BREAKING NEWS! Gray Television Shakes Up Meredith GM's

FTVLive FIRST told you in a Patron Only story this morning that Gray was looking to shake up the Meredith GM ranks and we told you that it was likely going to start today.

Well, FTVLive was right again as Gray has put out a press release saying that they have made a number of GM changes at the Meredith stations that they are taking over.

The release said that Gray has made changes in 6 markets and as we told you this morning, as expected WGCL in Atlanta was one of those that is seeing a change.

Quoting from the Gray press release:

In Atlanta, Georgia (DMA 6), Erik Schrader will become the General Manager of WGCL (CBS) and WPCH (PeachtreeTV). Erik has been the General Manager of WOIO (CBS) and WUAB (CW) in Cleveland, Ohio, since 2016. During his time at WOIO, the station has undergone a major rebranding, seen solid increases in ratings and revenue, and has been at the forefront of OTT innovation. Previously, Erik has served as General Manager at KSNW in Wichita, Kansas, and WIAT in Birmingham, Alabama. He began his career working in news production before becoming a news reporter, sports director, and, in several markets, news director. He is currently a board member of the Ohio Association of Broadcasters.

In Phoenix, Arizona (DMA 12), Debbie Bush will become the General Manager of KPHO (CBS) and KTVK (3TV). For the past nearly seven years, Debbie has served as the General Manager of Gray’s WXIX (FOX) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to that, she was the General Manager of (then-Raycom, now Gray) television stations KOLD in Tucson, Arizona, and WFIE in Evansville, Indiana. Debbie has held various news positions, including news director, in Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, among other cities.

In Nashville, Tennessee (DMA 30), Jasmine Hatcher Hardin will become the General Manager 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 WVLT (CBS) and WBXX (CW) in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is a Tennessee native and graduate of the University of Tennessee’s Journalism and Electronic Media School where she serves on the Alumni Board. Under her leadership, WVLT was awarded the Gray Television Station of the Year in 2019, won the Regional News Excellence Award in 2020, and recently received two National Edward R. Murrow Awards.

In Kansas City, Missouri, (DMA 32), Andrew Stewart will become the General Manager of KCTV (CBS) and KSMO (MyNetwork). For the past three years, Andrew has served as the General Manager of Gray’s WOWT (NBC) in Omaha, Nebraska. Andrew has more than 35 years of broadcast television experience. He spent nearly eight years as General Manager of Sinclair of Northern California, where he led an operation consisting of ten network affiliates in three Northern California markets. He also has held General Manager and sales management positions in Tucson, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, and he previously served as Corporate Director of Television Sales for the former Lee Enterprises.

In Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina (DMA 38), Bryce Caldwell will become the General Manager of WHNS (FOX). Since 2019, Bryce has served as the General Manager of KTTC (NBC) in Rochester, Minnesota, which Gray recently acquired from Quincy Media. Prior to joining KTTC, he served as General Manager of WTNZ (FOX) in Knoxville, Tennessee, and he previously worked in sales at WATE (ABC) in Knoxville. Bryce began his broadcast career in Nashville, Tennessee and also worked in sales positions in Orlando, Florida.

In Mobile, Alabama (DMA 57), Eric Duncan will become the General Manager of WALA (FOX). He has served as the General Manager of Gray’s KOLD (CBS) in Tucson, Arizona, for the past three years. Eric previously served as General Manager of KXXV (ABC) in Waco, Texas, and WSFA (NBC) in Montgomery, Alabama, both of which were then owned by Raycom Media. Eric has held various sales positions roles at television stations in Dallas, Austin, and Lubbock, Texas.

FTVLive will have more on this story later.

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