NEW YORK — He was a key figure at the forefront of the digital evolution of broadcast and cable television who joined Hearst Television in 2008. Since 2016, he has held the role of Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer. At year’s end, he will retire from the privately held owner of broadcast TV stations overseen by Michael J. Hayes.
“Roger Keating brought to Hearst Television his infectious curiosity and keen entrepreneurial instincts,” said Hays, who serves as Hearst Television President. “He questions orthodoxy and embraces possibilities — traits that have helped us seize opportunities and energized colleagues industrywide. He’s always celebrated television’s traditional strengths while simultaneously looking ahead, not just at how audiences consume video today, but how they will use it tomorrow. We are grateful for all he has given to Hearst Television and local broadcasting.”
Keating joined Hearst Television to lead its nascent digital media unit. As the company’s senior vice president, digital media, Keating was tasked with recruiting and leading a team to build and operate digital products that deliver local news and weather through desktop computers, mobile apps, social media and eventually streaming platforms. During his watch, Hearst Television digital properties achieved market leadership in most of the markets in which they operate. Digital products have become a significant and fast-growing contributor to Hearst Television’s bottom line.
Keating also co-founded and led television-industry consortia so that local broadcasters could better pursue new businesses that require scale and ubiquity. Prominent among these is Pearl TV, a coalition of nine station group owners whose 2010 formation helped lead to the advancement of mobile TV, companion viewing apps, interactive advertising overlays and addressable linear ads.
Pearl also became an incubator for early-stage companies operating in the broadcast TV space and today plays a central role in TV broadcasting’s game-changing transition to ATSC 3.0-based “NextGen TV.” In 2015 he co-founded and served as inaugural chairman of NewsOn, an alliance of six broadcast TV group owners to bring local-news content to streaming platforms.
Keating has been a persistent advocate for addressable linear advertising through his work on the board of Sorenson Media, as a founding member of OAR and membership in the Go Addressable trade association.
In addition to the Pearl, NewsOn and Sorenson Media boards, Keating served on the boards of ConnecTV, Dyle Mobile, Waitr and Internet Broadcasting. He was also an active participant in the YouTube News Working Group and the Google News Initiative, on both serving as a vocal advocate for the interests of local broadcasters.
“What local broadcasters do is important, and I found my true professional home at Hearst,” Keating said. “I was fortunate to be given important challenges, and to get to work with such a talented set of colleagues. It’s time to pass the baton, but if I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.”
Keating began his career with Mercer Consulting, serving a variety of clients in industries as disparate as defense, bakeries, cosmetics, office furniture, trucking, telecom and computers.
In 2018 Keating was the fourth recipient of the National Association of Broadcasters Digital Leadership Award.
