MIAMI BEACH — For generations of Philadelphians and for many longtime television industry veterans, the name Lew Klein is one of high reverence. It is because of Klein that American Bandstand is permanently etched into the fabric of U.S. culture. It is also because of Klein, who pioneered the Action News format at WPVI-6 in Philadelphia, that the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) even exists.
Klein in 1963 founded NATPE. Now, a leadership award has been established in memory of the TV industry legend, who passed away on June 12, 2019 at the age of 91. The first recipient is a TV industry figure who entered station ownership in the early 1990s with the acquisition of a Scranton-Wilkes Barre property: Perry Sook.
The founder, chairman and President/CEO of Nexstar Media Group is the inaugural recipient of the Lew Klein Leadership Award, and Klein’s widow was on hand to personally present the honor to Sook at the reborn Iris Awards, brought back following Klein’s passing.
This followed the presentation of an Iris Award of Excellence to “Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien” — the weekly syndicated political talk show produced by Hearst Television at WESH-2 in Orlando.
Prior to O’Brien taking the podium, political commentator Ana Navarro — who hosted the awards ceremony for 200 invited guests — shifted into a comedienne’s role, cracking jokes about Miami’s unusually brisk weather while avoiding the testy topic of the Senate impeachment hearings of President Trump.
Navarro yielded to Tamron Hall, the former NBC News journalist who today hosts a talk show from ABC-Disney Domestic Television. She took note of the resurgence in syndicated daytime TV, fueled not only by her but also actress Drew Barrymore and KPWR-FM “Power 106” morning host Nick Cannon, who are each generating buzz across NATPE for their daytime talk programs. “Four people turned into one Oprah!” Hall joked.
NATPE’s Iris Awards were created to recognize best-in-class executives, program producers, creators, talent and importantly content that makes a significant impact on the industry and our culture.
As Sook accepted the award, he thanked Mrs. Klein and NATPE for the “very special honor,” sharing that Lew Klein was his first boss. Klein owned Gateway Communications, owner of the station Sook began his career at — in sales.
Sook added that award was “so appropriate” as Lew Klein had all of the qualities one would inspire to have as a leader.
Later on Wednesday, Bungalo President Deborah Bradley conducted a one-on-one interview with Sook in a session that saw none other than Entertainment Studios head Byron Allen — a prolific buyer of TV stations in recent months — front and center, seated in the front row.
Bradley asked Sook some icebreaker questions, and noted how WKRP in Cincinnati was one of his favorite shows growing up, and how Roberto Clemente was his idol.
He also believes “tenacious” is the word that he believes describes him best.
Sook was then asked about the new 8pm-11pm News Nation offering taking a big chunk of WGN America‘s prime-time lineup. “There’s no one doing three hours of non-stop news in prime-time and it started out of the idea of counterprogramming,” he says. “We have more journalists with feet on the ground than any other news organization. This newscast will be about people, by people.”
Sook adds that he is very serious about the Chicago-based newscast.
An 18-member Washington, D.C. news bureau is one example of how serious Nexstar is in taking on the political talk that dominates FOX News Channel, MSNBC and CNN.
Sook later spoke of America’s “Goldilocks” economy and that we are “guaranteed” to not have a recession in an election year. Then, there is a U.S.-China trade deal, which will have a much greater impact on Main Street than perhaps Wall Street recognizes, Sook says.
But, will advertisers express skittishness toward Nexstar’s TV stations? No, he told Bradley.
Her last question: What will Sook have accomplished in the last year? A better-than-expected launch of News Nation.
“And a $200 stock price wouldn’t hurt, either,” he concluded.
Sook’s Q&A preceded a session on how Nielsen‘s cross-platform measurement “fuels impressions-based selling,” followed by a 4:30pm Eastern session on “how TV stations and syndicators are building digital content brands.”
On both panels: Sinclair Broadcast Group VP of Emerging Platform Content Scott Ehrlich.
