Former Indianapolis TV exec to run WFTS
Richard Pegram III, a broadcaster with more than 30 years experience, has been named as the new vice president and general manager at Tampa ABC affiliate WFTS-Ch. 28. He starts the job May 28. (Read the press release here)
Pegram, 56, comes to Tampa from Indianapolis, where he served as general manager at NBC affiliate WTHR for 13 years before an abrupt departure in November. Credited with tripling WTHR's revenue and leading it into first place newscast ratings during his tenure, Pegram left the station amid rumors he had conflicts with the station's owners over cost-cutting issues.
At WFTS, he will jump from running the top station in the nation's 26th largest market to running a station ranked third and fourth in the 13th-largest market, Tampa. Pegram replaces Bill Carey, who resigned earlier this year, six months after he was arrested and accused of burglary and battery after a hit and run accident. Hillsborough County prosecutors declined to file charges against Carey in March, but the decision came too late to save his position at WFTS.
Pegram inherits a station which officially has been without a general manager since September. Executives there have run the station well during that time, but the move by WFTS owner E.W. Scripps Co. to name a new chief caps a longstanding question mark about how the station might move forward into the future.
Bill Peterson, senior vice president of the Scripps Television Station Group, extolled Pegram's virtues in a press statement: "For more than a quarter of a century, Rich Pegram's name has been synonymous in broadcast circles with excellence and leadership. His trophy case is filled with the most-prestigious awards in the industry, and he knows how to take share from competitors in the market. More importantly, his emphasis on high-quality local news and his belief in operating a powerful Internet business will make WFTS even more valuable to Tampa."
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Well as long as he can stay away from the Circle jerks at the adult clubs or Hit and Run accidents, He will be an improvement!
Posted by: C-lo | May 21, 2008 at 09:52 AM
I didn't realize there was such a high incidence of criminal activity in the TV station GM world!
Posted by: Fugilebrity | May 21, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Darn. I expected FOX to be making this announcement.
Posted by: Laurie | May 21, 2008 at 10:43 AM
As someone who lives in Indy, Richard ran a top notch operation with WTHR, and your market is lucky to get someone with his talent and brains running things at WFTS.
Posted by: Simon | May 21, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Welcome to the area Mr. Pegram. After you've settled in, feel free to come by and introduce yourself to the Fantasy Land family.
Posted by: Fantasy Land | May 21, 2008 at 09:09 PM
WFTS isn't even close to the quality of WTHR. They've never really come close to the three big players in the market 8, 10, 13.
Posted by: Jim | May 21, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Here's hoping Mr. Pegram can help Always Late 28 suck less!
Posted by: The Carl | May 22, 2008 at 12:00 AM
I agree with The Carl's note above. The only positive note about 28's over news operation is Brendan McLaughlin. Maybe with all the news happening over here, they'll follow 8 and 13 in putting a news bureau in Polk County.
Posted by: Interstate4Jammer | May 25, 2008 at 01:25 PM