WREG Memphis Names Two Sales Execs

Local TV-owned CBS affiliate WREG Memphis (DMA 49), today announced that Jim Himes, the station’s general sales manager has been promoted to station manager and vice president, sales.

WREG President-GM Ron Walter announced Himes’ promotion as part of a series of changes coming in 2013, including the development of an integrated media department which Himes will oversee.  Additionally, Walter named Steve Crain to the newly created post of director of integrated media. Crain joins the station from cross-town rival WMC-TV where he has been Internet sales director.

According to Walter, Himes’ move into a broader management role at WREG has been in the planning

stages for over a year. “Jim joined WREG five years ago as general sales manager and has hands-down

demonstrated his talent, taking us to the No. 1 biller in the Memphis DMA. We recognized his

achievements by implementing a plan to give him bigger exposure to news, engineering, accounting and

the interactive platform. This step to station manager is a natural progression of events.”

WREG.com is one of the city’s most successful websites in terms of page views and revenue, according to Himes, but the space is much more important than ads and traffic. “Integrated media is more than just what we’re doing on our website. It’s how we remain relevant to our television viewers, interact with them on line, encourage them to share their views and respond to their interests and needs. Content is king; bringing advertisers together with potential customers lets us monetize the pipeline.”

Himes takes on the new role while remaining in charge of the station’s multiplatform sales efforts.

Regarding Crain’s appointment, Walter said: “Creating the integrated media department with a talent like Steve Crain is a great opportunity for WREG. Steve grew up in news and understands the importance of content. He crossed the bridge into sales during his career, and that’s rare.”