Steve Carlston Picked As New GM Of KNBC

NBC Owned Television Stations today named Steve Carlston president-GM of KNBC Los Angeles, succeeding Craig Robinson who was recently appointed EVP-chief diversity officer of NBCUniversal.

Carlston, who brings more than 30 years of television industry experience to his position, will report to Valari Staab, president of the NBC Owned Television Stations, and start his new role in October.

“Between his 30 years of television industry experience, dynamic leadership skills and proven track record of making stations stronger, Steve Carlston is uniquely qualified to take NBC4 to the next level,” said Staab. “Steve is from Southern California and truly understands the importance of a television station serving the local community. I look forward to working with him and welcome him to the team.”

Since 2009, Carlston has been VP-GM of KUTV(CBS)/KMYU (MNT) Salt Lake City, among the seven stations in four markets that Sinclair announced earlier this month that it was buying from Four Point Media for $200 million. Although owned by private-equity-backed Four Points, the two Salt Lake stations have been managed under contract by Nexstar Broadcasting. On the watch of Nexstar and Carlston, KUTV established itself as the market’s No. 1 news station.

From 2004 to 2009, Carlston was president and managing partner of Las Vegas Television Partners, the owner of independent KTUD, and Sun Media Productions, a full-service production company. In this role, he directed the negotiation and acquisition of Vegas TV and Sun Media Productions and oversaw the day-to-day operations of both companies.

Carlston was EVP of affiliate relations at Viacom’s United Paramount Network in Los Angeles from 1999 to 2003, where he oversaw all affiliate relations, affiliate marketing and network distribution activities.

Previously, Carlston was president and COO of SF Broadcasting in Los Angeles, a division of USA Broadcasting, from 1996 to 1998. He was recruited to this position to turn around four Fox-affiliated stations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Honolulu, Hawaii. Additionally, Carlston was the VP_GM of KSTU, the Fox O&O in Salt Lake City, from 1992 to 1996.

Carlston serves on the boards of the Utah Broadcasters Association and the Utah Council for Crime Prevention.

He holds a BA in broadcast communications from Brigham Young University.