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Sean Compton reunites with Randy Michaels, joins WGN TV


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Posted by Hire Who U Know on April 02, 2008 at 17:25:24:

Tribune Taps Compton For TV Programming Post

Originally Posted On Apr 2, 2008 12:16 PM ET

By Paul Heine

Sixteen-year Clear Channel veteran Sean Compton has become the latest radio executive to join the Tribune Co. The broadcast and newspaper company named Compton senior VP of programming and entertainment for its 23-station TV division, replacing senior VP of programming and development Marc Schacher, who is leaving after 29 years with the company. Compton, who resigned Tuesday (April 1) as VP of programming at Clear Channel Radio and its Premiere Radio Networks unit, reports to Tribune Broadcasting president Ed Wilson.

Compton's arrival follows the March 11 appointment of Lee Abrams to the newly created position of chief innovation officer and the Dec. 21 hiring of Randy Michaels as CEO of broadcasting and interactive at Tribune, which completed a tumultuous privatization in December orchestrated by former radio exec and Michaels crony Sam Zell. Abrams was most recently senior VP and chief creative officer at XM Satellite Radio. Michaels first worked with Zell at Jacor Communications where Michaels served as president and CEO. In 1999, Jacor was purchased by Clear Channel where Michaels was CEO until 2002.

It was Michaels who gave Compton his first radio break in 1992, as his assistant in Jacor's programming department and as a board operator/producer at talk WLW/Cincinnati. In '95, Compton began a fruitful programming partnership with Jacor VP of programming Tom Owens as the company embarked on an unprecedented station buying binge. Compton advanced to Jacor VP of programming in '98, carried the title over to Clear Channel and added similar oversight for Premiere in 2002.

At Premiere Compton brokered the signings of Donald Trump and Bob Costas for the net's "Trumped" and "Costas on the Radio" shows and was involved in the deal to tap Ryan Seacrest to replace Casey Kasem as host of "American Top 40." He also played a role in Premiere’s partnership with Fox News. Compton said he was "sad to leave radio" but called the opportunity to join Tribune one "you don't say no to," adding that he intends to help make it "more of an entertainment company."


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