The individual serving since 2015 as the VP/GM of Nexstar Broadcasting’s TV stations in the Bryan-Temple-Waco, Tex., DMA, has been promoted to similar duties for the company’s Houston property, an affiliate of The CW Network.
Now leading KIAH-TV, branded as CW39 in Houston is Chris Pruitt.
He’s a native of Wichita Falls, Tex., and brings 25 years of executive broadcast television management, sales and marketing experience to his new role at Nexstar.
For the past 5 years, he’s overseen FOX affiliate KWKT-TV, MyNetworkTV affiliate KYLE-TV and digital multicast distribution of Estrella Media’s Estrella TV network in the Central Texas market.
While there, Pruitt’s team created and developed KWKT-TV’s first-ever local newscasts, launching a half-hour of local news at 5:30 p.m. and an hour at 9 p.m. in 2017. The early newscast has since expanded to a full 90-minutes. Mr. Pruitt was also instrumental in overseeing KWKT-TV’s launch of “Loving Living Local Central Texas,” a lifestyle show highlighting the unique people, places, and events that make living in Central Texas special.
Prior to overseeing KWKT-TV and KYLE-TV, Pruitt served as VP/GM of KMVT-TV and KSVT-TV in Twin Falls, Idaho, for a five-year period.
“Chris is the perfect choice to assume leadership of Nexstar’s broadcast and digital operations in Houston,” said Brian Jones, Chief Operating Officer for Nexstar Broadcasting. “Throughout his career, he has been successful by expanding local news and content, delivering digital growth, and creating and executing unparalleled local multi-platform solutions for advertising and marketing clients. He is an innovative leader and has forged meaningful connections to the Texas communities in which he has worked. Chris has a long record of success, and I am very much looking forward to working with him as he assumes his new role with Nexstar in Houston.”
Commenting on his promotion, Pruitt said, “I am excited about joining the talented team at KIAH-TV and cw39.com and I am grateful to Nexstar for giving me this opportunity. Houston is a vibrant city with a rich history, and KIAH-TV is woven into the fabric of the community. As a native of Texas, I understand the importance of connecting to viewers and advertisers with the kind of local content that is both relevant and meaningful. There is a lot of opportunity ahead and I can’t wait to get started.”
