Veteran RI TV Anchor Gene Valicenti Turns PRO

WPRO 630 AM and 99.7 FM (WEAN) has inked a deal with veteran Rhode Island newsman Gene Valicenti.  He’s sign-on for a morning show on the Providence N/T simulcast, beginning Monday.

Gene Valicenti is one of the most watched personalities in Rhode Island where he co-anchors the WJAR-TV 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm newscasts. 

In a news release the Cumulus station notes Valicenti brings more than 20 years of Rhode Island news broadcasting experience to the WPRO Morning News each and every weekday. With an intimate knowledge of Rhode Island and neighboring Massachusetts, the “WPRO Morning News with Gene Valicenti” will help listeners get their weekday started with news, traffic, weather and the unique touch of Gene Valicenti.

Gene’s radio appearances at WPRO began in 2010 hosting “The Gene Valicenti Show” on Saturday mornings. Gene Valicenti said, “Rhode Island has been waking up to WPRO since the days of Salty Brine. It goes without saying that hosting the WPRO Morning News is a real honor for me.”

Cumulus Media Senior Vice President, Programming Mike McVay said, “We are very pleased to welcome Gene Valicenti to WPRO-AM. The addition of Gene to the lineup is an important part of Cumulus’ commitment to providing compelling live and local talk programming to Rhode Island and the Southern New England listeners.”

Current morning news host, Tara Granahan, has been promoted to Assistant Program Director of WPRO-AM. Tara has spent 20 years at various news outlets in Rhode Island and co hosted the WPRO Morning News since 2005.