July 10, 2004
Wise hiredto run COBIlocal stations
California-Oregon Broadcasting Inc. has hired Bob Wise, vice president and general manager of three Northern California television stations for nine years, to run its stations in Medford and Klamath
Falls.
Wise has concurrently overseen operation of broadcast stations KRCR-TV in Redding and KAEF-TV in Eureka, as well KIWB-TV, a Warner Brothers Network cable affiliate in the Chico-Redding markets. Wise
assumes his new role Aug. 2, succeeding John Larkin, who retired in May.
"His experience in those markets makes him understand what it’s like here," says COBI President Patsy Smullin. "We’re dealing with two TV stations broadcasting into 12
counties. It’s like running several TV stations.
"When the primary purpose of TV is localism, you have to establish roots in all of those communities so that the people in Grants Pass think that’s their station and the people in Coos Bay think
that’s their TV station."
Wise, a 44-year-old Texas native, graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock then worked at Texas stations in Abilene, San Antonio and a station in New Bern, N.C., before moving to Redding in June
1995 after Williamsport, Pa.-based Lamco Communications bought KRCR and KAEF from COBI. KRCR was recently purchased by Wichita, Kan.-based BlueStone Television.
He was named Businessman of the Year by the Redding Chamber of Commerce in 2000. He served on the boards of Shasta Community Health Center, United Way of Shasta County, the Redding Chamber of Commerce
and Shasta County YMCA.
