Justin Antoniotti Named WGAL GM

Hearst Television today appointed Justin N. Antoniotti president and general manager of WGAL, its NBC affiliate in Lancaster-Harrisburg-Lebanon-York, Pa. (DMA 47).

Antoniotti has been president-GM of WPTZ-WNNE, Hearst’s NBC-CW duopoly in Burlington, Vt.-Plattsburgh, N.Y, since 2016.

Antoniotti, who assumes his new role July 1, succeeds Kyle Grimes, who has been appointed president-GM of WCVB, Hearst’s ABC affiliate in Boston. Antoniotti’s successor at WPTZ-WNNE will be announced at a later date.

The move marks a return to Pennsylvania for Antoniotti, who, before moving to WPTZ-WNNE, served for four years as news director at Hearst’s Pittsburgh ABC affiliate WTAE, where he focused the station on a renewed commitment to investigative journalism. During his tenure, WTAE earned a highly coveted Peabody Award and a National Headliner Award, among other honors, for its investigation of systemic problems within Pennsylvania’s volunteer fire departments leading to wide gaps in fire response times. The Pennsylvania General Assembly subsequently addressed the issue.

“Justin has done terrific work leading transformational initiatives at WPTZ and WNNE the past four years,” said Hearst Television President Jordan Wertlieb. “And his earlier experience leading a team producing impactful journalism which improved the lives of all Pennsylvanians clearly demonstrates his commitment to outstanding local broadcasting. Justin will be a great addition to a fantastic team at one of America’s best television stations and community servants.”

Antoniotti’s appointments to WGAL, and, earlier, to WPTZ/WNNE, mark the continuation of a family legacy.  His father, Steve, also had an extensive career in both news management and, later, as a general manager.

In his most recent role, Antoniotti held overall management responsibility for WPTZ and WNNE; he oversaw WNNE’s re-branding from a satellite NBC affiliate to the market’s first full-power CW affiliate. He also oversaw WPTZ’s digital station, The Valley’s MeTV, and MyNBC5.com. Under his leadership, WPTZ/WNNE opened new studios in South Burlington; established a Lebanon, New Hampshire, newsroom to broaden its regional coverage; and, later this summer, will move to an upgraded northern New York facility including a new studio, the latest technology, and offices in a community-accessible location.

Under Antoniotti’s direction, WPTZ expanded news by 2.5 hours weekly, and both stations now produce 34.5 hours of news each week.

While news director at WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, Antoniotti oversaw the news operation of Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, WTAE.com, and WTAE mobile applications. He joined WTAE from Hearst Television sister station WYFF, the NBC affiliate in Greenville, S.C., where he expanded local newscasts and launched a local primetime version of a Hearst Television-branded news magazine, Chronicle. The program earned WYFF a 2010 Peabody Award for a series on organ donation, which led to more than 2,000 new donor registrations.  Also, during Antoniotti’s news stewardship WYFF earned five Station of the Year honors from the South Carolina Associated Press and four from the South Carolina Broadcasters Association.

Prior to WYFF, Antoniotti was assistant news director at Hearst Television’s WISN Milwaukee. Before joining Hearst, Antoniotti worked as a news manager in Houston and Memphis. He began his career as a news producer in Columbia, Mo., and later Biloxi, Miss.

Antoniotti graduated with honors from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.