New GM for WGNO/WNOL

[PelicanGuy 117]

Tribune announces new GM for WGNO, WNOL in New Orleans

Posted by Dave Walker, TV columnist, The Times-Picayune September 15, 2008 5:02PM

 

Categories: Living: Columnists

 

Chicago-based Tribune Co. announced Monday (Sept. 15) that Phil Waterman will be vice president and general manager for its New Orleans stations, WGNO-Channel 26 and WNOL-Channel 38, effective Sept. 29.

 

Waterman currently oversees Baton Rouge Fox affiliate WGMB-TV, CW affiliate WBRL-TV, NBC affiliate WVLA-TV and independent KZUP-TV, owned by Communication Corporation of America.

 

"Phil is a talented and tested broadcasting executive with tremendous sales and marketing experience," said Ed Wilson, president of Tribune Broadcasting, in a Tribune news release. "He's led as many as eleven stations as group vice president, and worked with virtually every major network during the course of his career. Having been just up the road from New Orleans for the past four years, he's very familiar with the needs of the community's viewers and advertisers."

 

Communication Corp.'s Baton Rouge stations have served as WGNO's backup broadcast locations during recent hurricanes.

 

"I've been through a lot during my time in Baton Rouge," Waterman said in the release. "Hurricanes Katrina and Rita really tested our station group, and now we're dealing with the aftermath of Gustav and Ike. As our station group has served as the emergency back-up for WGNO/WNOL, I've had the opportunity to become very familiar with their operations."

 

Waterman replaces Larry Delia, who served as vice president and general manager of Tribune's New Orleans stations for the past six years. Delia now oversees the Tribune-owned Fox affiliate in Harrisburg, Pa.

[Oliverolang 41]

Waterman is going from the last placed station in Baton Rouge to the last placed station in New Orleans. I doubt anything good will happen ratings wise.

[eyewitness_news 5]

Keep in mind that WGNO used to be an indie until WVUE gave up ABC for Fox in 1995. It's going to be hard to get in at least third place when one of the other stations beating them is not even an affiliate of the big three (i.e. ABC, NBC, CBS).