Tribune Broadcasting Boosts Larsen to CEO

Jerry Kersting is out

Nils Larsen

Tribune Co. Broadcasting Division Chairman Nils Larsen has been appointed CEO of the unit in a move that eliminates the post of division President Jerry Kersting, according to a story by Lynne Marek at chicagobusinss.com.

Chicago-based Tribune, owner of 23 TV stations, said the appointment of Mr. Larsen, who also is Tribune's chief investment officer, is effective immediately.

Kersting was promoted to president just a year ago, but that was before the October ouster of Tribune CEO Randy Michaels, a former Clear Channel colleague who had brought him into the company in 2008.

The executive switch follows the promotion last month of Eddy Hartenstein to Tribune CEO, as the company attempts to exit bankruptcy and bolster profits.

While Tribune newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, have suffered as a result of an industry decline in print circulation and advertising, the company's broadcast outlets — including WGN-TV/Channel 9 in Chicago and WPIX-TV in New York, as well as the radio broadcaster WGN-AM and cable channel WGN America — have faired better as advertising returned to the broadcast sector.

"We've been expanding local news, developing new original programming and making smart decisions with our syndicated programming, which is driving ratings and resonating with advertisers,” Mr. Larsen said in a news release. “We have momentum and there's a lot more opportunity ahead."

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