Business News

Tribune Promotes Key Broadcasting Executives

Friday 01. August 2008 - Schonbak to Oversee Fox Affiliates, Berlamino Appointed President of WPIX-TV, Graziano Named Senior Vice President

Tribune Broadcasting today announced the promotion of several key executives in its broadcasting division and the reorganization of three East Coast television stations.

Ray Schonbak has been promoted to executive vice president and will begin overseeing the company’s FOX television affiliates in San Diego, Seattle, Sacramento, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids and Harrisburg, Pa., as well as the company’s CW affiliate in Portland. Betty Ellen Berlamino, vice president/general manager of WPIX-TV in New York City, has been named president of the station. Richard Graziano, vice president/general manager of Tribune’s two-station cluster in Hartford, Conn., becomes senior vice president and will take on oversight responsibilities for the company’s stations in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The promotions are effective immediately.

“Ray, Betty Ellen and Rich are proven leaders with long track records of success,” said Ed Wilson, Tribune Broadcasting president. “These moves allow us to improve the speed of decision-making and overall cooperation and communication across our television group — these people know their local markets better than anyone.”

Schonbak joined Tribune in March as vice president/general manager of KSWB-TV in San Diego. Under his leadership and direction, the station will launch a weekday four-hour morning news show and a weeknight hourly newscast beginning Friday, August 1.

“By bringing our Fox affiliates together as a group, we can capitalize on the strength and resources of the country’s No. 1 television network,” said Schonbak. “Fox stations are known for strong local news and sports coverage

— this arrangement allows us to better coordinate the sharing of news and sports content, graphics, and innovative programming in order to ensure future growth and success.”

Promoting Berlamino and expanding Graziano’s responsibilities is designed to maximize the collaboration between Tribune’s East Coast affiliates; the stations are located within a few hundred miles of each other. Berlamino has been vice president/general manager of WPIX since 2000. Graziano has served as vice president/general manager of WTIC-TV and WTXX-TV in Hartford, since 2005.

Berlamino, Schonbak, and Graziano will report directly to Wilson, as will the general managers at the company’s television stations in Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami. Tribune’s stations in Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Denver and St. Louis will continue reporting to John Vitanovec, executive vice president/Tribune Broadcasting.