Gray Television didn’t take long to start making changes after the FCC approved its purchase of Meredith Corporation’s local stations.
The company has planned several general manager moves for the stations it will acquire from Meredith, it detailed in a press release. Gray’s senior leadership said while it “appreciates the loyal service that these stations’ current General Managers have provided to these Meredith television stations and their local communities,” it thinks immediate changes in certain Meredith markets are needed.
In Phoenix, Debbie Bush will become the general manager of KPHO (CBS) and KTVK (3TV). She’s been the gm of Gray’s Cincinnati Fox affiliate WXIX for nearly seven years. Before that, she was the gm of KOLD in Tucson, Ariz. and WFIE in Evansville, Ind.
In Atlanta, Erik Schrader will become the gm of WGCL (CBS) and WPCH (PeachtreeTV). Schrader has been the gm of Cleveland, Ohio CBS and CW affiliates WOIO and WUAB since 2016. He’s also worked as gm at KSNW in Wichita, Kansas and WIAT in Birmingham, Ala.
In Nashville, Tenn., Jasmine Hatcher Hardin will become the gm of WSMV (NBC). Over the last several years, she has served as national sales manager, general sales manager and then general manager of Gray’s CBS and CW affiliates WVLT and WBXX in Knoxville.
In Kansas City, Mo., Andrew Stewart will become the general manager of KCTV (CBS) and KSMO (MyNetwork). For the past three years, he’s been the general manager of Gray-owned WOWT in Omaha, Neb. Before that, he spent nearly eight years as gm of Sinclair of Northern California, where he led an operation consisting of ten network affiliates in three Northern California markets.
In Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C., Bryce Caldwell will become the general manager of WHNS (FOX). Caldwell is the gm of Rochester, Minnesota NBC affiliate KTTC, which Gray recently acquired from Quincy Media. He’s also worked as gm of WTNZ in Knoxville, Tenn. and in sales at WATE in Knoxville.
In Mobile, Alabama, Eric Duncan will become the general manager of WALA (FOX). For the past three years, he’s been the gm of Gray’s CBS affiliate KOLD in Tucson, Ariz. Duncan has also been the gm of KXXV in Waco, Texas and WSFA in Montgomery, Ala.