OMAHA, Neb., April 19, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Pappas Telecasting Companies, the largest privately held, commercial television broadcast group in the United States, today announced the promotion of several of the company's veteran engineers. Receiving new assignments immediately are the following:
-- Richard Graham, from Chief Engineer of KPTM-TV, KXVO-TV,
and KAZO-LP in Omaha, Nebraska, to Corporate Safety Director
of Pappas Telecasting Companies
-- Dan Sommers, from Chief Engineer of KPWB-TV in Des Moines,
Iowa, to Chief Engineer of KPTM-TV, KXVO-TV, and KAZO-LP
-- Gina Dierks, from Chief Engineer of KPTH-TV in Sioux City,
Iowa, to Midwest Transmitter Engineer of Pappas Telecasting
Companies
-- Marc Roost, from Transmitter Supervisor of KPTH-TV to Chief
Engineer of KPTH
Each will report directly to Dale Scherbring, Vice President/Director of Engineering of Pappas Telecasting Companies.
In making the announcement, Mr. Scherbring said, "I am proud to be able to reward such talented engineers with these well-deserved promotions. Creating a strong Engineering team is a very important priority of the company, especially with the challenges brought about by the DTV transition and the explosion of new technology. Dan, Gina and Marc have considerable history with the company and know the Pappas way of doing business, giving them the opportunity to set just the right example for those who are new to our growing organization. And I am happy to say that in Rick, we were able to find an internal candidate for the position of Corporate Safety Director - someone who knows our systems and company philosophies, who will guide each station's Engineering staff in creating the safest possible work environment."
About Mssrs. Graham, Sommers, Roost, and Ms. Dierks
Rick Graham has spent the past eight years with Pappas Telecasting Companies. He brings a wealth of experience in industrial engineering and safety to the newly-created position of Corporate Safety Director. He will be based in Omaha. Filling Mr. Graham's former position is Dan Sommers, who is also an eight-year employee of Pappas Telecasting. His new post means a homecoming of sorts, as he began his Pappas career at KPTM.
Gina Dierks has served 12 years with Pappas Telecasting. She started in her broadcast career in the News department at KPTM, then transitioned to Engineering Operations. Her diligence has led to a number of promotions throughout her tenure with Pappas. Often, Gina has successfully taken on simultaneous multiple tasks to assist other Pappas stations' Engineering departments, over and above her duties at her own station. Taking over Ms. Dierks' former duties is Marc Roost, who has been with Pappas Telecasting for the past five years.
Company Profile
Pappas Telecasting Companies is the largest privately held, commercial television broadcast group in the United States in terms of U.S. Household coverage as defined by Nielsen Media Research. The company owns 25 market-leading Fox, WB, ABC, CBS, UPN and Azteca America affiliates, and operates three other stations pursuant to local marketing agreements, in all regions of the United States. Additionally, Pappas owns 15 on-air digital channels, operates three others under LMAs, and has an agreement to purchase one additional digital channel. The company holds construction permits to build 24 additional television stations, and has an option to purchase a construction permit for a full-power, five million watt station. Pappas also owns KVBE-FM "Vibe 107.5" in Fresno, is moving KTRB-AM 860 from Modesto to the San Francisco-San Jose radio market, and is constructing KPMP-AM 840 in Modesto. According to statistics from Nielsen, Pappas Telecasting television stations serve more than 15% of all U.S. television households. In addition, the company owns or operates television stations in markets reaching 34% of U.S. Hispanic households and nearly 37% of all U.S. Hispanic persons age 2+. In total, Pappas owns, operates, or is constructing stations in 25 Designated Market Areas.