Rock Entertainment Group and Gray Media Join Forces to Launch Rock Entertainment Sports Network

Gray Television, Inc.

CLEVELAND, July 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rock Entertainment Group (REG), the umbrella entity that houses Dan Gilbert’s sports and entertainment properties under the ROCK Family of Companies, and Gray Media (Gray) (NYSE: GTN), owner of WOIO and WUAB in Cleveland and WXIX in Cincinnati, have entered into an agreement to launch Rock Entertainment Sports Network. The parties expect the new network to launch over-the-air on Gray’s television stations in Cleveland and Cincinnati this August, with future live multichannel video program distributors (MVPDs) and streaming components to be announced as the network expands.

Rock Entertainment Sports Network will be home to the 2015-16 Calder Cup Champion Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League, the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League, St. Edward High School varsity sports, which will begin with football this fall, and programming from the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League. The network will be available on channel 22.1 via free over-the-air broadcasts and the parties plan to make it available via major cable, satellite and virtual pay television platforms throughout Ohio.

“Our fans are the lifeblood of Rock Entertainment Group. We are constantly looking for ways to evolve the opportunities our fans have to engage with all sports in our region and state. From our dynamic college and professional teams to our semi-pro and high school sports, the passion, pride and commitment to delivering world-class experiences through these sports is deeply ingrained in our culture,” said Nic Barlage, CEO of Rock Entertainment Group and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. “The creation of Rock Entertainment Sports Network will provide Ohio fans with unparalleled access to all levels of competitive sports and provide our diverse lineup of sports teams with an unparalleled platform to connect with fans of all interests.”

In addition to broadcasting live coverage of the Cleveland Monsters, Cleveland Charge, St. Edward High School Varsity Football and Lake Erie Crushers programs, Rock Entertainment Sports Network plans to air live broadcasts of other local college, high school and other professional teams.

“Gray is excited to partner with Rock Entertainment Group to bring free, live sports to Ohio viewers,” said Matt Moran, Senior Executive Vice President of Gray Media and an Avon, Ohio resident. “This joint venture is a game changer for Ohio sports fans and will usher in a new era of free, live televised sports in Ohio.”

This groundbreaking partnership will provide millions of Ohioans with free, 24/7 access to local sports and entertainment programming. Gray and Rock Entertainment Group will use the network to create, produce and broadcast sports programming across the state, providing a wealth of sports content to viewers and fans.

“We look forward to working with Rock Entertainment Group to bring free, live sports to Ohio fans,” said Sandy Breland, Grays’ Chief Operating Officer. “Our strong Ohio television stations and corporate teams are ready to deliver this new model of sports television in Ohio.”

Rock Entertainment Sports Network is expected to begin broadcasting games in Cleveland and Cincinnati in August 2024 and plans to expand to additional markets in the following months.

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About Rock Entertainment Group

RockEntertainmentGroup is the umbrella entity for the teams and venues that are part of Dan Gilbert’s RockFamily of Companies. It includes the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, the NBA G League Charge and the NBA 2K League’s Cavs Legion; the operation of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Legion Lair Lit by TCP, home of the Cavs Legion in Cleveland and Cleveland Clinic Courts, the Cavaliers’ training and development facility in Independence, Ohio. As a unified brand platform, RockEntertainmentGroup formally connects multiple sports, venues, music and content properties to better position them collectively for collaboration, growth and new opportunities, while relentlessly creating incredible experiences for fans, teams, partners, stakeholders and thousands of employees across all properties.

About Gray:

Gray Media, or Gray, is a multimedia company based in Atlanta, Georgia, formerly known as Gray Television, Inc. The company is the nation's largest owner of local television stations and premium digital assets serving 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 36% of U.S. television households. The portfolio includes 77 markets with the highest-rated television station and 100 markets with the first and/or second highest-rated television station, as well as the largest group of Telemundo affiliates with 43 markets totaling nearly 1.5 million Hispanic television households. The company also owns Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency providing national and local clients with digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Gray's other media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group and PowerNation Studios, as well as studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios. Gray holds a majority stake in Swirl Films. For more information, please visit www.graymedia.com.

Media Contacts
Contact the Cleveland Cavaliers:
Zach Abaie, Vice President of Corporate Communications
[email protected] | (216) 559-0199

Gray Media Contacts:
Sandy Breland, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
(404) 266-8333

Matt Moran, Senior Executive Vice President
(216) 771-1943

WOIO/WUAB Contact:
David Hughes, Vice President and General Manager of WOIO/WUAB
(216) 771-1943

Contact WXIX:
Jennifer Rieffer, Vice President and General Manager of WXIX
(513) 421-1919