Rich O’Dell Named President and General Manager at WLTX-TV, Columbia, S.C.
ARLINGTON, Va. — Rich O’Dell has been named president and general manager of WLTX-TV, the Gannett-owned CBS affiliate in Columbia, S.C. He had been program director WKYC-TV, Gannett’s NBC affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio. O’Dell replaces Deborah Holland, who resigned recently.
The announcement was made by Cecil L. Walker, president and chief executive officer, Gannett Broadcasting.
“Rich has a very strong background in news, programming and production. This product experience, coupled with his leadership capabilities, will enable him to work with the team of WLTX to continue to build a station that serves the viewers of the Columbia community,” said Walker.
O’Dell served as program director of WKYC for 12 years. In this capacity he also managed the local production efforts and was executive producer of many local productions. He joined WKYC in 1977 as producer/director and directed the station’s 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. During his career, he also served as an announcer for five radio stations.
O’Dell is a winner of eight local Emmy Awards and is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS). He has served in various roles for NATAS, including president, national trustee and local awards chairman. He is currently a member of the National Awards Committee.
O’Dell received his B.A. in radio/television from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He and his wife, Sue, have three children.
Gannett Broadcasting consists of 21 television stations covering 16.6% of U.S. TV homes. Gannett’s other television stations are: WUSA (CBS-Washington, D.C.); WXIA (NBC- Atlanta); WTSP (CBS-Tampa); KARE (NBC-Minneapolis); KPNX (NBC-Phoenix), KNAZ (NBC-Flagstaff), KMOH (WB-Kingman); KUSA (NBC-Denver); KSDK (NBC-St. Louis); WZZM (ABC-Grand Rapids); WGRZ (NBC-Buffalo); WFMY (CBS-Greensboro); WTLV (NBC-Jacksonville); KTHV (CBS-Little Rock); KVUE (ABC-Austin); WBIR (NBC-Knoxville); WCSH (NBC-Portland); WMAZ (CBS-Macon); and WLBZ (NBC-Bangor). Upon approval, Gannett will exchange KVUE for KXTV (ABC-Sacramento). After this transaction, Gannett Television will cover 17.3% of TV homes across the USA.
Gannett Broadcasting also consists of cable operations in Kansas, North Carolina and Oklahoma. In addition to its broadcast operations, Gannett publishes 74 daily newspapers, including USA TODAY, and USA WEEKEND, a newspaper magazine.