Gray Media

Here are some questions you might have before getting started. We tried our best to anticipate your questions, but if you have another question that we haven't answered, please let us know.

I already have an agency. How do I know if my agency or media buyer is doing their job?

Since your agency is supposed to help you achieve your ministry's goals, answer these questions in terms of those goals:

1. Are they helping to move your organization forward?
2. Are they presenting you with new opportunities for expansion that match your goals?
3. Are they showing you any ways you can cut costs or move dollars around to more effective places?

How much do your services cost?

As an agency, our commission comes from the networks that we place you on. Although our commission is included in the rate you'll pay, you won't pay a higher rate just to cover that commission. It is standard industry practice for TV networks to cut us in on the rate they would normally charge you anyway, rather than increasing it just to pay us. (As a client, you can contact our accountant at any time to verify that our commission is no more than we say it is. We've hired an independent accounting firm to ensure that your account is handled with the utmost integrity.) It's a win-win-win situation: you get a great deal on the network you want --a deal you probably couldn't secure on your own--, we get a new client, and the network gets business they didn't have to work for.

Why do I need you or any agency, for that matter? Why can't I just deal with the TV stations myself?

It depends on what your goals are. If all you want is to get on a local station (like your local NBC affiliate), then chances are you probably don't need an agency. However, some of our clients ask for our help even with local networks because a) we save them time b) we can help them pick the right slot c) we can still get them a great deal, especially if it's in a city we've worked in before, and d) working together helps to establish groundwork for future expansion.

If you want to take your television ministry beyond your local area to a national or international scale, here are three reasons why using an agency makes sense:

1. Savings. Simply, our relationships can save you money. For example, let's say you wanted to get your TV program on BET or WGN. We go to those networks and place your program for you. We can secure a discounted rate for you that you wouldn't be able to get for yourself because of the sheer volume of dollars that we already bring to those networks from our other clients. It's because of this volume that networks extend discounts to Gray Media on your behalf. Why would networks pay us? Because we save them the money it would cost to pay a full-time salesperson to call or visit you and convince you to go on their network. Because we're bringing them business they didn't have to work for. So, everybody wins. You save money and get a great slot. The network gets paid because you bought the slot. And we get paid from the network for bringing them the business.
2. Convenience. It's like adding another staff member to your team. We'll handle all of the contracts, negotiation, billing. If you want to make adjustments or have questions about how your networks are performing, you don't have to make six phone calls. You just make one.
3. Experience. We can help you avoid common mistakes that will save you money and make you more effective in reaching your audience. Why not take advantage of 25 years of experience in the television industry, especially if it saves you money? Our experience in the television media industry, as well as our relationships that cross multiple platforms, will also help you find solutions to issues that go beyond just television.