Denver FOX affiliate KDVR has announced a change to its evening anchor line up. After more than 35 years on-air in the Denver market, anchor Ron Zappolo (pictured left) will sign off this Friday, April 5.
To replace the longtime anchor, KDVR has announced Jeremy Hubbard (pictured right) will join Deborah Takahara to form the new anchor team at 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. beginning Monday April 8.
“I’ve had a really fortunate run,” Zappolo told the Denver Post. “I’ve been able to see the world, provoke a little thought, have fun and get paid for it. How many people can say they got to do exactly what they wanted to do?”
“FOX31 News is a force to be reckoned with in Denver TV, largely because of the credibility and experience Ron Zappolo brought here 13 years ago,” said Hubbard. “It’s an honor, and a colossal challenge, to help carry out what Ron started here.”
Zappolo co-anchored with Libby Weaver as part of the longest running anchor team in Denver. He started his broadcast career at WTTG in Washington, D.C. and began his long run as a sports anchor at Denver at CBS affiliate KCNC in 1977 before joining KUSA. In 2000 he transitioned to news anchor and joined KDVR, helping the station launch its prime time news operation. Weaver left KDVR in December.
“Ron is a passionate guy who loves news and loves sports and loves Colorado,” KDVR news director Ed Kosowski told the Post. “I can’t imagine he will stay on the sidelines very long. We want to leave the door open to Ron doing some occasional specials and other work for us in the future.”
Hubbard came to KDVR-KWGN in June 2011 after working at ABC News as co-anchor for “World News Now” and “America this Morning.” Before working at ABC News, Hubbard was an anchor for KDVR from 2004 until 2007.
“Jeremy and Deborah are perfectly suited to succeed Ron and Libby,” said Kosowski. “They are strong, passionate journalists and excellent storytellers. They are newsroom leaders. They know the Denver market well. They’ve worked together on our 7pm newscast for nearly two years and anchored the weekend newscasts together before Jeremy left for ABC News.”
Hubbard worked at KWCH in Wichita, KS, and KMBC in Kansas City before joining KDVR in 2004.