Larry Fraiberg, president of Group W TV Stations from 1980 to 1986 has died at 89. He also was president of Metromedia after holding GM slots at stations in Washington and New York.
Ex-Group W Station Chief Larry Fraiberg Dies
Larry Fraiberg, the former president of Group W Television Stations from 1980 to 1986, died March 26 after a long illness. He was 89 years old.
Fraiberg, who served in the U.S. Air Force during WWII, began his television career in 1951 as a general sales manager for KPIX San Francisco. He later became general sales manager of WNEW New York in 1959 and went on to create a sales division for Metromedia in 1962.
Fraiberg was named VP-GM of WTTG Washington in 1963, which began his long career in local television management.
He subsequently served as VP-GM of WNEW New York from 1965 to 1969 (and again from 1971 to 1977), president of Metromedia from 1977 to 1979, and then president of Group W TV Stations, the local television division of Westinghouse.
Fraiberg, a graduate of UCLA, belonged to both the IRTS and NATAS, and served as a member of the National Endowment for the Arts, National Committee on American Foreign Policy, Muscular Dystrophy Association of America, Chelsea Theater Center, Consumer Action Now and the Mayor’s Committee for a Better New York.
Comments (2)
Jeffrey Willerth says:
April 20, 2011 at 9:52 am
Larry and Carl were friends for many years. Carl respected him greatly as an innovator and broadcast executive.
Dear Larry. He was a true gentleman.
Dave Smith says:
April 20, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Yes, a gentleman and quite a character. As a much younger agent, Larry and I crafted my first, truly creative deal at his fabulous NY townhouse in the 80’s. When I admired a crystal owl his extensive collection, he insisted the deal wouldn’t close unless I accepted it as a gift. I am so sorry to hear he’s been ill, but in better days, Larry lived very well!