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WTSP Names New General Manager

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By WALT BELCHER

wbelcher@tampatrib.com

Published: November 21, 2008

TAMPA - Gannett Broadcasting today announced that Ken Tonning will become president and general manager of Gannett's CBS affiliate WTSP, Channel 10, in Tampa-St. Petersburg.

Tonning currently is president and general manager of WTLV-TV and WJXX-TV, Gannett's NBC and ABC stations in Jacksonville.

He replaces Sam Rosenwasser, who has announced his retirement effective the end of this year.
Rosenwasser, 56, is taking an early retirement. He has worked for 36 years in television in markets such as Dallas, Austin, Texas, and Sacramento, Calif. He came to WTSP in August 2001.

"I'm very proud of what we've accomplished," he told the Tribune. "This is a good group of people who do very good work."

Tonning was named general manager of WTLV in Jacksonville in 1989 and oversaw the acquisition of WJXX in 2000 as one of the nation's first duopolies.

He began his broadcast career in 1966 at ABC's Network News administration in New York. In 1974, Tonning became an account executive for WXIA-TV in Atlanta, holding a number of sales jobs there until he was named general sales manager of KUSA-TV in Denver in 1985.

He was named vice president/station manager of KUSA, then vice president/general manager. He became president and general manager in 1987.

"Gannett is fortunate to have the depth of talent that allows a transition like this to occur so smoothly," said Dave Lougee, president of Gannett Broadcasting. "Ken's experience running our Denver station, then managing our duopoly in Jacksonville, makes him an ideal choice to replace Sam in Tampa."

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654.

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