Tribune Taps Compton

Sean Compton replaces Marc Schacher, senior vp of programming and development, who is exiting this week after 29 years with Tribune.

By Paul Heine, Media Week, Radio and Records

Tribune turned to another radio exec to staff its TV management ranks. Sean Compton, a 16-year radio programmer from Clear Channel was named senior vp of programming and entertainment for the 23-station TV group. He replaces Marc Schacher, senior vp of programming and development, who is exiting this week after 29 years with Tribune.

Compton resigned Tuesday from his position as vp of programming for Clear Channel. He reports to Tribune Broadcasting president Ed Wilson.

Compton’s arrival at Tribune follows the March 11 appointment of two other well-known radio names, Lee Abrams, in the newly created position of chief innovation officer and Randy Michaels, hired in December as CEO of broadcasting and interactive.

In his new position, Compton will be responsible for developing programming across the group and negotiating with syndicators and programming distributors.

At Premiere, Compton brokered the signing of Donald Trump and Bob Costas for radio 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.

"I'm sad to leave radio, but the opportunity to join Tribune is one you don't say no to," Compton said. "I intend to help make Tribune more of an entertainment company," he added.

Tribune recently went private in December in a move orchestrated by Michaels crony Sam Zell. 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-AM in Cincinnati.
Compton advanced to vp of programming in 1998, carried the title over to Clear Channel and to Premiere in 2002.

--additional reporting by Katy Bachman