Graham Media Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGraham Media Group is the television-broadcasting subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company, operating local network-affiliated stations in several major U.S. markets.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Graham Media Group is the television broadcasting division of Graham Holdings Company and the successor to the broadcasting organization historically known as Post-Newsweek Stations. Its business is centered on owning and operating local television stations affiliated with major U.S. broadcast networks, together with the associated newsrooms, digital properties, advertising operations, community services, and station-level production capabilities. The group is headquartered in Detroit, where it co-locates with WDIV-TV, its NBC affiliate serving southeastern Michigan. The organization traces its corporate roots to The Washington Post Company's entry into broadcasting in 1944 through the purchase of Washington, D.C., radio station WINX. The subsequent development of a joint venture with CBS around WTOP radio and WTOP-TV created the direct predecessor of the modern station group. In 1954, after regulatory pressure required CBS to dispose of its interest, the Washington Post organization consolidated its broadcasting assets under its own control. The company later combined its station operations with the acquisition of Newsweek magazine and adopted the Post-Newsweek Stations name. During the 1960s through the 1990s, Post-Newsweek expanded and reshaped its portfolio through purchases, exchanges, and divestitures. Important additions included WPLG in Miami, WFSB in Hartford, KPRC-TV in Houston, KSAT-TV in San Antonio, and WKMG-TV in Orlando. The group also briefly held or explored businesses beyond its core local network affiliates, including a stake in San Diego stations, a regional sports network in Detroit, and television production activities. Station names and branding sometimes reflected the Graham or Washington Post family, such as WPLG, named for former Washington Post publisher Philip Graham, and WKMG, named for Katharine Graham. The company experienced a major corporate identity transition after Newsweek was sold in 2010 and The Washington Post was sold to Jeff Bezos in 2013. The remaining Washington Post Company was renamed Graham Holdings Company, while its broadcasting division continued temporarily under the Post-Newsweek Stations name. On July 28, 2014, the station group announced that it would become Graham Media Group, separating its public identity from the former newspaper and magazine brands while retaining its connection to Graham Holdings. Portfolio management has remained an important part of the group's strategy. In 2014, Graham announced the sale of Miami station WPLG to Berkshire Hathaway in exchange for a substantial majority of Berkshire Hathaway's shares in Graham Holdings. The transaction closed on June 30, 2014, with Graham continuing to provide certain centralized services to WPLG under subsequent agreements. In 2016, Graham acquired WCWJ in Jacksonville and WSLS-TV in Roanoke as divestitures associated with Nexstar Broadcasting Group's acquisition of Media General. WCWJ formed Graham's first station duopoly, alongside WJXT in the Jacksonville market. Graham Media Group's positioning is that of a locally focused, professionally operated broadcast group with the resources of a larger parent company. Its stations generally compete through local news, weather, traffic, investigative reporting, emergency information, syndicated programming, network programming, digital video, and connected-TV or streaming distribution. The group is not a consumer product brand in the conventional sense; its principal offerings are station brands and the local media services delivered through them. Because station ownership and affiliations can change through regulatory reviews, acquisitions, exchanges, and divestitures, the group's portfolio should be assessed separately from the broader history of Graham Holdings Company.
History
Graham Media Group's history begins with The Washington Post Company's entry into broadcasting during the 1940s. In 1944, the company purchased Washington, D.C., radio station WINX. It later formed a joint venture with CBS known as WTOP Incorporated, in which the Post held the majority interest. The venture acquired Washington television station WOIC in 1950 and renamed it WTOP-TV. CBS was required by the Federal Communications Commission to sell its remaining interest in the venture in 1954, leaving the Washington Post organization in control of the broadcasting assets. The company consolidated its Washington holdings with WMBR-AM-TV in Jacksonville, Florida, and adopted the name Post Stations, Inc. The radio business was later divested, while WMBR-TV became WJXT. After The Washington Post Company acquired Newsweek in 1961, the broadcasting division was renamed Post-Newsweek Stations. The group briefly held a minority interest in San Diego stations KOGO, KOGO-FM, and KOGO-TV, but that partnership ended when the outlets were sold in 1962. Expansion resumed in 1969 with the acquisition of Cincinnati radio station WCKY and Miami television station WLBW-TV. The Miami station became WPLG, using initials associated with former Washington Post publisher Philip Graham. In 1974, Post-Newsweek acquired WTIC-TV in Hartford and changed its call sign to WFSB. The group also altered its Washington portfolio: WTOP-FM was donated to Howard University in 1971 and became WHUR-FM, while WTOP-TV was exchanged in 1978 for Detroit station WWJ-TV, which became WDIV-TV. The radio stations involved in the Washington transaction were subsequently sold, and the broadcasting assets were organized more distinctly as a standalone station business. Through the 1980s and 1990s, the stations often used related visual identities and slogans, although each outlet retained a local market presence. In 1992, the company purchased PASS Sports, a Detroit regional sports network that later ceased operations. In 1994, it acquired KPRC-TV in Houston and KSAT-TV in San Antonio from H&C Communications. In 1997, WFSB was traded to Meredith Corporation for Orlando station WCPX-TV. The acquired Orlando station was renamed WKMG-TV in recognition of Katharine Graham. The group considered further expansion in 2008 through a proposed acquisition of NBC-owned WTVJ in Miami. The purchase would have paired WTVJ with WPLG, but the transaction was abandoned after regulatory and economic difficulties and opposition to greater local media concentration. WPLG itself was later sold to Berkshire Hathaway in a 2014 transaction involving Graham Holdings shares. The corporate context changed substantially in the 2010s. The broadcasting group was separate from the sale of Newsweek in 2010 and The Washington Post in 2013. Following the newspaper sale, The Washington Post Company changed its name to Graham Holdings Company. The station business retained the Post-Newsweek Stations name until July 2014, when it was renamed Graham Media Group. In 2016, the group expanded through the acquisition of WCWJ in Jacksonville and WSLS-TV in Roanoke, transactions required as divestitures related to the Nexstar-Media General merger. WCWJ and WJXT created the group's first duopoly. Today, Graham Media Group remains an active Graham Holdings subsidiary focused on local television broadcasting and related digital media.
- 2016
WCWJ and WSLS-TV acquired
[1]Graham acquired WCWJ in Jacksonville and WSLS-TV in Roanoke in divestiture transactions associated with the Nexstar-Media General merger.
- 2014
Graham Media Group identity introduced
[1]Post-Newsweek Stations was renamed Graham Media Group after the parent company became Graham Holdings Company.
- 2014
WPLG sale completed
[1]Berkshire Hathaway completed its acquisition of WPLG from Graham, with Graham continuing to provide certain centralized services.
- 1997
Orlando station acquired
[1]The group traded WFSB to Meredith Corporation for WCPX-TV in Orlando, later renaming the station WKMG-TV.
- 1994
Texas station portfolio added
[1]Post-Newsweek acquired KPRC-TV in Houston and KSAT-TV in San Antonio from H&C Communications.
- 1992
PASS Sports acquired
[1]The group purchased PASS Sports, a Detroit regional sports network that later became defunct.
- 1978
Detroit station exchange
[1]WTOP-TV was exchanged for Detroit station WWJ-TV, which later became WDIV-TV and became the group's Detroit flagship.
- 1974
Hartford station acquired
[1]Post-Newsweek acquired WTIC-TV in Hartford and changed its call letters to WFSB.
- 1969
Miami expansion
[1]The group acquired WLBW-TV in Miami and renamed it WPLG, while also purchasing Cincinnati radio station WCKY.
- 1961
Post-Newsweek Stations name adopted
[1]Following the acquisition of Newsweek, the broadcasting group adopted the Post-Newsweek Stations identity.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Products and positioning
A locally focused U.S. television station group combining market-specific journalism and broadcasting with centralized resources provided by Graham Holdings Company.
Broadcast media
Local television stations
Graham Media Group's core operating assets are local television stations affiliated with major U.S. broadcast networks or operating as independent outlets. They combine network programming with locally produced news, weather, traffic, public-affairs, investigative, and community programming. The stations also distribute content through websites, mobile services, social platforms, and other digital channels.
News programming
Local news and information
The group's stations produce market-specific journalism designed for viewers in their coverage areas. Typical output includes morning, daytime, evening, and late-night newscasts, severe-weather coverage, traffic reporting, investigations, election coverage, and emergency information. These services are extended through station websites and digital video products.
Advertising services
Television advertising
The stations sell commercial inventory, sponsorships, and related promotional opportunities to local, regional, and national advertisers. The offering is supported by broadcast reach, local audience knowledge, station-produced creative capabilities, and digital extensions associated with the stations' websites and video platforms.
Brand decisions
2016
Acquisition of WCWJ and WSLS-TVM&ABackground
Nexstar Broadcasting Group's acquisition of Media General required the divestiture of certain stations to address regulatory concerns.
Action taken
Graham acquired WCWJ in Jacksonville and WSLS-TV in Roanoke.
Aftermath
WCWJ became Graham's first duopoly, operating alongside WJXT in Jacksonville, while WSLS-TV expanded the group into the Roanoke market.
2014
Sale of WPLG to Berkshire HathawayM&ABackground
Graham reorganized its assets after the Washington Post Company's transformation into Graham Holdings Company and evaluated the role of individual stations in the portfolio.
Action taken
Graham announced the sale of WPLG to Berkshire Hathaway in exchange for a large majority of Berkshire Hathaway's shares in Graham Holdings Company. The transaction closed on June 30, 2014.
Aftermath
Graham retained agreements to provide WPLG with certain centralized services after the station changed ownership.
2014
Rebranding as Graham Media GroupStrategyBackground
The broadcasting group continued to use the Post-Newsweek Stations name even after Newsweek and The Washington Post were no longer part of the parent company's operating structure.
Action taken
The group announced the Graham Media Group name on July 28, 2014.
Aftermath
The new identity aligned the television operation with Graham Holdings Company while emphasizing its continuing local-media role.
2008
Abandonment of proposed WTVJ acquisitionM&ABackground
Post-Newsweek sought to acquire NBC-owned WTVJ in Miami, which would have created a duopoly with the group's WPLG station.
Action taken
The proposed transaction was cancelled amid FCC approval issues, weak economic conditions, and local opposition to increased media consolidation.
Aftermath
Graham did not add WTVJ to its portfolio, and WPLG remained a standalone Graham station until its later sale to Berkshire Hathaway.
Recent events
- 2016
Graham acquires WCWJ and WSLS-TV in Media General divestitures[1]
M&A · Regulation
As part of regulatory divestitures connected with Nexstar Broadcasting Group's acquisition of Media General, Graham acquired Jacksonville CW affiliate WCWJ and Roanoke NBC affiliate WSLS-TV.
- 2014
Post-Newsweek Stations renamed Graham Media Group[1]
Other
The broadcasting subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company adopted the Graham Media Group name after the parent company had separated from the former Washington Post and Newsweek corporate identity.
- 2014
Graham announces sale of WPLG to Berkshire Hathaway[1]
M&A
Graham announced an agreement to sell Miami television station WPLG to Berkshire Hathaway in exchange for a large majority of Berkshire Hathaway's shares in Graham Holdings Company. The transaction closed on June 30, 2014.
- 2008
Graham withdraws proposed acquisition of WTVJ[1]
Regulation · M&A
A proposed purchase of NBC-owned Miami station WTVJ, which would have created a duopoly with Graham's WPLG, was cancelled amid FCC approval concerns, economic conditions, and local opposition to additional media consolidation.
Sources1 sources
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