Waterman Broadcasting General Manager Steve Pontius Steps Down After 37 Years Leading WBBH

Long-time television Executive Vice President & General Manager Steve Pontius is stepping down after 37 years leading WBBH-TV, NBC in Fort Myers, FL, per a company press release. The move by Pontius caps his 51 year career in the industry which wound through East Texas, San Antonio, Dallas, St. Louis and Southwest Florida. His 37 years running WBBH-TV included the creation of one of the earliest (1994) LMA/Time Brokerage Agreements that allowed Waterman Broadcasting to operate (but not own) the ABC affiliate in the same market. Pontius is walking away — “happily,” according to the release — as Waterman has just closed on the sale of the Fort Myers operation to Hearst Broadcasting. Hearst assumes ownership of WBBH-TV along with the daily operation of WZVN-TV on July 1, 2023.