NECN Founder and President Philip Balboni to Step Down; Station Manager Charles Kravetz Named Successor

NEWTON, MA – FEB. 14, 2008 – New England Cable News Founder and President Philip S. Balboni, who has led NECN to become the nation’s first, largest, and most honored regional news network, announced yesterday he will resign in March to launch the first US-based website devoted exclusively to international news.

Charles J. Kravetz, NECN’s Vice President of News and Station Manager, who has directed the station’s news coverage since its inception, will succeed Balboni and has been named President and General Manager of NECN by Comcast and the Hearst Corporation, the joint owners of NECN.

Balboni, of Cambridge, has been recognized throughout the industry for NECN’s significant journalistic and financial success. He and Kravetz, of Wellesley, have overseen the growth of the network into one of the most distinguished and honored regional news organizations in the United States.

. NECN is the only regional cable news channel ever to win a George Foster Peabody Award and an Alfred I. duPont - Columbia University Broadcast Journalism Award. These Awards are widely regarded as the highest honors in the television news industry. NECN is also the recipient of hundreds of other awards for journalistic excellence, including the Scripps Howard Award, three National Edward R. Murrow Awards, and several Iris and Emmy Awards.

“I will always have a great love for NECN, for our magnificent staff and the unique environment we've created here that allows journalists, whether young or old, to do their very best work. My pride in what we've built will stay with me forever,’’ said Balboni, who will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer at his international news website, Global News Enterprises. The site is expected to be operational in early 2009 with correspondents in nearly 70 countries in every region of the world.

“But after 16 years at the helm, it is time for me to take on a new challenge and to create one more high quality news organization -- this time on the web and on a global scale,’’ he said. “It's a daunting task but I am ready and I leave with great confidence that NECN is in the very best hands with Charlie Kravetz as my successor.‘’

Said Kravetz: “I am honored to accept the position of President of NECN and I am grateful to both Hearst and Comcast for their faith in me.

“I am also grateful to my friend and colleague Phil Balboni with whom I have worked on and off for more than two decades,’’ said Kravetz. “Together we have created a journalistic organization of which we are both extremely proud. I know we will stay close and I wish Phil great success in his new venture. Most importantly, I am excited about working in a new capacity with the extraordinary staff of NECN, who continues to adhere to the highest standards of journalism. The people of NECN are its strength and greatest asset. I believe that our best years are ahead of us and I look forward to facing the challenges to come with the finest group of television professionals in the business.’’�

As NECN’s founder, Balboni conceptualized the network, developed its business plan, and negotiated the joint venture between owners The Hearst Corporation and Continental Cablevision, now Comcast. It went on the air in March of 1992.

Previously, Balboni served as Special Assistant for New Projects to the Chief Executive Officer of The Hearst Corporation.

� ��� ��� A longtime leader in local television news, Balboni held several key management positions at WCVB-TV in Boston, including eight years as Vice President and News Director. He conceived and launched the nightly newsmagazine “Chronicle” in 1982 which has gone on to become the most successful local television program ever.

As Vice President of News and Station Manager, Kravetz was responsible for all programming including news, sports, weather, and other targeted and long form programs.

Before launching NECN, Kravetz spent 12 years at WCVB-TV. While there, he held several positions including Assistant News Director; Senior Executive Producer of News Programming; original Producer and later Executive Producer of Chronicle, WCVB-TV's award-winning nightly magazine program; and Associate Producer, and later Producer of Calendar, an Emmy-winning monthly newsmagazine.

In 1984, when Metromedia owned WCVB, Kravetz created Metromedia Playhouse to produce quality original screenplays. He served as Executive Producer for two Metromedia Playhouse productions: Growing Pains in 1984 and Blind Alleys in 1985.

In a joint statement issued by David Barrett, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hearst-Argyle Television, and Kevin Casey, President of the North Central Division of Comcast Cable, the men praised Balboni and Kravetz:

“We are extraordinarily grateful to Phil for his visionary leadership over the years, and we wish him success and happiness in the next chapter of his life,’’ the statement reads in part. “Now it will be Charlie’s opportunity to lead NECN forward, as President, to achieve the next level of success, both as a news organization and as a business enterprise.’’ (The statement appears in its entirety below)

NECN is the largest 24-hour regional news network in the country, with 3.7 million subscribers in more than 1,050 cities and towns in all six New England states. It is a partnership of Comcast and the Hearst Corporation. The station specializes in long-form journalism, producing documentaries and extensive local and national political coverage. For more information on NECN, go to www.necn.com.

Comments

Add Comment