June 1, 2025
Monday, June 2, 2025 UPDATE:
Greetings:
A big change for a long-troubled Atlanta station, and a group owner puts up the ‘for sale’ sign…to the surprise of few.
The CBS affiliation in Atlanta is moving from Gray Media’s WANF-TV to CBS owned WUPA-TV effective later this summer. WUPA will launch ‘CBS News Atlanta’ as a streaming service, with no apparent mention of a broadcast news presence. Because we are ‘on your side’ and ‘looking out for you’ and the ‘one to count on’, we have both the CBS news release AND the Gray/WANF release.
It’s the latest challenge for Channel 46, which has gone through several ownerships and multiple call letter and format changes over the years, not to mention a revolving door of GMs and news directors, though, to Gray’s credit, it has been more stable lately. Like most stations in this situation, they are expanding news as you’ll learn in the release above.
Meanwhile, speaking of challenged TV operations, Allen Media has engaged investment banker Moellis & Company to explore the sale of its 28 TV stations which operate in 21 different markets. Here’s the news release.
Finally, apologies to Scripps’ EVP of Media Operations DEAN LITTLETON. We screwed up his name Spellcheck changed his name in last weeks’ edition. 🙂
We’ll have more on all these stories in this weekend’s newsletter.
regards,
Rick Gevers
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Greetings:
FOUR news directors and just ONE new opening in this week’s edition, resulting in 34 stations with an ND opening. ONE of those new news directors is in a top 15 market.
We welcome Bandit Productions as a new advertiser, touting a new syndicated segment. Bandit’s is owned by old friend BOB SULLIVAN and LANA DURBAN SCOTT is the senior coordinating producer. The segments feature CANDY VALENTINO who brings smart, relatable financial content to your newscast — at no cost and no catch. Check out the ad just below.
We have TWO obituaries…one for a longtime Alabama newsman and the other for a longtime time (and long ago) Chicago TV critic.
A promotion for a Scripps newsman, a tribute for a retiring Wisconsin ND, and TWO new GMs in top ten markets. That’s in Names in the News. And there are TWO new GMs, both in top ten markets.
Enjoy the week. I will, as long as the Indiana Pacers win a game or two in Oklahoma City! 🙂
Newly Named News Directors:
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL…you learned in an UPDATE earlier this week that JEREMY SETTLE has been named Director of Content for Tegna Florida, and news director for this CBS affiliate. The news release says he will also ‘lead efforts to collaborate with Tegna’s NBC/ABC stations in Jacksonville. NICOLE WOLFE had been Director of Content here. Not sure what this means for her but have inquired.
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI…the same UPDATE that told you about Jeremy’s new job also updated you on JOE RADSKE. We reported last week that he had left WEAU-TV in Eau Claire, but learned mid-week that’s because he is headed to this Nexstar owned CBS affiliate. It’s not his first ND job: his career history is here. At WFRV, Joe replaces JOHN LAUGHRIN who is starting his own business.
WDHN-TV, Dothan, AL…RICHARD EVERETT has been promoted to news director for this Nexstar owned ABC affiliate. He had been the digital lead here and replaces GLEN HORN who’s off to San Antonio as ND for WOAI/KABB-TV there.
KAIT-TV, Jonesboro, AR…another promotion here as AARON CASTLEBERRY has been promoted to ND for this Gray Media owned ABC affiliate. He has been the Assistant ND here, but wait! There’s more to his background as you’ll learn in this email to me from GM HATTON WEEKS. Aaron replaces GLENDEL LEVY. She left last month after almost four years as ND.
New News Director Openings:
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY…we told you above that JEREMY SETTLE was headed south, moving within Tegna as to work as Director of Content for Tegna Florida. The full story in the item above.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
No paid ads this week. If you need to fill a news director or news management position, there’s no more targeted audience than this. Email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 4/6/25)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 5/4/25)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (listed 5/18/25)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 5/11/25)
KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 4/13/25)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 5/26/25)
KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT (relisted 6/1/25)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 4/27/25)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 4/6/25)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (EP Evening Magazine, listing revised 4/6/25)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 6/1/25)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Digital EP, relisted 6/1/25)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (relisted 6/1/25)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (Nightside EP, relisted 4/20/25)
WJW-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 5/26/25)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 4/6/25)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (AM EP, listed 3/2/25)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 3/9/25)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 4/6/25)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (Digital EP, listed 6/1/25)
WYFF-TV, Greenville, SC (relisted 4/20/25)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (Weekend EP, relisted 4/20/25)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, listed 4/6/25)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listing revised 4/27/25)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 4/6/25)
WLKY-TV, Louisville, KY (Nightside EP, relisted 4/20/25)
KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, NM (Nightside EP, listed 5/11/25)
WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 4/6/25)
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (listed 4/20/25)
WDKY-TV, Lexington, KY (AM EP, relisted 6/1/25)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 5/4/25)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (listed 5/26/25)
KHON-TV, Honolulu, HI (Digital EP, listed 4/27/25)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 4/6/25)
WOI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 4/27/25)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 6/1/25)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 5/18/25)
WPTZ-TV, Burlington, VT (relisted 4/20/25)
WAPT-TV, Jackson, MS (relisted 4/20/25)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (relisted 4/20/25)
WMBB-TV, Panama City, FL (Digital EP, relisted 5/11/25)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WYXZ-TV, Detroit, MI (relisted 6/1/25)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 5/26/25:
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (Assignment Desk Manager)
Listed 5/18/25:
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Director of Content- Digital & Linear Operations)
Listed 5/4/25:
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (Executive Reporter)
Listed 4/20/25:
WRBL-TV, Columbus, GA (Digital Content Director)
Relisted 4/20/25:
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Executive Reporter)
Listed 4/6/25:
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (Digital Director)
Obituaries:
Howell
Longtime Montgomery anchor…and, for a while, managing editor, BOB HOWELL died on May 23 at his home. Bob spent most of his career anchoring for WSFA-TV in Montgomery, but also worked for a second station in the market before returning to WSFA. He began his career in Dothan. WSFA remembered him in this story which features several clips of his work
Deeb
GARY DEEB, an influential TV critic for two Chicago newspapers, who also did work for WLS-TV (ABC) there, died May 17th. He was 79. This too brief obituary also mentions he worked for the Buffalo News. I checked both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times and could not find any story. I’ll update if/when I do.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
McGarvy
SEAN McGARVY has been promoted to Senior Director of Digital News and Content Strategy for Scripps. Details in this note to employees from DEAN LITTLETON, the company’s Executive VP of Media Operations. Sean is currently Senior Director of Local News Strategy, is a former ND in Cleveland, Assistant ND in Denver, and has worked in Indianapolis, Washington, Des Moines, and Columbia, MO.
Buehler
Retiring WLUK-TV (Green Bay, WI) ND JULI BUEHLER was honored by the station which aired these tributes to her. She’s been ND for this Sinclair owned FOX affiliate for 30 years, and spent 38 years at the station. Enjoy retirement, Juli!
General Manager News and Notes:
Wurtzel
KGO-TV in San Francisco is getting a new General Manager, DAVID WUERTZEL . He’s been the VP for Operations and Business Planning for the ABC o-and-o’s in Los Angeles and Fresno.
As reported in our Thursday UPDATE, SEAN McLAUGHLIN is taking on additional duties for Graham Media’s KPRC-TV (NBC) in Houston. He’ll continue to develop news strategies for Graham’s other stations.
Our List of Open News Director Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 1, 2025:
It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these may have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com
WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10017
WGN-TV 2501 West Bradley Place Chicago, IL 60618
WKTB 4675 River Green Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30096 **
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road Boston, MA 02134
WMUR-TV 100 South Commercial St. Manchester, NH 03101 (Boston)
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy. Minneapolis, MN 55427
WFTV 490 E. South St., Orlando, FL 32801
KMOV-TV 77 Progress Parkway; Maryland Heights, MO 63043
KSAT-TV 1408 N St. Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78215
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45202
WPEC-TV 1100 Fairfeild Drive W. Palm Beach FL 33407
WFTX-TV 621 SW Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral, FL 33991
WGRZ-TV 259 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202
KTHV-TV 720 Izard Street Little Rock, AR 72201
WHIO-TV 1611 South Main Street Dayton, OH 45409
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
WLUK-TV 787 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay, WI 54304
WSLS-TV 821 5th St SW, Roanoke, VA 24016
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
WEAU-TV 1907 S. Hastings Way Eau Claire, WI 54701
WMDT-TV 202 Downtown Plaza, Salisbury, MD 21801
KOSA-TV 4101 E. 42nd. Suite J-7. Odessa, TX 79761
KMID/KPEJ-TV 1550 West I-20 Odessa, TX 79763
KSWO-TV 1401 SE 60th St. Lawton, OK 73501
KAAL-TV 1320 Salem Road SW, Rochester, MM 55902
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
KOTA-TV 2001 Skyline Drive Rapid City, SD 57701
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902 (Content Manager)
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
**: Spanish language station