Bay News 9 Hires New General Manager From CNN

When Bay News 9 founder Elliott Wiser was kicked upstairs to Bright House Networks' Group Vice President for Local Programming, it was obvious he would need to find a successor as general manager for the area's 24-hour local newschannel.

Today, the company announced Terry Dolan as the new vice president/general manager at Bay News 9, taking over responsiblity for managing Bay News 9, Bay News 9 en español, Tampa Bay On Demand, Bay News 9 On Demand, Travel Weather Now and the Bay News 9 website. Dolan comes to Bay News 9 from CNN/Atlanta, where he served as VP of sales and affiliate relations for 15 years.

I couldn't find out much about Dolan -- you don't make many headline working in sales. And Bright House Networks didn't even have a current picture of him they could provide to the St. Petersburg Times.

But Wiser says 200 people applied for the job, including local people and managers working in Top 20 markets. He chose Dolan, in part, because he was already familiar with Bay News 9's many different operations from working on the channel's partnerships with CNN.

Given Wiser's hands-on management style, local media insiders will probably buzz a bit, wondering how Dolan will fit into the mix. "Over the last couple fo years, i've been doing two jobs," Wiser told me a minute ago. "I'm not going to be hands on....I've got 12 channels to keep me busy."

Here's the press release:

CNN VETERAN NAMED VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF BAY NEWS 9

ST. PETERSBURG, FL— Bright House Networks announced today that CNN Veteran Terry Dolan will be joining Bay News 9 as the station’s new Vice President/General Manager. 

Dolan succeeds Elliott Wiser who has served as VP/GM of Bay News 9 since the 24-hour news channel’s inception in 1997.  Wiser was recently promoted to corporate Vice President of News and Local Programming for Bright House Networks where he will oversee the company’s local programming products.

Dolan’s role as VP/GM includes managing Bay News 9, Bay News 9 en español, Tampa Bay On Demand, Bay News 9 On Demand, Travel Weather Now and the Bay News 9 website.

Dolan, a television veteran, has an extensive management and sales background including his current position as Vice President of Sales and Affiliate Relations for CNN in Atlanta for the past 15 years. Dolan has also been, Vice President and Sales Manager for Carolco Television, Vice President/Midwest Sales for Orbis Communications, as well as Director of Broadcast/Station Manager at WISN-TV in Milwaukee.

Dolan assumes his duties with Bay News 9 on May 19. “I am very excited to join the talented team at Bay News 9.  While at CNN, I visited with them several times each year.  From their launch, I watched them quickly grow into the nation’s leading regional news network.  I look forward to continuing Bay News 9’s powerful community presence and providing our viewers with the best news, weather and online experience.”

"Bright House Networks is fortunate to attract someone of Terry's experience and caliber," said Elliott Wiser Vice President of News and Local Programming for Bright House Networks, "Bay News 9 will be in very good hands and I'm excited to turn the reins over to Terry."

Comments

[The Carl]

Wiser's doing two jobs might be the reason Bay News 9 has gotten to be so boring of late. Here's hoping Dolan can punch it up a bit.

[Meredith]

Have there been some layoffs at Bay News 9 lately of on-air reporters? Some faces have been missing lately.

[ilovenews]

No there have not been any lay offs....