Media Moves

Scott Porretti is taking a newly created position that adds operational oversight of this major national ad rep firm's digital video sales operations to his management of digital audio sales across the U.S. He's been associated with this rep firm since 1999.

An individual who was named by Streamline Publishing's Radio Ink as General Manager of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2016 has just joined Salem Media Group. What he'll be doing is a bit of a secret.

The NAB Education Foundation (NABEF) has elected six new members to its board of directors. They include leaders from Graham Media Group, Cox Media Group, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, NBCUniversal, Univision Communications, and an owner of radio stations in Oklahoma, Georgia, and South Carolina.

The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation will be saluting four individuals who have actively served the broadcast industry in the state by inducting them into the WBA Hall of Fame. This year's class includes a top executive at one of the nation's biggest broadcast TV companies, an owner of locally focused radio stations, an EAS champion who was an engineer for Journal Communications' flagship stations, and an innovative training specialist who has influenced hundreds of sales executives across the Midwest.

In July 2014, Univision Radio made waves across La Gran Manzana by dropping the Luis Jimenez Show from its WXNY-FM "X96.3" in New York. Jimenez's show had been syndicated by Univision Radio, a move that transpired after his highly publicized exit from Spanish Broadcasting System. He had been on X96.3 since its 2009 debut. On March 13, 2017, Jimenez returned to WXNY. That arrangement abruptly ended 11 days ago. On Monday, X96.3 is moving forward with its former midday host in wakeups — and a big new 10am-3pm offering.

The man who has served as SVP/Sales for iHeartMedia's Washington, D.C. stations is heading up I-95 to take the company's top job in Charm City. Effective immediately, a 19-year media veteran who began his career with Clear Channel in New York's Capitaland region is now Market President of iHeartMedia's Baltimore station group. 

Comcast-owned MVPD-distributed regional network NBC Sports Philadelphia has named a Director of Digital Content. Starting April 30, this individual will be responsible for the network’s portfolio of multi-platform content and initiatives, across NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com, digital and social media platforms, and podcasts. He’ll also lead efforts to increase brand engagement with Philadelphia’s sports fans, and develop long-range content initiatives for the network.

When it comes to the overall operations of Beasley Media Group's Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater station group, a Daily choice proved to be best. This individual was previously with iHeartMedia, overseeing programming for its Sarasota and Tampa Bay radio properties.

The city of Charlottesville, Va., is home to the University of Virginia and Cavalier athletics. It is also home to a group of stations owned by Monticello Media, led by one of the nation's top media brokers. The cluster just named a VP/GM.

The individual who most recently served as SVP/Digital Sales for Fox Network Group has been hired by the nation's No. 1 radio broadcasting company — proving that it believes it is business as usual as it seeks approval of its Chapter 11 restructuring plan in a Texas federal bankruptcy court.

NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises has a signature morning show on its Telemundo Spanish-language broadcast TV network named "Un Nuevo Día." That translates to "A New Day," which is indeed the case for its programming department.

Kurt Rao has become the newest executive at TEGNA, the broadcast TV company formerly known as Gannett. Starting today, he's the Chief Technology Officer for the company, working across TEGNA "to drive the development and implementation of the company’s next-generation client and customer technology solutions."

A 30+-year media and TV executive who began his career in August 1986 as a media buyer and planner for Chicago-based Leo Burnett has just been appointed President/GM of one of TEGNA's top CBS affiliates in the South.

The network radio arm of Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) has tapped "a seasoned radio executive" to spearhead its syndication strategy, manage affiliate relations and expand its footprint — in addition to widening the availability of SBS radio programming and digital division LaMusica's digital and live music content.

After nearly three years as a Nielsen Audio account director and many years with Arbitron and Scarborough Research, Laura Ivey will now be directing various aspects of Edison Research’s growing practice in audio and social media.