Nexstar Extends Contracts Of Sean Compton, Dana Zimmer

Nexstar Media Group on Monday extended the employment agreements of Sean Compton, president, networks, and Dana Zimmer, president, distribution and strategy. They will continue to report to Nexstar’s founder, chairman, and chief executive officer, Perry Sook.

Sook said: “We are thrilled to extend the employment agreements of Sean and Dana whose leadership has helped drive our growth and shareholder returns. Our strong industry position and positive growth prospects reflect Sean and Dana’s leadership and key contributions alongside the Nexstar Nation team.

“Through their individual and collective efforts, Sean and Dana have significantly expanded the reach of Nexstar’s local television stations and cable news network, NewsNation, especially among digital and streaming users; completed successful negotiations with our distribution and network partners resulting in the consistent growth of Nexstar’s retransmission and carriage revenues; and, shepherded the growth of several of our most significant assets, including The CW Network, NewsNation, Antenna TV, Rewind TV, and The Hill.

“Sean and Dana generate enormous value for the company and our network and distribution partners, and given their consistent record of accomplishment, we are delighted to extend their employment agreements as we continue positioning Nexstar for continued near- and long-term growth and the enhancement of shareholder value.”

Sean Compton

Compton is responsible for the long-term strategy and business operations of The CW Network, NewsNation, Antenna TV, Rewind TV, Nexstar’s programming acquisitions, The Hill and WGN Radio. He was appointed president, networks in November 2020 and joined Nexstar Media Group as the executive vice president of WGN America (now known as NewsNation), WGN Radio, and director of content acquisition following the company’s acquisition of Tribune Media in September 2019.

Prior to joining Nexstar, Compton was president of strategic programming and acquisitions for Tribune Co. from 2008 to 2019, where he oversaw programming for 42 television stations and the nationally distributed digital network, Antenna TV.

Before joining Tribune, he spent a combined 16 years at Clear Channel Radio and Premiere Radio Networks where he was vice president of programming for 10 years before joining Tribune.

Dana Zimmer

Zimmer oversees all distribution for the company’s broadcast and television content portfolio to cable, satellite, telco and digital media companies, as well as Nexstar’s network content agreements with third-party partners, including CBS, Fox, NBC and ABC. She was appointed president, distribution in October 2021 and joined Nexstar in September 2019 as executive vice president, chief distribution and strategy officer, following the company’s acquisition of Tribune.

Prior to joining Nexstar, Zimmer was president of distribution and marketing for Tribune Media from 2013 to 2019. She was a former executive vice president of TV networks distribution for NBCUniversal from 2011 to 2013 and also served as executive vice president, affiliate sales and marketing for Comcast Networks from 2005 to January 2011.

Prior to joining Comcast, Zimmer played an integral role in the distribution of YES Network and SportsNet New York. She also worked in affiliate sales for Fox Cable Networks and Discovery Communications.