Robert Sutton, Longtime Broadcasting Exec, Dies at 80

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://www.nexttv.com/news/bob-sutton-longtime-broadcasting-exec-dies-at-80

Robert Thomas "Bob" Sutton, a programmer and broadcast TV executive who then transitioned to such cable networks as Home Shopping Network and Golf Channel, died on June 7 at age 80. He lived in Tampa, Florida, and was a one-time president of the Tampa Chamber of Commerce.

As a biography provided to B+C demonstrates, Bob Sutton’s career had many dimensions both in the public and private sector.

A graduate of Michigan State, he started on the TV station side with management positions at the Evening News Association television stations in Detroit (WWJ-TV) and Mobile (WALA-TV), and the ABC O&O in New York City (WABC-TV), where he was a key figure in marketing the initial launch of the Eyewitness News format in the 1960s. He then moved to the network side as director of programming-East for NBC. From there he moved south to become general manager of WFLA-TV in Tampa and rose in the ranks to become president and CEO of Media General Broadcast Group. From there he transitioned to the cable industry as president of Home Shopping Network, a senior executive of the team that launched The Golf Channel and COO of Political Newstalk Network, also known as America’s Voice, a conservative news/talk cable channel that empowered political conservatives to participate in grass-roots lobbying efforts.

Sutton is best known as one of the leaders of HSN and Golf Channel.