Tribune Broadcasting Restructures Creative Services

John Ziegler, Carrie King each promoted to regional VP

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/29/2010 3:14:46 PM

Tribune Broadcasting is reorganizing its creative services division, saying that it is "blowing up" the traditional TV playbook in order to "reinvent local television," the company said in a statement.

John Zeigler, formerly director/creative services for WPIX-TV in New York, will lead Tribune's eastern region, while Carrie King, previously director/creative services for WGN America, will lead Tribune's central region.

"Incremental change at our television stations won't get it done," said Lee Abrams, Tribune's chief innovation officer, in a statement. "We have to be radically and noticeably different-we have to imagine TV and TV news in a totally new way, one that breaks through and reinvents the decades' old, tired TV playbook."

"This opportunity was meant for John and Carrie and they earned it," said Jerry Kersting, president of Tribune Broadcasting, also in a statement. "They have demonstrated a clear and passionate understanding of our new and very different vision and have consistently executed and delivered on it. They are essential to developing a new style of television and leading our stations into the future."

The two executives are charged with establishing and implementing "new creative standards and promotional emphasis" for the TV stations within their respective regions. The eastern division includes Hartford, Harrisburg, New York, Philadelphia, South Florida and Washington, D.C. The central division is made up of Chicago, Dallas, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Houston and New Orleans, and also includes WGN America.

The company is continuing to seek a new regional vice president for the western division.