BREAKING!! CBS Names New GM in LA

CBS announced that KDKA General Manager Jay Howell has been named the new President and General Manager of the CBS Television Stations’ Los Angeles properties, KCBS/KCAL in LA.

Two years ago, Howell was the GM of CBS’s KOVR/KMAX in Sacramento. A year ago he was promoted to GM of KDKA in Pittsburgh and now he is headed back to California and KCBS/KCAL.

“Jay is a talented and experienced leader who has received high praise from co-workers, clients and community partners everywhere he has been during the last two decades,” said CBS President Peter Dunn said. “Wherever Jay goes, success grows! Based in large part on the terrific job he has done for us in both Sacramento and Pittsburgh, we are excited to have Jay return to California, where we expect his energetic and collaborative leadership style will be embraced by everyone at KCBS, KCAL, CBSLA.com and CBSN Los Angeles, as well as all of the viewers and clients who are served by these great stations.”

“Being back in Pittsburgh, where my dad taught me about the local stations business, my wife and I went to college, and we have so many great connections to family and friends, has been a dream come true,” Howell said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with everyone at KDKA and WPCW. We accomplished so much in a short period of time and I am confident that we are poised to achieve much more in the months and years to come.”

“Leaving Pittsburgh creates a lot of bittersweet emotions. However, the opportunity to return to California and work with our great team in Los Angeles is too great to pass up – especially when the move brings us close to several family members.”

Howell learned the local stations business from his father John, the General Manager of WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh from 1984-2001. His mother, Kathy, lives in Orange County. His daughter, Lilly, currently attends USC.

Full disclosure: I worked with his dad at WPXI in Pittsburgh.

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