After one year as a Local Sales Manager for Hearst Television in Sacramento, a veteran broadcast media sales pro is returning to the lower San Joaquin Valley to serve as General Manager of American General Media‘s radio stations.
Taking the position is Billy Smith, who is exiting KCRA-3 and KQCA-58 in Sacramento, where he’s been since March 2023. Before that, he served as Director of Sales for News-Press & Gazette Co. in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Smith’s prior roles include serving as Sales Manager for Spectrum Reach, and as a Marketing Director for iHeartMedia predecessor Clear Channel Radio.
From September 2015 through the end of 2017, Smith was in Bakersfield, as LSM of KERO-23, the ABC affiliate.
While Smith is returning to the market, he’s also going back to his roots by rejoining AGM — he was an Account Executive for the company between October 2002 and August 2011.
Today, Smith report to AGM Regional Manager Rich Watson, who commented, “We were very lucky to have several excellent and well qualified candidates for this rare opening. Billy stood out among those candidates because of his passion for our business along with his experience both in Bakerfield and outside the market. This station group has a deep tradition of dominant audience share, offering highly creative marketing products to our clients, and a commitment to serving Bakersfield and all the communities of Kern County.”
AGM President Rogers Brandon added, “Billy got his start in broadcasting with our Bakersfield station group as an Account Executive 20 years ago. Since leaving our company, he has had several management positions and has evolved as a skilled manager and an innovative leader. It’s always gratifying when someone of Billy’s skillset rejoins the company; he knows our culture, our mission, and our vision for serving our community.”
