Hearst Television, Inc.

By Val Wasserstein
hearst logo1

[12] Hearst Television, Inc. logo on their homepage

Hearst Television, Inc.
300 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019-3789
Tel: (212) 887-6800/Fax: (212) 887-6855
www.hearsttelevision.com

Hearst Corporation: Overview 

hearst-corporation-logo2

[13] Hearst Corporation official logo

Hearst Corporation dates all the way back to 1887 when William Randolph Hearst founded the company as an owner of newspapers. Today, the company’s holdings include a wide variety of media such as newspapers, magazines, television stations, cable networks, business publishing, Internet businesses, and real estate. Hearst prides itself on becoming one of the nation’s largest diversified media and information companies. [1]

Hearst Television: Company Overview

Hearst Television, Inc., wholly owned by Hearst Corporation, holds 29 television stations and 2 radio stations across the United States. This broadcasting company was formerly known as Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. and later changed its name to Hearst Television, Inc. in June 2009. The company was founded in 1994. The television stations are viewed in approxiately 18% of US homes making Hearst Television, Inc. one of the largest US television station groups. Hearst Television Inc. owns 13 ABC affiliated channels, 10 NBC affiliated channels, and 2 CBS affiliated channels. The company is also known for its integration of local broadcast television and the Internet through its partnership with Internet Broadcasting. Hearst Television Inc. is also a leader in the “application of digital broadcast spectrum for new local informational services.” [2]

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[14] Affiliates of Hearst Television, Inc.

Hearst Television Inc. employs approximately 3,000 full-time employees and their major competitors include Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., Raycom Media Inc., and Local TV, LLC. [3]

Hearst Television station group has won a multitude of awards. The company has been given six consecutive Walter Cronkite Awards (presented by University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication) for their excellence in television political journalism. The stations also have receeived awards for excellence in journalism, programming, and community service (e.g. the Peabody, the duPont-Columbia University Journalism Award, the Sigma Delta Chi Award, the Garbiel, the Ad Council Silver Bell, the National Headliner Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award and the Emmy). [4] 

Executives

David J. Barrett-- Chairman & CEO, Hearst Television Inc.

[15] Chairman & CEO, Hearst Television Inc. — David J. Barrett

“The advent of new media platforms is an exciting opportunity for Hearst Television to further advance engagement with local communities. Technology is providing us with new opportunities to reach our viewers, enhance our news-gathering efforts,and provide a broad range of advertising and marketing solutions for our customers.” [5]

 –David J. Barrett, Chairman & CEO, Hearst Television Inc. 

Broadcasting Office
David J. Barrett,
Chairman & CEO of Hearst Television, Inc.
Jordan Wertlieb, President of Hearst Television, Inc.
Frank Biancuzzo,
Senior Vice President of Hearst Television, Inc.
John J. Drain,
Senior Vice President, Finance of Hearst Television, Inc.
Roger Keating,
Senior Vice President of Hearst Television, Inc.

Assets

TV 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 [6]

Finances

On June 3, 2009 the Hearst Corporation acquired outstanding shares of Series A Common Stock of Hearst-Argyle that it did not already own. Since August 5, 2009, Hearst Television Inc., once the company merged to be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hearst, stopped filing and sharing periodic and annual reports to the public making it no longer a SEC reporting company. [7]

In Recent News

On December 6, 2012 Hearst Corporation announced new executive leadership positions. David J. Barrett would be the new chairman and CEO of Hearst Television and Jordan Wertlieb would become president. All changes were effective immediately. [8]

In Hearst Corporation CEO Frank A. Bennack Jr.’s 2012 Annual Review letter, he emphasized how much the year brought on “tremendous growth for Hearst Television’s on-air and digital revenues.” It was reported that eighty percent of Hearst Television Inc.’s newscasts hold first or second place rankings. [9]

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[16] Hearst Television Inc.’s 2012 Annual Review Letter

The election year of 2012 also helped the company with stations in key primary and swing states, redesigned websites and the new Election 2012 app. The app allowed for consumers to access “up-to-the-minute and in-depth election-related national content as well as content from the company’s news stations in 25 markets stretching from Portland, Maine to Honolulu.” [10]

HearstTV-election-iPhone-lg

[17] Election 2012 app for iPhones & smartphones

On April 3, 2013 Hearst Television Inc. announced the renewal of its alliance with PolitiFact, the fact checking website of the Tampa Bay Times. “In one recurring feature of the exclusive partnership, Hearst Television’s Washington, D.C., Bureau produced segments on PolitiFact’s fact-checking about the presidential campaign using the website’s much-discussed ‘Truth-O-Meter‘.” [11] 

twitter-meter

[18] PolitiFact logo

Sources 

[1] Hearst Corporation 

[2] Hearst Television: About Our Company

[3] Hoovers Company Profile: Hearst Television Inc. 

[4] Hearst Television: About Our Company

[5] Hearst Corporation: Hearst Television, Inc. 

[6] Hearst Television Inc.: Our Stations

[7] Hearst Television: Annual Reports 

[8] Hearst Television, Inc. – Press Release

[9] Hearst 2012 Annual Review 

[10] Hearst Television, Inc. – Press Release

[11] Hearst TV and PolitiFact Renew Alliance

[12] Hearst Television Image

[13] Hearst Corporation Image

[14] Hearst Television: About Our Company Image

[15] David J. Barrett Image

[16] Hearst Corporation 2012 Annual Review Image 

[17] Election 2012 App Image

[18] PolitiFact Image

Hearst Television Inc.

by Whitney Marin

Hearst Television, Inc.
300 W 57th Street #39, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212- 887-6800
Website: http://www.hearsttelevision.com/

Company Overview

While larger networks such as CBS and NBC reach much higher percentages of households, Hearst is the leader among independent broadcasting companies in number of households reached.

Hearst Television Inc., a subsidiary of Hearst Corporation, consists of 29 television and 2 radio stations in the United States including 13 NBC affiliated stations, 10 ABC affiliated stations and 2 CBSaffiliates. Formally known as Hearst-Argyle Television, Hearst Television, Inc. was founded in 1994 and operates in the Boston, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, Orlando and Baltimore markets. In 2009, Hearst Television Inc., became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hearst Corporation. (1) The company’s television stations reach approximately 18% of U.S. TV households, making it one of America’s largest television station groups. (2)

Hearst Television Inc., is the six-time consecutive winner of the USC Annenberg Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Political Journalism and three of their stations, KCCI-TV, KITV, WBAL-TV and WCVB-TV, received the Radio Television Digital News Association’s (RTDNA) Edward R. Murrow Award in 2012. (3) In 1999, the company began a partnership with Internet Broadcasting to facilitate a network and marketing brand for broadcast television stations. (1)

As of August 5th, 2009, Hearst Television Inc. no longer reports to the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) as an SEC reporting company including periodic and annual reports. (4) In 2010, the Leadership Directories cited that Hearst Television Inc.’s annual revenue exceeds $750 million compared to $720.5 million in 2008. (5) (6) Hearst Television Inc. employs approximately 3400 employees and their top competitors include Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., Raycom Media, Inc. and Local TV, LLC.

Executives
David J. Barrett, President & CEO
Jordan Wertlieb, Executive Vice President
Frank Biancuzzo, Senior Vice President
John J. Drain, Senior Vice President of Finance
Suzanne Grethen, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Promotion

Stations

Hearst Television Inc. has ABC, NCB and CBS affiliates as well as a partnership with Internet Broadcasting.

Television
WCBV – Boston, MA – ABC affiliate
WMUR – Manchester, NH – ABC affiliate
WMOR – Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL – Independent
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 – W. Palm  Beach, FL – ABC affiliate
WGAL– Lancaster, PA – NBC affiliate
WXII – Greensboro/Winston-Salem, NC– NBC affiliate
WLKY – Louisville, KY – CBS affiliate
WPTZ/WNNE – Burlington, VT/Plattsburgh, NY – NBC/ABC 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/KHOG – Fort Smith/Fayettville, AR – ABC/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
WBAL– Baltimore, MD – AM station
WIYY – Baltimore, MD – FM station

Recent Developments

One July 19, 2012, Hearst Television Inc. announced that they have reached a transmission deal with Time Warner Cable (TWC). Fourteen of Hearts’ stations were blacked out on TWC’s packages and the two companies were negotiating a fair fee to retransmit the signals. (7) Time Warner issues a statement about the agreement. “We have reached a long-term agreement with Hearst Television and our customers can expect their signals to be restored to our cable systems shortly. We thank our customers for their patience and their willingness to stick with us through another unnecessary broadcaster blackout.”

Hearst Television Inc.’s Election 2012 application for iPhones and Android phones included in-depth coverage of the National Presidential Election.

On August 30, 2012, Hearst Television Inc. launched an “Election 2012” application for iPhones and Android phones featuring up-to-date coverage on the 2012 National Presidential Election. The app consisted of a countdown to Election Day, voters registration information, an Electoral College map, live election night content and commentary as well as Facebook interaction. In coordination with Internet Broadcasting, local content from Hearst Television stations are distributed through the application. The app is also a part of Hearst Television’s Commitment 2012 project, a continuation of their election coverage based Commitment 2000 project, which won a Peabody Award in addition to USC Annenberg Walter Cronkite Awards. (8)

Current CEO and Chairman of Hearst Television Inc.

Current President of Hearst Television Inc.

December 6, 2012 marked a slight change in leadership at Hearst Television Inc. An announcement was made my Hearst Corporation that current President and CEO, David J. Barrett, will be the CEO and Chairman and current Executive Vice President, Jordan Wertlieb, will take on the role of Hearst Television Inc. President, both effective immediately. Barret was CEO and President since 2001. Prior to that, he had a six-year tenure as deputy general manager of Hearst Broadcasting and four years as executive vice president and CEO of Hearst-Argyle Television. (9)

Hearst Television aims to improve air transmission quality while complying with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Commercial Audio Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, effective on December 13, 2012. Joe Addila, the director of technology projects for Hearst Television Inc., has chosen to use the Linear Acoustic AERO.air transmission audio loudness manager and LQ-1000 loudness quality monitor to control the loudness at all Hearst stations. (10)

 

REFERENCES

  1. http://www.hearst.com/files/hearsttimeline.pdf
  2. http://www.hearsttelevision.com/our_company/about_Our_Company/index.html
  3. http://www.rtnda.org/content/2012_national_winners
  4. http://www.hearsttelevision.com/financial-information/index.html
  5. http://www.leadershipdirectories.com/Images/sp_cor.pdf
  6. http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/htv/
  7. http://www.adweek.com/news/television/time-warner-cable-and-hearst-reach-deal-142032
  8. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hearst-television-launches-free-election-2012-app-for-iphone-android-167982726.html
  9. http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/hearst-television-ceo-david-j-barrett-adds-chairman-role-jordan-wertlieb-promoted-president-1734814.htm
  10. https://my.insideview.com/iv/launchReferredArticle.do?aid=_7609060783&utm_source=IVdirectory&utm_medium=Agents_Article_Titles
  11. Hearst Television Inc. Logo Photo: http://www.hearsttelevision.com/images/hdr_logo.gif
  12. TV Households Photo: http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Hearst-Argyle_Television_(HTV)
  13. Hearst Television Holdings Logos Photo: http://www.hearsttelevision.com/our_company/about_Our_Company/index.html
  14. Election 2012 Application Photo: http://talkingnewmedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/new-hearst-television-election.html
  15. David J. Barrett Photo: http://www.hearst.com/about-hearst/corporate-david-j-barrett.php
  16. Jordan Wertlieb Photo: http://www.hearsttelevision.com/jordan-wertlieb/