Gray Announces New GMs For 6 Meredith Markets

Gray Television just announced that several of its current station general managers will assume leadership of television stations that Gray will acquire from Meredith Corp. upon the closing of Gray’s acquisition of Meredith’s Local Media Group, which the parties anticipate will occur in December.

Gray said its senior leadership “appreciates the loyal service that these stations’ current general managers have provided to these Meredith television stations and their local communities. Nevertheless, after careful consideration and extensive analysis over the past several months, Gray concluded that immediate changes in certain Meredith markets would facilitate the prompt integration of these stations into the Gray portfolio of leading local television stations and local digital platforms.”

In the next few days, Gray will announce additional GM moves and promotions across its current television stations to fill the openings created by today’s announcement.

Jasmine Hatcher Hardin

Debbie Bush

Erik Schrader

In Atlanta (DMA 6), Erik Schrader will become GM of WGCL (CBS) and WPCH (independent). He has been the GM of WOIO (CBS) and WUAB (CW) in Cleveland, Ohio, since 2016. Previously, Schrader was GM of KSNW Wichita, Kan., and WIAT Birmingham, Ala. he began his career working in news production before becoming a news reporter, sports director and, in several markets, news director.  He is a board member of the Ohio Association of Broadcasters.

In Phoenix (DMA 12), Debbie Bush will become GM of KPHO (CBS) and KTVK (independent). For the past nearly seven years, she has been GM of Gray’s WXIX (Fox) in Cincinnati. Prior to that, she was GM of (then-Raycom, now Gray) KOLD Tucson, Ariz., and WFIE Evansville, Ind. Bush has held various news positions, including news director, in Kansas City, Mo.; Indianapolis; and Pittsburgh, among other cities.

In Nashville (DMA 30), Jasmine Hatcher Hardin becomes GM of WSMV (NBC).  Over the last several years, she has served as national sales manager, general sales manager and then General Manager of Gray’s WVLT (CBS) and WBXX (CW) in Knoxville, Tenn. She is a Tennessee native and graduate of the University of Tennessee’s Journalism and Electronic Media School where she serves on the Alumni Board. Under her leadership, WVLT was awarded the Gray Television Station of the Year in 2019, won the Regional News Excellence Award in 2020, and recently received two National Edward R. Murrow Awards.

Eric Duncan

Bryce Caldwell

Andrew Stewart

In Kansas City, Mo. (DMA 32), Andrew Stewart becomes GM of KCTV (CBS) and KSMO (MNT). For the past three years, he has been GM of Gray’s WOWT (NBC) in Omaha, Neb. Stewart has more than 35 years of broadcast television experience.  He spent nearly eight years as GM of Sinclair of Northern California, where he led an operation consisting of 10 network affiliates in three Northern California markets. He also has held GM and sales management positions in Tucson, Ariz., and Albuquerque, N.M., and also was corporate director of television sales for the former Lee Enterprises.

In Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C. (DMA 38), Bryce Caldwell becomes GM of WHNS (Fox). Since 2019, he has been GM of KTTC (NBC) in Rochester, Minn., which Gray recently acquired from Quincy Media. Prior to joining KTTC, he was GM of WTNZ (Fox) Knoxville, Tenn., and he previously worked in sales at WATE (ABC) in Knoxville. Caldwell began his broadcast career in Nashville and also worked in sales positions in Orlando, Fla.

In Mobile, Ala. (DMA 57), Eric Duncan becomes GM of WALA (Fox). He has been GM of Gray’s KOLD (CBS) Tucson, Ariz., for the past three years. Duncan previously was GM of KXXV (ABC) Waco, Texas, and WSFA (NBC) Montgomery, Ala., both of which were then owned by Raycom Media. Duncan has held various sales positions roles at television stations in Dallas, Austin, and Lubbock, Texas.