Tribune Names new GM at NY Station

Tribune Company has named Rich Graziano as General Manager of WPIX in New York City.

The company says that Graziano will be responsible for all aspects of the station, including strategic planning and day-to-day operations. He will begin his new duties immediately and report to Larry Wert, Tribune’s President of Broadcast Media.

Since 2009, Graziano has served as the leader of Tribune’s media properties in Hartford, Connecticut; he was named Vice President/General Manager of WTIC-TV (FOXCT) and WCCT-TV (CT) in June 2005.

“Rich is a skilled and innovative leader who has achieved great success in managing large-scale media operations and delivering results for viewers, advertisers and the community,” said Wert. “We’ve made a number of changes at WPIX, both on-the-air and in the management ranks—the station is gaining momentum. Rich is the perfect addition to lead the new team we’ve assembled.”

Graziano was a catalyst for change in Hartford, committed to developing the kind of local content, community events and multi-platform journalism that resulted in unrivaled growth in ratings and revenue. He brings 23 years of media experience to WPIX-TV and has served in positions of increasing responsibility at a number of Tribune television stations. He joined Tribune in 1999 as national sales manager at WLVI-TV in Boston. He was named WLVI’s general sales manager in 2001, a position he held for four years prior to joining WTIC/WCCT in Hartford.

“WPIX is an iconic brand. The station has a distinct history and a wonderful legacy in New York,” said Graziano. “I see tremendous opportunity to lead WPIX to excellence, through hard work, innovation, and by creating value for our viewers and advertising partners.”

Graziano succeeds Eric Meyrowitz, who was kicked to the curb.