He had been with CBS News and Stations since becoming an Account Executive for its WUPA-69 in Atlanta 25 years ago. In October 2022, he rose from VP/GM to President/GM of the company’s two stations in Detroit as the Paramount Global broadcast TV division moved forward with an ambitious plan to launch a local newscast to compete against Graham Media Group, Fox Television Stations and The E.W. Scripps Co.
Now, Brian Watson has departed the Motor City duo; an interim President/GM is in place.
According to a company spokesperson, Jennifer Lyons, President/GM of WBBM-2 in Chicago, has added similar duties — until a permanent successor is named — at WWJ-62 and WKBD-50 in Detroit.
Lyons took the role at WBBM-TV in August 2021 after exiting as VP of News as WGN America, the cable TV network that is now NewsNation under Nexstar Media Group ownership.
Lyons previously spent 12 1/2 years at WGN-9 in Chicago under Tribune ownership, most recently as Director of News & Content.
Sources tell RBR+TVBR staff changes are in the works, in addition to the search for a new leader for WWJ and WKBD.
The departure of Watson comes after the launch in 2022 of local newscasts on WWJ-TV, some 27 years after an affiliate change in Detroit shifted the CBS Television Network from WJBK-2, today a FOX O&O. WWJ-62 built the news department from scratch, with funds put toward a full-scale, hyper-local news department under the ultimate direction of CBS News and Stations President and co-Head Wendy McMahon and CBS Stations President Adrienne Roark.
