THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 5, 1995 TAG: 9504050467
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY BONKO, TELEVISION WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Lyle Banks, the general manager of NBC affiliate WAVY for the past 4 1/2 years, took a giant step up the corporate ladder Tuesday when the network hired him to run the station it owns and operates in Chicago.
Banks, 39, will leave Channel 10 May 1 to become general manager of WMAQ in Chicago. He replaces Pat Wallace, who is moving to Philadelphia as general manager of WCAU, a station recently acquired by NBC.
The change will take Banks from the nation's 40th largest TV market to the third largest.
Before moving up to general manager at WAVY in 1990 from sales manager, Banks worked at NBC affiliates in Austin, Texas, and Dallas.
John Rohrbeck, who heads the division that includes the six stations nationwide that NBC owns outright, said from New York:
``Lyle has the skills and vision to continue the momentum at WMAQ that was started by Pat Wallace.
``Lyle is no stranger to NBC. He's been an active member of affiliate committees working closely with the network's management in a number of areas.
``We are fortunate to have him joining us in Chicago.''
Banks' appointment was announced by Rohrbeck and Robert Wright, who heads the network.
``Lyle has held various management positions at NBC affiliates for the last 12 years, so we already regard him as a member of the NBC family,'' Wright said. ``He has impressed us with his ability to set goals, his knowledge of broadcasting and his talent to motivate those around him.''
WAVY is owned by LIN Broadcasting, for whom Banks has worked the past 12 years. The company has not named his replacement.
While proud and happy to win the job in one of America's best and most competitive TV markets, Banks said there will be some sorrow in leaving WAVY, which he has shaped into a viewer-friendly station with a ``10 on Your Side'' theme and locally produced early-morning broadcasts.
In Banks' tenure, WAVY launched the Local Weather Station on cable and forged a working agreement with WVBT, Channel 43, in Virginia Beach.
``I'll be leaving behind the best group of people this station has ever assembled,'' Banks said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
The change will take Lyle Banks from the nation's 40th largest TV
market to the third largest.
by CNB