Ardyth Diercks, former WTVJ general manager has been appointed vice president and general manager for three stations recently acquired by Nexstar – WJKT-FOX in Jackson, TN and WPTY/WLMT in Memphis. Diercks was WTVJ’s GM for eight years until she left the station last year in January.
Nexstar Broadcasting Names Ardyth R. Diercks Vice President and General Manager of Memphis/Jackson, Tennessee Television Operations
– Accomplished Broadcast Industry Veteran to Lead WPTY-TV / WLMT-TV / WJKT-TV’s Television and Associated e-Media and Digital Operations –
MEMPHIS/JACKSON, Tennessee and IRVING, Texas (January 14, 2013) – Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST) announced today that Ardyth (“Ardy”) R. Diercks has been appointed Vice President and General Manager of WPTY-TV (ABC) and WLMT-TV (CW) serving the Memphis, TN DMA, and WJKT-TV (FOX) serving the Jackson, TN DMA, and its associated digital services. Ms. Diercks will have responsibility for the overall station and digital e-Media operations for WPTY, WLMT, and WJKT. Ms. Diercks’ appointment is effective immediately, and she will report to Timothy Busch, Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of Nexstar Broadcasting.
Ms. Diercks brings over 30 years of unparalleled broadcasting experience to her new role. Since 2003, Ms. Diercks served as President / General Manager of NBC Universal’s WTVJ-TV (NBC6) and Management Partner with duopoly station WSCV (Telemundo51) in Miami, FL, where she successfully launched a wide variety of unique local programming for the English and Spanish speaking viewing communities. During her tenure, WTVJ and WSCV were the first co-located English and Spanish local HD channels launched in the Miami market. In addition, she created new revenue streams including the launch of the first New Media Department in NBC’s station group and enhanced program offerings including the addition of local newscasts and programming such as Miami Nonstop, the market’s first local digital channel. Under her leadership, WTVJ increased market share, revenues and margins.
Prior to NBC Universal, Ms. Diercks spent 20 years at Gannett Company, Inc. where between 1992 and 2003 she served as the President and General Manager of KVUE-TV (ABC) (9/92-12/95), KSDK-TV (NBC) (1/96-3/98), and WUSA-TV (CBS) (8/01-7/03). From 1998 to 2003 she served as Senior Vice President with responsibility for the direct oversight of 11 of the 22 television stations owned by Gannett. During her tenure, she spearheaded new revenue development training programs, increased market share, grew operating margins, grew local and national revenue, elevated operational efficiencies and improved ratings at the stations she managed. She also represented Gannett on the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Board of Directors.
Commenting on Ms. Diercks’ appointment, Tim Busch said, “I am proud to have worked with Ardy while together at Gannett Broadcasting. I have witnessed her great passion, creativity and ability to build morale through collaborative and effective teams. These leadership attributes make her a tremendous addition to the Nexstar team and our Memphis and Jackson operations. Ardy is a leader with unquestionable integrity and a proven track record of administering successful procedures to enhance relationships and initiate unique programming concepts while advancing the effectiveness of station operations and leading teams to produce revenue generating results. As a proven industry executive, we are confident in her ability to provide results-oriented leadership in our Mid-South operations along with exceptional local community service that will deliver compelling marketing solutions for our local and national advertisers. With her long-standing multi-station management experience and impressive background of broadcasting achievements, Ardy brings a great deal of gravitas to her role in Memphis, Jackson and the Nexstar organization at-large.”
Commenting on her new position, Ms. Diercks said, “Nexstar’s long-term success reflects its core commitment to the local community, viewers and advertisers. My new role at WPTY, WLMT, and WJKT, will allow me to leverage the multi-station management experience and relationships built over my career. I look forward to bringing over 30 years of broadcast experience with me to work with the exceptional teams in Memphis/Jackson as we seek to deliver additional compelling local news and entertainment programming, expand our community connections and grow our marketing solutions across multiple platforms for our advertising partners. I am excited to join Nexstar Broadcasting and I look forward to immediately immersing myself into the Memphis/Jackson community and developing strong relationships with local businesses and community organizations.”
Ms. Diercks earned B.S. degree from The University of Dubuque, in Iowa and received recognition as an Alumni of Distinction. She has received the NATPE Silver Circle Award for Excellence and the Executive of the Year award from Make a Wish Foundation. She has served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), NBC Weather Plus, St. Louis United Way, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Urban League of Austin, Amigos for Kids, and Austin Crimestoppers. She is a former member of the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB), the Chamber of Commerce (Austin, TX), the St. Louis Regional Commerce and Growth Association and a former Trustee of the University of Dubuque. Ardy and her husband Al plan to immediately relocate to Memphis; they have two grown children.
About Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. Nexstar Broadcasting Group is a leading diversified media company that leverages localism to bring new services and value to consumers and advertisers through its traditional media, e-MEDIA, digital and mobile media platforms. Nexstar owns, operates, programs or provides sales and other services to 66 television stations and related digital multicast signals reaching 38 markets or approximately 11.1% of all U.S. television households.
Assuming completion of all announced transactions, Nexstar will own, operate, program or provide sales and other services to 71 television stations and related digital multicast signals reaching 41 markets or approximately 12.1% of all U.S. television households.
