ACME Communications Changes

[Darrel M]

ACME Communications, who earlier this month reached shared services agreements with LIN TV in 3 of their markets, has made plans to undergo changes in its corporate management come July. Per Broadcasting & Cable:

President/COO and co-founder Doug Gealy will become president and CEO of Acme. Stan Gill, the vice president and general manager of Acme's KWBQ-KASY duopoly in Albuquerque-Santa Fe, will become COO while retaining oversight of the New Mexico pair.

WBDT Dayton VP/General Manager John Hannon moves up to corporate executive vice president.

The three will oversee all of Acme's stations and its syndicated program, The Daily Buzz, and manage the relationship with LIN. All three promotions are effective July 1, 2010.

Acme will significantly pare the rest of its corporate staff. Effective mid-July 2010, Tom Allen, a co-founder of the company and its e.v.p. and CFO, will transition into a consulting role, and will assist Gealy in finding "appropriate exit paths" for the company. Allen will continue to serve on the Acme board of directors.

Co-founder/Chairman/CEO Jamie Kellner will continue to serve as chairman.

Translation: Let's reset, weigh our options, and see who can take these stations off our hands. Speculation time: Which owner(s) would find these stations a good fit? LIN TV perhaps, should the FCC allow them? Perhaps another ownership group? Also, ACME has 2 other stations (in Madison and Knoxville) where I'm sure they're looking for someone to run them via LMA or SSA. Thoughts?

 

[KentBrockman]

I hope this doesn't effect Wile E. Coyote's television viewing too much.

 

[DToTheJ]

I hear his disposal of his analog TV after June 12 did not go too well...