Post by bob q on Jan 14, 2012 13:10:35 GMT -5
WILKES-BARRE – After five years as general manager of local television stations WBRE and WYOU, Lou Abitabilo retired Friday. Nexstar Broadcasting Group, which owns WBRE, announced Robert G. Bee, an industry veteran with more than three decades worth of experience, will succeed him next Friday.
Abitabilo, 61, who joined WBRE and WYOU in January 2007, previously worked for five and a half years at WNEP, where he rose to the position of executive vice president and station manager. He and his wife, Jane, live in Scranton.
He said he will spend some time in Florida before deciding what the next phase of his life will be. He said he enjoyed his time in the business and believes WBRE is in a stronger position today than it was when he got there.
Tim Busch, executive vice president and co-chief operating officer of Texas-based Nexstar Broadcasting, said Abitabilo’s accomplishments included the successful launch of a community portal strategy and Pahomepage.com.
During Abitabilo’s tenure, the stations revamped their news programming, eliminating local news from WYOU while adding more news shows to WBRE, which also wrested production of a 10 p.m. newscast on the local Fox affiliate from WNEP.
Busch said Bee has spent the last 18 years working in Pennsylvania broadcasting, most recently as director of sales for WTAE, Pittsburgh’s ABC affiliate. He held that position since 2003.