lauscha, President/COO of the New Orleans Saints
- Mike Audette, Senior Vice President/GM at WVUE FOX8
- Bob Prather, EVP Business Development at WBRZ-TV Baton Rouge
- Tom Callahan, SVP Regional Sales Manager – South Region for CBS Sports Radio/WBRS-FM Baton Rouge
- Walter Isaacson, Chairman Emeritus of Tulane University Board of Directors
- Sandy Breland, COO of Gray Television
Background on Gray Media, Inc.
Gray Media, Inc.’s acquisition last year by Grey Group played a significant role in making this deal possible. The company acquired E.W. Scripps Co., which owns local media outlet Raycom Media LLC, for $3 billion in June last year. This acquisition has strengthened Gray Media’s position in the broadcasting landscape.
Future Broadcast Rights
In addition to its existing broadcast rights with ESPN+, FOX Sports’ NFL Sunday Ticket package is set for distribution on DirecTV satellite service starting next season, following a recent renewal agreement with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, announced by DirecTV parent AT&T Communications CEO Chris Sambar.
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
