TEGNA and Houston Comets announce partnership to broadcast games locally on KHOU and KTBU. Oct. 22, 2026, 05:05 PM MCLEAN, Va. and HOUSTON, Oct. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - TEGNA Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) and the Houston Comets today announced a multi-year partnership, making KHOU and KTBU the local broadcast home of the Comets. Starting with the team's 2027 season, locally available Comets games will air free over-the-air on KTBU, with select games simulcast on KHOU, TEGNA's CBS affiliate in Houston. The games will also be simulcast on Space City Home Network, the team's regional sports network, and on SCHN+, the direct-to-consumer streaming service. As a founding marketing partner for the team, KHOU will create new and exclusive Comets content year-round, providing coverage across its newscasts, 24/7 streaming channel and digital platforms. KHOU and TEGNA will also play a key role in advertising and sponsorship sales for the team's broadcasts on the stations. "The Comets' return to Houston is a big moment for the city, and we're proud to be part of it," said Brad Ramsey, senior vice president and head of sports rights, TEGNA. "This partnership expands our WNBA footprint and lets us connect the team with the community, bringing fans closer to the Comets on and off the court, all year." "Bringing the Comets back to Houston is about reigniting the passion, pride and energy that have always connected this organization with its fans and community," said Gretchen Sheirr, President of Business Operations for the Houston Rockets and Comets. "As the WNBA continues to reach new heights, we're thrilled to partner with TEGNA to make Comets basketball more accessible to fans across the Houston area through free, over-the-air broadcasts on KTBU and additional coverage on KHOU. We're excited to bring fans closer to the action and deliver outstanding coverage as we begin this exciting new chapter in Comets history." One of the WNBA's original eight franchises, the Comets won the league's first four championships and helped create the early identity and success of the league. Houston's return to the WNBA comes during a period of extraordinary momentum for the league, which plans to expand to 18 teams by 2030. "KHOU has covered Houston sports for decades, and the Comets' homecoming is a story we've been waiting to tell," said David Loving, president and general manager, KHOU. "As a founding partner, we're ready to bring Comets action to fans across the region." How to watch: * KTBU (channel 55): Every locally available game airs live on KTBU. * KHOU 11: Select games each season are simulcast on KHOU. * Over the air: Fans can watch for free with an antenna. * On Space City Home Network and SCHN+ streaming service. About TEGNA TEGNA Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), operating independently of Nexstar consistent with the Hold Separate Order issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California on April 17, 2026. TEGNA is a multiplatform media company operating 64 local television stations in 51 U.S. markets, and hundreds of websites, mobile and Connected TV (CTV) apps, and Premion, a leading Connected TV and Over-the-Top (OTT) advertising platform. For TEGNA media inquiries, contact: Molly McMahon Sr. Director, Corporate Communications 703-873-6422 [email protected] For Houston Comets media inquiries, contact: Tracey Hughes Vice President of Communications Houston Rockets | Houston Comets | Toyota Center 713-758-7335 [email protected] Markets Insider and Business Insider Editorial Teams were not involved in the creation of this post. Sponsored Financial Content

Ex-TEGNA exec Adrienne Roark joins media tech firm Genna. [email protected] October 20, 2026 Former TEGNA Chief Content Officer Adrienne Roark has joined media technology company Genna as an advisor, taking on a role focused on helping news organizations use artificial intelligence to streamline production and expand the distribution of journalism across digital platforms. Roark announced the appointment Tuesday, less than a year after leaving TEGNA following the company's on-paper acquisition by Nexstar Media Group. Genna develops AI-powered tools designed to help publishers and media organizations transform existing reporting into video programming for distribution across multiple platforms. The company says its technology is intended to simplify production workflows while leaving editorial decisions and standards under newsroom control. n announcing her new role, Roark said news organizations need to address the amount of time journalists spend performing repetitive production and administrative tasks rather than reporting. "Too many of our journalists do not have enough time to do actual journalism because they are buried in busywork," Roark said, adding that tasks like transcribing interviews, managing files, navigating content management systems and adapting stories for different platforms often require jugging different apps and platforms. Roark said research from Caretta found broadcast journalists spend nearly three-quarters of their day on technical workflows instead of reporting. Roark's own experience at TEGNA demonstrated how collaboration between editorial, production and technical teams could help reduce those burdens through AI-powered newsroom tools. "At TEGNA, I saw what's possible when product, technology, and editorial teams come together to build AI tools for journalists: less time lost to repetitive work, and more time and headspace for the real work of journalism," Roark said. Roark joined TEGNA in February 2025 as Chief Content Officer, overseeing the company's local news and content operations. She reported directly to then-CEO Mike Steib. During her tenure, TEGNA expanded its digital news distribution efforts, including the development of dedicated streaming applications offering around-the-clock local news programming. Roark announced her departure earlier this year, shortly after Nexstar completed its acquisition of TEGNA once it received sign-offs from federal regulators. The transaction is the subject of an antitrust lawsuit filed by DIRECTV and several state attorneys general; while the case plays out, TEGNA is operating separate from Nexstar, despite being a subsidiary. Before joining TEGNA, Roark held several senior leadership positions at CBS News & Stations, including President of CBS News & Stations. Her responsibilities included oversight of television stations in major markets such as New York and Boston.

Hearst Television hires TEGNA veteran Chris Plourde for distribution role. [email protected] October 19, 2026 Hearst Television has hired Chris Plourde, a longtime finance and strategy executive at TEGNA, as its new Vice President of Strategy & Distribution, the company announced. Plourde joins Hearst after spending 20 years at TEGNA, where he most recently served as Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis. He will report to John Robertson, Hearst Television's Senior Vice President of Strategy & Distribution. In his new position, Plourde will work on distribution strategy, technology partnerships and relationships with television networks and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs). His responsibilities will also include supporting the company's advanced advertising partnerships. "Finding a leader with Chris's depth of experience is a rare and exceptional opportunity," Michael J. Hayes, President of Hearst Television, said in a statement. "His arrival further strengthens what is, without question, the finest strategy and distribution team in the local television business, and positions us to lead Hearst Television boldly into its next generation." At TEGNA, Plourde worked on distribution strategy, corporate development and financial planning, including commercial negotiations involving television distribution agreements. His responsibilities included developing financial models to support distribution revenue forecasts, negotiations and new business ventures. He also oversaw financial strategy and analysis related to network affiliation agreements and other strategic partnerships. That experience will carry over to his new role at Hearst, where he will assist Robertson with the company's distribution relationships and commercial partnerships. "Chris brings an extraordinarily distinctive and wide-ranging breadth of experience, and we are fortunate to welcome him to the team," Robertson said. "His insight and perspective will be invaluable as we continue to build on our momentum and he will be instrumental in helping drive our relationships with networks and MVPDs, including our advanced advertising partnerships." Plourde joined TEGNA in 2006 after earning a bachelor's degree from Northeastern University. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from George Mason University. Hearst Television operates local television stations across the United States and is a subsidiary of Hearst Corporation. Its strategy and distribution team oversees business relationships involving television networks, distribution platforms and other industry partners.