From LocalTVLLC.com:
September 18th, 2008
Lou Kirchen Heads to WBRC-TV
LOCAL TV’s LOU KIRCHEN
HEADS TO BIRMINGHAM’S FOX WBRC-TV
Departs #1 WNEP-TV to Take the Helm of Nation’s #1 Fox Affiliate
For Immediate Release
September 18, 2008 … Winning is something Local TV President & General Manager and Regional VP Lou Kirchen knows how to do. For the last seven years she has stood at the top of Scranton’s WNEP-TV, the number one ranked ABC morning news affiliate in the country, and in the top five overall. When the GM spot at sister station WBRC-TV came open in Birmingham recently, Kirchen threw her hat into the ring immediately.
WBRC is the number one FOX affiliate in the country in local news and prime ratings. The station is home to American Idol, House, Bones and the all new Fringe, among other hit shows. FOX6 produces 8 hours of local news daily, and is the market’s hands down news leader in ratings and share. It’s a powerhouse station in a tremendously attractive and growing market.
Local TV CEO Bobby Lawrence says that the Birmingham opportunity brought people out of the woodwork. “We heard from a lot of highly qualified people about this job at WBRC,” says Lawrence, “but nobody knows how strategically challenging it is to run a #1 station like Lou does. That was a critical component for us.”
Stepping into a heritage station like WBRC is nothing new to Kirchen. When she landed in Scranton seven years ago WNEP-TV was a long standing #1 market leader. And she hasn’t missed a beat in growing the magic. Kirchen says, “It may seem odd, but in many ways keeping a station #1 is tougher than growing it to #1. When you’re at the top all the arrows are pointed at you. Of course, number one ratings and revenue share are required. But it takes more – strong community involvement, agency relationships, local business development, and a commitment to protecting the position 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That’s been my mantra for the last seven years, and I’m not about to change it in Birmingham. WBRC is full of high energy, highly talented people who fight the fight every day. I’m looking forward to joining the troops.”
Kirchen started her career in broadcasting on air as “Cora Mabel Mouthy Lou” at then-Country format WTRI in western Maryland. She moved from behind the mic to radio sales both at WTRI and what became WXTR. Television, however, was her real calling. She spent nearly five years at WBTW in Myrtle Beach, SC as GM before moving to NBC affiliate WOWT in Omaha as General Manager. From there Kirchen headed to Northeast Pennsylvania and WNEP-TV. The rest, as they say, is history.
She’s packed her bags and is on the ground in Birmingham effective today. She will also continue to serve as Regional VP for selected Local TV markets.
Chuck Morgan, WNEP-TV General Sales Manager, is interim General Manager for WNEP.
For further information, contact:
Pam Taylor
[EDIT-privacy concerns]
Lou Kirchen
[EDIT-privacy concerns]
www.localtvllc.com
About Local TV
Local TV Holdings LLC is a broadcast holding company created in 2007 to acquire nine heritage television stations in eight mid-sized markets. In 2008 Local TV Holdings added eight FOX stations in eight top 50 markets to its mix. Local TV is owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners, management and a consortium of bankers and high yield lenders who are as enthusiastic about our future as we are. Stay tuned.
