The Midland-Odessa, Tex., DMA is in the heart of what is called the Permian Basin, a major petroleum source for oil companies.
It is here that Nexstar Media Group is welcoming a new VP/GM for its broadcast and digital operations.
The job in DMA No. 145 goes to Mark Garcia, who will now oversee KMID-2, the market’s ABC affiliate.
He reports to Julie Pruett, SVP and Regional Manager for Nexstar Broadcasting.
Garcia joins Nexstar after previously serving as SVP/GM for Entravision Communications’ Rio Grande Valley operation, comprised of the FOX, Univision, UniMás and The CW Network affiliates serving McAllen-Brownsville-Harlingen and Matamoros, Mexico.
He also played a significant role in a “major rebranding” of Entravision’s radio stations in the Rio Grande Valley, with KNVO-FM 101.1 airing the company’s regional Mexican Classic Hits “La Suavecita” format; KKPS-FM 99.5 the home of Entravision’s “Fuego” Latin Top 40 brand; KFRQ-FM 94.5 “The Rock” airing Classic Rock; and KVLY-FM 107.9 in April 2020 reverting from CHR/Pop to AC under the branding “107-9 RGV.”
Garcia had been at Entravision/Rio Grande Valley since October 2018.
It’s a return to Nexstar for Garcia — who worked at Entravision prior to a three-year stint as Director of Sales for KTSM-9 in El Paso, a dual NBC/Estrella TV affiliate owned by Nexstar.
From November 2007-October 2015, Garcia was in Integrated Marketing at Entravision.
Garcia began his sales career at Southwest Golf, in El Paso, where he oversaw all aspects of sales, inventory, and personnel.
“Mark’s successes as a General Manager of multiple media properties, sales expertise and ability to build strong relationships with viewers, advertisers, and the communities in which he has worked, along with his deep connection to Texas makes him an excellent choice to lead our broadcast and digital operations in the Midland/Odessa market,” said Pruett. “His leadership has produced outstanding results at the media properties he has overseen, and he has grown ratings and revenue successfully throughout his career by expanding local content and developing unparalleled solutions for his advertising and marketing clients. I am greatly looking forward to working with Mark in his new role within Nexstar.”
Garcia added, “I am grateful to Nexstar for giving me this opportunity and happy to be returning to the company to work with the talented and experienced broadcast and digital professionals at KMID-TV and yourbasin.com. Texas is home for me, and Nexstar’s commitment to serving its viewers with exceptional local content on-air and online coupled with the unique advertising and marketing opportunities we offer gives us a significant advantage in the market. I am excited to get started in my new role.”
