Sean Compton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sean Compton is an American radio and television executive. He currently serves as Sr. Vice President of Programming and Entertainment for Tribune Company. Compton oversees programming for 40 Tribune and Local TV television stations and cable channel WGN America. Compton also sits on the board of directors for the "National Association Television Program Executives" NATPE.
Contents |
[edit] Early years
Born and raised in Indiana; radio provided his first opportunity for employment when in high school he worked at a variety of small Indiana stations including Fort Wayne's, 1190 WOWO. Compton's first programming position came at the age of 19 when he was hired as program director of WSAI Radio in Cincinnati. Compton also hosted Saturday mornings on 700 WLW radio in Cincinnati from 1993-1997.
[edit] Career at Jacor & Clear Channel
In the early '90s Compton worked split jobs between WLW radio and the corporate programming department for Jacor Communications headquartered in Cincinnati. Compton used the title "Not a Vice President" as a joke arising from the number of employees who were VPs. Compton became VP of Programming in the fall of 1998 when Jacor Communications was acquired by Clear Channel. In that role he was known as the "Deal Guy" responsible for creating and brokering a variety of national talent deals including American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest and radio shows hosted by Bob Costas, Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Springer, Bill Cunningham, Donald Trump, Ty Pennington and CNBC's Maria Bartiromo. Compton has also landed Clear Channel some of its highest profile programming from suppliers outside the company. He successfully negotiated a long term partnership with Fox News Radio heard on over 100 Clear Channel stations. Most notable of all the radio deals Compton was behind the Clear Channel 5 year $100 million dollar deal with radio talk host and FOX News personality Sean Hannity announced in July 2008.
[edit] Leaving Clear Channel
Compton was one of 4 Clear Channel executives who surprised the radio industry when they left the company to join Tribune Company on April 1, 2008. The other exiting execs included CFO Jerry Kersting, SVP Programming Marc Chase and CTO Steve Gable. The Wall Street Journal was first to break the news of their departure.
[edit] Radio talent on Tribune TV
Compton has utilized radio friends on WGN America cable. Casey Kasem has been the voice of retro weeks that air in the summer, Radio legend Rick Dees is an on-air host of WGN America's Outta Sight Retro Sundays, Bob and Tom have a nightly TV show pre-recorded from their radio program, and former radio executives Marc Chase and Lee Abrams host programs.
[edit] The Tribune/LocalTV management Stations
[edit] Radio station
| AM Station |
| DMA# | Market | Station | Owned Since | Current Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3. | Chicago | WGN-720 | 1924 | Talk |
  |
This United States biographical article related to radio is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
[edit] References
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118009625.html?categoryId=14&cs=1 http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/113120-Sean_Compton_to_Replace_Marc_Schacher_at_Tribune_Broadcasting.php http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4486986-1.html http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/113168-Transforming_Tribune.php http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/2008/10/sitcomsonlinecom-exclusive-interview.html http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/mediamix/2004-04-28-media-mix_x.htm http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=141663&pt=todaysnews
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sean Compton |
