By Amanda Moser

Hearst Television Inc. 

Courtesy of Hearst Television INC

300 West 57th Street
New York, New York
10019-3789
United States
Phone Number: 212-887-6800
Fax Number: 212-887-6855
Company Website: www.hearsttelevision.com [1]

Company Overview:

Hearst Television Inc., formerly known as Hearst-Argyle Television, is a subsidiary of Hearst Corporation and compromises of twenty-nine television stations and two radio stations. This department reaches 18% of United State’s households making it one of America’s largest television station groups. It was founded in 1997 from a merger between Heart Broadcasting and Argyle Television Holdings II. In 2009, became wholly-owned by Hearst Corporation. Today the company owns thirteen ABC affiliated stations, two CBS affiliates, and ten NBC affiliated stations.Heart Television Inc. partnered with Internet Broadcasting, which congregated local broadcast television and Internet. The company has stations in the Boston, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, Orlando, and Baltimore markets. Today, Hearst is the largest group owner of ABC-affiliated stations, and the second-largest group owner of NBC affiliates. Additionally they own 20% of ESPN. Heart Television Inc. is a leader among independent broadcasting companies. [2]

Their television programs focus on news leaders and they have been awarded six consecutive Walter Cronkite Awards, the Peabody award, the duPont-Columbia University Journalism Award, the Sigma Delta Chi Award, the Gabriel, the Ad Council Silver Bell, the National Headliner Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award and the Emmy. [2]

Executives:

CEO and Chairman, David J. Barrnett. Photo courtesy of Heart Television INC.

In 1984, David Barrnett became the General Manager of the company’s Baltimore radio stations. By 1991, he was the Vice President of Heart Corporation and Deputy General Manager of Broadcasting. When Hearst merged with Argyle Television in 1997, he became Chairman and CEO of the subsidiary. In addition to his success within the company, he is also on the boards of Federal Communications Commission’s Media Security and Reliability Council, the International Radio and Television Society Foundation, and the Advertising Council. He has won numerous awards; his most prestigious being named Broadcasting and Cable magazine’s “Broadcaster or the Year” and being inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Management Hall of Fame in 2005. [3]

President, Jordan Wetlieb. Photo courtesy of Hearst Television INC.

Only recently in December of 2012 was Jordan Wertlieb named President of Hearst Television INC. Wetlieb’s job consists of the management oversight responsibility for a portion of the 29 Hearst teleivison stations as well as collaborating with David Barrett on corporate matters. He is currently the President-Chairman of the NBC Affiliate Board. Prior to this position, Wetlieb deputy general manager of Hearst Broadcasting for six years and executive VP and CEO of Hearst-Argyle Television for four years. [4]

Senior Vice President, Frank Biancuzzo. Photo courtesy of Hearst Television Inc.

Frank Biancuzzo was elected Senior Vice President in 2007, a position he used to share with Senior Vice President Phillip Stolz. Mr. Stolz is in the process of retiring and Mr. Biancuzzo is currently taking over his responsibilities. His role in the company is to share management oversight of the company’s stations. Mr. Biancuzzo has developed a large international clientele for the company and personally consulted to television stations and networks in six different countries. [5]

Senior Vice President, Phillip M. Stolz. Photo courtesy of Hearst Television Inc.

Phillip M. Stolz’s, who is in the process of retiring, role in the company is to assist in the general management of the Company’s station groups and directs a portion of the Company’s 29 television stations. Stolz is a former member of the NBC Affiliate Board, and served as chairman of its News Committee. He then served on the CBS affiliate board. He announced in May, 2012 that he would retired in February of 2013. He is still working and delegating his roles to other members in the company. [6] [7]

Finances:

Heart Television Inc. had a revenue of $785.4 million with an operation income of $228.8 million and a net income of $98.7 million in 2009. As of August 5th, 2009, Heart Television Inc. no longer files and shares periodic and annual reports to the public. Additionally they employ approximately 3,000 full-time employees. Their major competitors are Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., Raycom Media Inc., and Local TV LLC. [8] [9] [10]

Recent News:

In December of 2012, Hearst Corporation made a deal to buy 50% of NorthSouth Productions, which will affect their television subsidiary. Hearst Corporation Chairman, Frank Bennack, said, “This partnership gives us a significantly stronger presence in cable network production, which is experiencing a steady growth in overall demand.” Hearst Television INC. will now own the rights to TLC’s “Say Yes To The Dress” and other shows on A&E, History, LifeTime, and ESPN; all of which they have ownership in. [11]

In February of 2013, Vice President Phillip Stolz officially retired, yet he is still working with Hearst Television Inc. to delegate his roles throughout the company. He announced his retirement in May 2012. He is now making the transition to an advisory role in advance of his retirement from the company. During this period, Stolz will assist Jordan Wertlieb and Frank Biancuzzo as tale Stolz’s position of management oversight of the ten stations currently in his supervisory portfolio. CEO David Barrnett said, “Phil has had an outstanding 25-year career with Hearst Television and he’s been a key senior executive through our period of significant expansion from a seven-station television group to our current 29-station group covering 18% of U.S. TV households. We are indebted to Phil for his superb contributions.” [12]

On March 12th of 2013, NBC announced they would renew “The Ellen Degeneres Show” until 2017. Since Hearst Television Inc. is affiliated with NBC, the show will run on their stations as well. This increases Hearst Televison Inc.s’ revenue and the show’s ratings and popularity continue to grow. [13]

Photo courtesy of The Los Angeles Times

On April 2nd of 2013, Heart Teleivison INC. announced they would renew their “PolitiFact” Partnernship with the Tampa Bay Times. PolitiFact is a fact-checking website of the Tampa Bay Times and they have an exclusive partnership with Hearst. [14]

Stations:

Television Stations
WCVB – Boston, MA – ABC affiliate
WMUR – Manchester, NH – ABC affiliate
WMOR – Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL – NC affiliate
WESH – Orlando, FL – NBC affiliate
WKCF – Orlando, FL – CW affiliate
WTAE – Pittsburgh, PA – ABC affiliate
WBAL – Baltimore, MD – NBC affiliate
WYFF – Greenville-Spartanburg, SC – NBC affiliate
WPBF – West Palm Beach, FL – ABC affiliate
WGAL – Lancaster, PA – NBC affiliate
WXII – Greensboro/Winston-Salem, NC – NBC affiliate
WLKY – Louisville, KY – CBS affiliate
WMTW – Portland-Auburn, ME – ABC affiliate
WPTZ – Burlington, VT – NBC affiliate
WNNE – Plattsburgh, NY – NBC affiliate
KMBC – Kansas City, MO – ABC affiliate
KCWE – Kansas City, MO – CW affiliate
WISN – Milwaukee, WI – ABC affiliate
WLWT – Cincinnati, OH – NBC affiliate
KOCO – Oklahoma City, OK – ABC affiliate
WDSU – New Orleans, LA – NBC affiliate
KCCI – Des Moines, IA – CBS affiliate
KETV – Omaha, NE – ABC affiliate
WAPT – Jackson, MS – ABC affiliate
KHBS – Fort Smith, AR – ABC affiliate
KHOG – Fayettville, AR – ABC affiliate
KCRA – Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto, CA – NBC affiliate
KQCA – Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto, CA – MNT affiliate
KOAT – Albuquerque, NM – ABC affiliate
KITV – Honolulu, HI – ABC affiliate
KSBW – Monterey-Salinas, CA – NBC affiliate

RADIO STATIONS
WBAL 1090 – Baltimore, MD
WIYY 97.9 – Baltimore MD
[15]

Sources:

[1] Hearst Television Inc.’s contact information
www.hearsttelevision.com

[2] Company background information
http://www.hearsttelevision.com/our_company/about_Our_Company/index.html

[3] Information on CEO and Chairman, David J. Barrnett
http://www.hearsttelevision.com/david-barret/

[4] Information on President Jordan Wetlieb
http://www.hearsttelevision.com/jordan-wertlieb/

[5] Information on Senior Vice President Frank Biancuzzo
http://www.hearsttelevision.com/frank-biancuzzo/

[6] Information on Senior Vice President Phillip M. Stolz
http://www.hearsttelevision.com/philip-stolz/

[7] Information on the retirement of Phillip M. Stolz
http://www.hearsttelevision.com/in-the-news/newsarticle38.html

[8] Financial Information of Hearst Television Inc.
http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/revenue-financial.Hearst_Television_Inc.cf2c24532230fba9.html

[9] Hearst Television Inc.’s Competitiors
http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.Hearst_Television_Inc.cf2c24532230fba9.html

[10] Hearst Television Company Financial Records/ Annual Reports
http://www.hearsttelevision.com/annual-reports/

[11] Hearst Corporation’s deal with NorthShore Productions
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-hearst-northsouth-20121206,0,573723.story

[12] Information on Phillip M. Stolz’s retirement
http://www.hearsttelevision.com/in-the-news/newsarticle38.html

[13] Information on “The Ellen Degeneres Show” being renewed
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-nbc-stations-renew-ellen-20130312,0,6555751.story

[14] Information on Hearst Television Inc.’s deal with The Tampa Bay Times
http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=25044

[15] Station list

http://www.hearsttelevision.com/our_company/our_stations/index.html