WGN-TV names Ric Harris as VP-General Manager
Veteran broadcaster to lead Nexstar’s flagship station; WGN also announces new programming for WGN+
Irving, Tex.-based Nexstar Media Group announced Ric Harris would become WGN-TV’s new vice president and general manager, effective immediately.
“WGN is a powerhouse in local news and the home of high-quality CW programming, including live sports like Xfinity series racing, college football and basketball, and WWE NXT wrestling, as well as original entertainment programs,” Harris said in a statement on Wednesday. “WGN has forged a deep connection with Chicago-area viewers and has a legacy of quality programming, special coverage of important local events, and service to the community. When you combine all that with the resources of Nexstar, you create a tremendous opportunity for success.”
Harris will report to Bradin Stewart, who is Nexstar’s senior vice president and regional general manager for Nexstar’s broadcasting division. Harris will also oversee WGN-TV’s digital platforms consisting of WGN+, WGNTV.COM, and its numerous social media accounts. He succeeds Paul Rennie, who retired last year.
“Nexstar is extremely fortunate to have someone with Ric’s talent and experience leading our Chicago media businesses“, said Stewart. “He is a strategic thinker and has been successful everywhere he’s worked by developing a deep connection with local viewers, advertising clients, and his staff. He’s the perfect choice to capitalize on WGN-TV’s strengths and I am looking forward to working with him as he takes on this new role.”
Harris arrives from the local station division of NBCUniversal, where he most recently served as president and general manager of WCAU-TV and Telemundo’s WWSI-TV for a decade, and spent two years before that Hartford’s WVIT, also an NBC-owned station. While at WCAU/WWSI, Harris also served as the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters chairman of television and the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists.
Harris becomes the fourth Black person to run a local Chicago television station in history, following Jonathan Rodgers, Lyle Banks, and Kevin Cross, who currently runs NBC-owned WMAQ-TV.
In other WGN-TV news, the station announced on Wednesday two new spinoffs from the station’s popular weekday morning news show. At 2 p.m. is What A Day with Marcus LeShock and Brhett Vickery which features the best moments of that day’s show, including behind-the-scenes content and conversations on numerous topics. At 3 p.m. is The Best Of WGN Morning News, featuring past moments from the show. The WGN+ app is available to download on most Smart TV app stores (including Samsung) and Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire devices.
I had seen on wgntv.com the interview Micah and Ray had with Ric Harris on one of the WGN newscasts. Mr. Harris seemed like an executive with a very good personality and the knowledge to helm WGN-TV. My only complaint was after Ray asked Mr. Harris a little bit about his family, and Micah cut off Mr. Harris because the segment was done. It just felt strange and awkward that she had done that, especially to the new boss. I am sure there had to be a producer whispering in Ray’s and Micah’s ears to wrap up the segment before Ray’s last question and Micah’s abruptness to end it.
Finally, I have to say that the new talk show on the WGN+ streaming app, WHAT A DAY! hosted by Marcus Leshock and Brhett Vickery, is pretty good. I have been able to see only a couple episodes, but I like it. I could see it being added to the afternoon line-up on Channel 9 if management wants to stop airing repeats of DR. PHIL or replace JUDY JUSTICE. (All local entertainment programming in daytime would make Channel 9 very unique.) In her relatively short time at WGN-TV, Brhett has proven to be able to hold her own with the veterans of the station. I would not be surprised if another Chicago TV station tries to steal her away eventually. That’s what seems to happen when Channel 9 gets someone new with talent. I vaguely remember years ago when Joan Esposito came to Chicago’s Very Own WGN-TV. She proved to be quite capable at reporting and doing some anchoring, and it seemed like in a matter of several months she moved on quickly to WLS-TV.