Brian Sather Named General Manager of KCCI

By Merrill Knox 

Brian Sather has been named president and general manager of KCCI, Hearst’s CBS affiliate in Des Moines. It is a move within Hearst for Sather, who has been GM of KHBS-KHOG in Fort Smith, Ark. since 2010.

Sather replaces Paul Fredericksen, who is retiring after nearly 30 years at KCCI.

“Brian has a strong understanding of the local television business and a proven track record of success at our stations in Ft. Smith/Fayetteville and Omaha,” Hearst Television CEO David J. Barrett said in a statement.  “He will do an excellent job in leading KCCI and building upon the outstanding foundation developed by Paul.”

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Before joining KHBS-KHOG, Sather spent 13 years at KETV, Hearst’s ABC affiliate in Omaha. He began as national sales manager, then became local sales manager and general sales manager.

More from Hearst after the jump.

NEW YORK, N.Y. and Des Moines, IA, December 4, 2013 – Brian D. Sather, who since 2010 has served as President and General Manager of KHBS-TV/KHOG-TV, the Hearst Television Inc. ABC affiliates serving the Fort Smith and Fayetteville, Arkansas, television market, has been named President and General Manager of KCCI-TV, Hearst’s #1-ranked CBS affiliate serving the Des Moines-Ames, Iowa, TV market.

Sather, with a background in station management, sales and local news, succeeds Paul Fredericksen, who in September announced his plans to retire following more than four decades in local television and nearly three decades leading KCCI.  Sather is only the fifth general manager in the history of the station since it signed on in 1955.

“Brian has a strong understanding of the local television business and a proven track record of success at our stations in Ft. Smith/Fayetteville and Omaha,” said David J. Barrett, Hearst Television Chairman and CEO.  “He will do an excellent job in leading KCCI and building upon the outstanding foundation developed by Paul.”

“KCCI is Iowa’s news leader and an iconic local television station,” said Jordan Wertlieb, Hearst Television President.   “Brian understands the importance of local news and community service to KCCI’s leadership position and to its viewers. He has the experience and creative vision to evolve KCCI’s on-air and digital media presence in Iowa.”

During Sather’s time at KHBS/KHOG, he shepherded the development of Arkansas CW, considered among the nation’s fastest-growing multicast channels. He also oversaw the significant expansion of local newscasts, including the addition of weekend morning news; a one-hour Sunday late newscast; and a 9 p.m. local newscast on Arkansas CW. During the last two years, the station’s news department earned a collective 35 Arkansas Associated Press Broadcaster Awards – including Best Newscast – and its first regional Emmy, for Early News, in a decade.

Prior to moving to KHBS/KHOG in 2010, Sather over the course of 13 years rose through the ranks at KETV, the Hearst ABC affiliate in Omaha, recognized as among the country’s most successful ABC stations.  He started at KETV as national sales manager, then became local sales manager and ultimately general sales manager.  Prior to joining Hearst at KETV, Sather served as local sales manager and, before that, account executive, at KTTW-TV, the FOX affiliate in Sioux Falls, SD.  He began his TV career in news, serving as a photojournalist and in various other newsroom positions at KELO-TV, the Sioux Falls CBS affiliate.   He has been honored by the Associated Press and the National Press Photographers Association for outstanding work as a photojournalist.

Sather is a member of the board of the Northwest Arkansas division of the American Heart Association, and of the Fort Smith Rotary.  He led KHBS’s community outreach on multiple fronts, deepening partnerships with the American Heart Association, the Alzheimer’s Association and Champions for Kids.  He also led the launch ofFeeding Hope, a station initiative to raise food, money and awareness for hunger, and an effort to raise awareness for child abuse through the station’s partnership with community leaders in an initiative called Step Up Speak Out.

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