Walter Liss, the man New York ABC Owned Station WABC described as being “one of the most significant figures in the ABC Owned Television Stations family and abc7NY history,” died Monday. He was 78.
Liss was named president of the owned station group in 1999, a position he held for 10 years.
He started working with ABC stations when he was hired as the promotions manager at WPVI in Philadelphia. While there, he co-wrote the lyrics to Move Closer to Your World, the station’s iconic theme song. After being named gm of ABC owned station KFSN in Fresno, Calf., he moved on to WABC in New York where he oversaw the development of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, taking the show into national syndication.
ABC Owned Stations said Liss was “instrumental” in modernizing the station group. He was also known for his passion for local TV—and his belief that the owned stations commitment to the community was its most important responsibility.