Next Gen TV Champion To Retire From WRAL, WRAZ

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Capitol Broadcasting Co. and its NBC affiliate in Raleigh-Durham, WRAL-5, have been at the forefront of the roll-out of the next generation broadcast TV standard — ATSC 3.0.


Much of these efforts can be tied to Steve Hammel, VP/GM of WRAL and FOX affiliated sibling WRAZ-50 in North Carolina’s Triangle region.

Hammel will now have more time to enjoy watching ATSC 3.0 broadcasts come Q4 2018, as he told staff on Wednesday (3/7) that he will retire at the end of the year. An exact date is tied to the search and naming of his successor.

“It has been a terrific honor to work with the team at WRAL and FOX 50,” said Hammel, “and I feel so very grateful to be part of what the Goodmon family has created in Capitol Broadcasting. It’s a special place full of incredibly passionate and dedicated people. After almost 10 years here and more than 40 years in broadcasting, which includes the love of deadlines and various pressures, I look forward to enjoying other aspects of life. Until the day I leave, it will continue to be a privilege serving our community and our viewers. After that, I will proudly take the role of being their number one viewer.”

Hammel is also one of six executives serving a two-year term on the NAB Television Board. The term ends in June 2018.

In his time at WRAL and WRAZ, he led the stations to numerous awards, including the NAB Service to Community Award.

Commenting on Hammel’s retirement announcement, Capitol Broadcasting President/COO Jimmy Goodmon Jr. said, “Steve has done an outstanding job in carrying the torch for WRAL-TV and FOX 50 and remaining true to the ongoing legacy of our company, mainly an unwavering commitment to people and community. His calm, steady leadership and people-centered approach made him one of the most beloved GMs in this station’s history. Steve will always be a part of the family.”

Hammel joined Capitol in November 2008 as VP/GM of WRAL after serving in a similar role at Meredith Corp.‘s CBS affiliated KPHO-5 in Phoenix. While at KPHO, Steve initiated and developed the Meredith-ASU Cronkite Journalism Minority Fellowship Program. He also started the first ever in Phoenix Hispanic Advisory Board.

Prior to Phoenix, Hammel served as VP/News for ABC affiliate WJLA-7 in Washington, D.C., from 2000-2002; and as Executive News Director of KMOV-4 in St. Louis from 1993-2000. From 1986-1993, he was News Director of WHEC-10 in Rochester, N.Y.

Hammel began his career in 1979 as News Director of WHTM-27 in Harrisburg, Pa.

 

WRAL is one of the first stations to broadcast in ATSC 3.0, launching an experimental station in June 2016.


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