He’s a Sinclair Broadcast Group executive known for the success of the syndicated pro wrestling program “Ring of Honor.” There was also a role as Director of Sales at WFLX-29 in West Palm Beach under then-owner Malrite Communications.
Joe Koff is remembered for having a “great career,” says one broadcast TV ownership group head. Koff has died of cancer at the age of 73.
“Joe could read people and cared about them, from the lowest to the highest,” Sinclair Chief Operating Officer Rob Weisbord told the Baltimore Sun. “He was the chief advocate for our employees.”
Nexstar Media Group founder and CEO Perry Sook commented, “Joe was a great guy and a great friend. He will be missed.”
Mission Broadcasting President Dennis Thatcher worked with Kof during his Malrite days. He tells RBR+TVBR, “Joe Koff had a great career in our business.” Thatcher circa summer 1992 was a fill-in GM at WHTZ “Z100” in New York while holding full-time GM duties for WOIO-19 in Cleveland.
From 2003, Koff held the role of SVP of Training and Development at Sinclair. From September 2011-May 2022, he served as Chief Operating Officer for “Ring of Honor.”
A 1972 University of Miami graduate, Koff became the head of sales at WFLX in 1986, when it was one of the first FOX Broadcasting Network affiliates. He was previously Local Sales Manager of KTVK-3 in Phoenix. In 1989, Koff moved to Baltimore, taking on General Manager duties for unaffiliated WNUV-54. Today, the station is linked to WBFF-45, Sinclair’s flagship TV station.
Koff has also been GM of WXLV-45 in Greensboro-Winston Salem.
Services are scheduled for 2pm on Sunday, October 20, at Sol Levinson & Bros., 8900 Reisterstown Road, in Pikesville, Md.
