Quick Facts: 13WMAZ
| Owner | Gray Television |
| CEO (Gray TV) | Pat LaPlatney (President/Co-CEO) |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Headquarters | Macon, Georgia, USA |
| Ownership Type | Public (Gray Television) |
| Stock Ticker | NYSE: GTN |
| Publicly Traded | Yes (Gray Television) |
Who Owns 13WMAZ?
13WMAZ is a CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Macon, Georgia, and it is owned by Gray Television, one of the largest local television broadcasting companies in the United States. Gray Television is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GTN, making it a publicly held broadcast group with ownership spread across institutional and retail investors. The station covers central Georgia and serves as the dominant local news source for the Macon market.
13WMAZ became part of Gray Television through the company’s 2019 merger with Raycom Media, the Alabama-based broadcast group that had owned the station for many years. The Raycom merger was a landmark deal in the television industry, dramatically expanding Gray Television’s footprint across the American Southeast and Midwest. Prior to Raycom’s ownership, 13WMAZ had passed through several broadcast groups over its decades of operation. The station first signed on the air in 1953, making it one of the longer-running local television operations in Georgia.
Gray Television is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and was led by Hilton Howell as Executive Chairman, with Pat LaPlatney serving as President and Co-CEO. The company owns or operates more than 100 television stations in dozens of U.S. markets, spanning CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox affiliates. As a Gray Television property, 13WMAZ benefits from the parent company’s centralized news infrastructure, national content partnerships, and CBS News affiliations that provide the Macon market with a full local news operation alongside national programming.
About Gray Television
Gray Television traces its roots to Albany, Georgia, where it owned a single local television station before expanding aggressively through acquisitions over multiple decades. The company has grown from a regional broadcaster into one of the largest TV station groups in America, reaching roughly 25% of all U.S. television households at its peak. Gray’s strategy has centered on acquiring CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox affiliates in mid-sized markets — exactly the position 13WMAZ occupies as a CBS affiliate in Macon. The Raycom merger in 2019 added dozens of stations and made Gray a dominant force in Southern broadcast television.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Gray Television is the parent company: Gray Television (NYSE: GTN) owns 13WMAZ as part of a broadcast portfolio covering more than 100 local TV stations across the United States. Gray is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
- Raycom merger brought WMAZ into Gray’s portfolio: When Gray Television completed its acquisition of Raycom Media in January 2019, 13WMAZ transferred to Gray Television ownership. The deal was one of the largest local broadcast acquisitions in U.S. television history, valued at approximately $3.65 billion.
- CBS affiliate in Macon: 13WMAZ has been a CBS affiliate for decades, carrying CBS network programming including NFL games, The Price Is Right, late-night programming, and CBS News. The station also operates a robust local news department serving central Georgia.
- Long broadcast history: 13WMAZ first signed on the air in 1953, giving it more than 70 years of broadcast history in the Macon market. Over that time it has served as a pillar of local journalism and community coverage in central Georgia.
- Hilton Howell leads Gray Television: Gray Television is led by Executive Chairman Hilton Howell, a grandson of the company’s early founders, and Co-CEO Pat LaPlatney. The company has pursued a consistent strategy of acquiring mid-market television stations aligned with the Big Four networks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns 13WMAZ?
13WMAZ is owned by Gray Television, a publicly traded broadcast company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (NYSE: GTN). Gray acquired the station as part of its merger with Raycom Media in 2019.
Is 13WMAZ independently owned?
No. 13WMAZ is part of the Gray Television family of stations, one of the largest local television broadcast groups in the United States. It is not independently owned or operated.
What network is 13WMAZ affiliated with?
13WMAZ is a CBS affiliate, carrying CBS network programming including national news, entertainment shows, and NFL football games. It serves the Macon, Georgia television market.
When did Gray Television acquire 13WMAZ?
Gray Television acquired 13WMAZ in January 2019 when it completed its merger with Raycom Media, the prior owner of the station. The Raycom-Gray deal was one of the largest local television transactions in broadcast history.
