Longtime KABC GM Arnold Kleiner To Retire

Veteran TV executive Arnold J. Kleiner, president and general manager of KABC-TV, the ABC-owned television station in Los Angeles (DMA 2), announced Thursday that he will retire at the end of January 2015.

Kleiner has had a career of more than 45 years in the television business, the last 19 years as president-GM of KABC.

“I’ve been so lucky to have had such a long and rewarding career in the television business,” said. Kleiner. “I’ve had the great privilege of working with an amazing group of people and I’m very glad to have helped build KABC-TV into the great station it is today. I leave the station in good hands, and they can count on me to be their most loyal viewer.”

“Through his strong leadership, Arnie has led a team that has built KABC into the number one television station in Los Angeles,” said Rebecca Campbell, president of the ABC Owned Television Station Group, to whom Kleiner reports. “We are extremely appreciative of his many years of commitment and dedication to our Owned Station Group, and the great passion that Arnie has brought to KABC. We wish him the best in his retirement — he will be missed.”

Kleiner has held his current post since February 1996. Prior to joining KABC, he was president-GM of KFMB-AM-FM-TV in San Diego.

Kleiner began his career with Westinghouse Broadcasting in 1968 as an account executive at KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh. He moved into its television group in 1969 as an account executive at WJZ-TV Baltimore. This was followed by positions at Group W Television Sales in Chicago and WBZ-TV Boston. 

He subsequently joined Group W Television Sales in New York in 1974 as sales manager. In 1975, he returned to WJZ as general sales manager. In 1978, he joined WPVI Philadelphia as director of sales. In 1981, Kleiner was named VP-GM of WMAR Baltimore. He remained there until 1993, when he moved to KFMB-AM-FM-TV San Diego, prior to his present position.

A native of New York, Kleiner is a graduate of Pace University.