Media Moves

On June 9, the individual who ran Saga Communications' Portland, Me., group of radio stations was taken to lunch. He never returned. We now know why. A former Entercom Communications executive with rich experience of New England's radio landscape has taken over as SVP/Market Manager of what's branded as the "Portland Radio Group."

In 1999, a local TV leader who began his career in the 1970s took on the role of President/GM of a Northern California station owned by his employer of 15 years, Hearst Television. Now, Joseph Heston is readying for his eventual retirement, which has been formally announced by the local TV station owner.

In concurrent moves announced Wednesday, Gray Television has promoted a longtime leader for its CBS affiliate serving the Brazos Valley of Texas, while also naming the forthcoming GM for its NBC affiliate in Myrtle Beach and Florence, S.C.

After more than 15 years within the Intraplex business unit at GatesAir, its Director and VP/GM is being promoted to a top engineering role for the entire radio and TV transmitter manufacturer. The change comes as Tony Kobrinetz is retiring following a career that includes 35 years with Motorola.

For 12 years, he worked with radio groups and stations across sales, programming, digital and corporate teams on revenue and ratings-based goals at Nielsen Audio and, before that, at Arbitron. Since 2018, he's been working for Daniel Anstandig -- who's just promoted him to lead the AI-driven sales research and insights arm at Cleveland-based Futuri.

For much of the 2000s, he was a top ad sales executive at NBCUniversal. Since February 2012, he had been known as the national ad specialist for Twentieth Television. Now, this 1983 Hobart and William Smith Colleges English degree holder has been named the Executive Director of asset management company Manhattan West.

The former CFO of the company once known as Tribune Media has taken similar duties for what will soon be known as Nielsen Global Connect. That's the segment of Nielsen that focuses on consumer research, and the first steps of its separation into an independent publicly traded company were seen in May.

Entravision Communications has a new individual in charge of its national spot television, national spot radio, network radio and national digital audio platforms.

Starting June 29, Tregg White will have instant access to Sabino Canyon hikes and meals at El Charro Café. White is heading to Tucson to lead The E.W. Scripps Co.'s two stations in the southern Arizona market, and will be heading there from Wyoming.

On July 1, WCVB-5 in Boston, considered the Hearst Television flagship property, will be getting its fifth-ever President/GM. He's coming from WGAL-8 in Lancaster-Harrisburg-York, Pa. We now know who Kyle Grimes' successor is in the Keystone State.

A new VP/GM is in place at both the Meredith Local Media stations serving Atlanta, and at its Mobile, Alabama operations. In Atlanta, the position goes to the woman who previously served as President/GM of TEGNA's NBC affiliate in Charlotte.

For 22 years, she's been a steady presence in the engineering department of four Beasley Media Group stations, continuing on with the FMs following their acquisition from the former Greater Media. Now, the cluster is "powering up" this veteran to the Chief Engineer post.

The 2020 Celebration of Service to America Awards, previously scheduled for June 9, has been reimagined as a pre-recorded event. Through a partnership with Hollywood production company Trailer Park, the NAB Leadership Foundation will provide a broadcast-quality program showcasing the vital role of local media. The date of the event is forthcoming.

For decades, Hal Stein was associated with WHWH-AM and WPST-FM, known across Central N.J. and greater Philadelphia. He was the marketing whiz behind the stations and, as it turns out, a cousin to famed novelty act Tiny Tim. Now, media professionals are pausing to recall Stein, who has died. Complications from the novel coronavirus were to blame.

After 12 years as President and Executive Director of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters (KAB), Kent Cornish will retire at the end of May. Who's succeeding him the role?