Branden Frantz Named WLWT Cincinnati GM

Branden Frantz, general sales manager of Hearst Television’s WESH, the NBC affiliate in Orlando-Daytona, Fla., has been named president and general manager of WLWT, Hearst’s NBC affiliate in Cincinnati (DMA 36). 

He assumes his new role on Jan. 1 and succeeds Richard Dyer, who has served as WLWT’s president-GM since 2002, and who is moving to Washington to lead Tegna’s CBS affiliate WUSA. 

“Branden is a next-generation executive who has delivered record levels of performance during his tenure at WESH, leading our sales team to new heights in both television and digital revenue,” said Jordan Wertlieb, Hearst Television’s president. “His proven record of success, coupled with his homegrown passion for Cincinnati and Ohio, makes Branden the ideal successor to Richard, who has led and helped grow WLWT over the last 14 years.”

“My time at Hearst Television has been an incredible and rewarding journey I expected to continue through the rest of my career,” Dyer said.  “I only depart to pursue a unique opportunity in my hometown of Washington, D.C.  I will be forever grateful for the privilege of having been a steward of WLWT and for the wonderful teammates whose hard work created success we can all be proud of.  I know Branden will lead this group to even more success.”

Frantz has spent most of his career in Ohio. Before joining Hearst at WESH in 2013, he served for five years as general sales manager of WXIX Cincinnati, as well as the station’s multicast, digital and mobile properties. He began his career as an account executive at WUPW Toledo, Ohio, later moving to WNWO, also in Toledo, as a regional-national sales executive.

After working in Pittsburgh as national and local sales manager at WPGH-WCWB, he returned to Ohio, as director of sales at WKEF-WRGT Dayton, where he served on the Fox affiliate sales advisory board, before moving to WXIX.

Frantz attended the University of Toledo, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Management.  Frantz is a graduate of the National Association of Broadcasters Executive Development Program and the Carnegie Leadership program.