MIAMI — The former General Manager of NBCUniversal-owned WTVJ-TV in Miami, also known for his role as the President of the company’s Spanish-language Telemundo broadcast television network, has died at the age of 80.
Don Browne is being remembered for his career in South Florida, for his pioneering efforts in reaching U.S. Hispanics, and for helping forge the success of others in broadcast TV.
“He believed in quality journalism, but more importantly, he knew that great people would be able to tell great stories with support, mentoring and coaching,” NBC News Executive Yvette Miley told WTVJ in a Wednesday evening report.
Browne is a native of Toms River, N.J., and attended the University of South Carolina on a football scholarship. In 1981, Browne married Maria Josefa Junquera, who preceded him in death in 2021. Just months later, doctors determined Browne had a brain tumor, requiring surgery.
His death is attributed to the brain tumor.
Browne began his career with the company in 1979, as NBC News’ Miami bureau chief. He was promoted to Executive News Director in 1989, and in 1991 rose to EVP of NBC News.
With that experience, Browne in September 1993 was placed in charge of WTVJ — a station that had seen significant ups and downs since a “great affiliate swap” on January 1, 1989 in which WTVJ shed its CBS affiliation to become a NBC O&O at Channel 4.
It was Hurricane Andrew in August 1992 that brought new life to WTVJ, as South Florida was immediately transformed by the destructive storm. In the weeks prior to the storm, it was known across the local TV market that management was eyeing a replacement for meteorologist Bryan Norcross. Then came Andrew, with a sudden turn from the Bahamas that only he had predicted. Suddenly, Miami was thrust into a devastating situation; Norcross emerged as the voice of reason for English-speaking consumers glued to their portable televisions, watching WTVJ’s storm coverage.
Thirteen months later, Browne arrived, with a pledge that resulted in a splashy Sun-Sentinel headline: he wanted to take WTVJ’s newscasts “back to basics.” In less than one year, the station zoomed upward in the ratings. This led to a renaissance — until September 10, 1995. As the result of a Westinghouse arrangement with CBS, which impacted Philadelphia and Boston, WTVJ and WCIX swapped facilities in Miami. The move created WFOR-4, the new home for CBS, while WTVJ took Channel 6 — using a broadcast tower to the far southwest of downtown Miami. Thanks to Hurricane Andrew, Broward County was growing by leaps and bounds; WTVJ’s broadcast signal was weak in much of the northern part of the county, leading The E.W. Scripps Co.’s West Palm Beach-based WPTV-5 to become a default NBC affiliate for many.
Browne helped make WTVJ relevant again, adding TV translators to boost coverage; “When everyone thought the tower switch would be our demise, Don fought back,” the narrator of a 2003 video dedicated to his tenure at WTVJ noted. Browne forged a partnership between “NBC6” and The Miami Herald in 1996, and in 1997 created a unique newscast for WDZL-39, then a WB Network affiliate, for the 10pm hour produced by WTVJ.
In July 2000, an even bigger commitment to viewers who had moved to western Broward County was made, as WTVJ moved from downtown Miami to its current home in Miramar, Fla. — just to the west of what will eventually become WSVN-7’s new home following its move from Bay Harbor Islands.
“We’re on time and on budget,” Browne told the Sun-Sentinel at the time, as offices and studios were built to also accommodate WSCV-51, the Telemundo O&O that until then had separate operations based in Hialeah.
The union of WSCV and WTVJ into one facility would prove to be a portend of other Telemundo/NBC O&O linkups some 20 years later, with integration of news operations that had yet to be seen under Browne.
By May 2003, WTVJ had overcome signal challenges and battled against WFOR, WPLG and WSVN to become a news leader thanks to such anchors as Jackie Nespral, while programs such as “Seinfeld” and “Friends” gave viewers new reason to tune to NBC. That success led NBC and GE to ask Browne “to take on a huge job that’s important, that’s exciting, and is part of what I truly passion and believe in.”
In a casual announcement made to WTVJ staff shared on YouTube, Browne revealed that his next role would be as Chief Operating Officer of Telemundo. Browne rose to President in April 2005, succeeding Jim McNamara.
Browne had responsibility for all functions of the Telemundo television network and its 14 owned-and-operated stations, including the Programming division, Telemundo Studios, and News and Sports. In addition, he was responsible for Telemundo International and Telemundo Cable, as well as Telemundo’s Digital Media initiatives, sales, and marketing.
Browne would announce his retirement in April 2011, at age 68. His final day was June 3, 2011.
“Don Browne has had an outstanding career as a broadcaster and executive, from his years as a bureau chief and executive vice president of NBC News to his tenure most recently at Telemundo, which under his leadership has become an extremely exciting part of our portfolio,” said NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke at the time. “We are grateful for what he has accomplished and wish him all the best on a well-deserved retirement.”
RBR+TVBR OBSERVATION: Don Browne is a name many may associate with TODAY. Some may recall his time with NBC News in the 1980s. But, for those who have worked in the U.S. Hispanic market for the last 30 years, Browne is the architect of the Telemundo of today, taking a network that was a distant No. 2 to Univision and making it wildly competitive. His vision, which came from working in Miami, where WSCV-51 and WTVJ-6 began their integration under his leadership, helped transform Latino media and marketing in the U.S. for the better. We salute Don, some 20 years after his retirement, for his passion and for his drive. WTVJ was indeed considerably challenged with a move to Channel 6 in 1995; one year later the naysayers were proven wrong. It’s all thanks to Browne, who would partner up with other esteemed leaders including Miami Herald head David Lawrence. Rest In Peace, y Descanso en Paz, Don.
