Indianapolis…Emmis Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: EMMS) today announced that Dan Halyburton, Senior Vice President/General Manager Group Operations for Susquehanna Radio Corp., has been hired as Senior Vice President/Market Manager of Emmis New York. Halyburton assumes his new position today, overseeing operations for Emmis’ three New York stations, WQHT-FM (Hot 97), WRKS-FM (Kiss FM) and WQCD-FM (CD101.9).
“This has been our most exhaustive search in my 25 years at Emmis, but it was worth it because we got the right person,” Emmis Radio President Rick Cummings said. “Dan brings a rich history of outstanding performance and great management to Emmis New York. I am thrilled to have him running one of our most important operations.”
Halyburton started his career as an on-air personality and production director in 1970 and worked his way up through station operations and management in markets from Miami to Minneapolis. He has the spent the last 25 years in Dallas/Fort Worth, the nation’s fifth-largest radio market, where he worked as Susquehanna’s Market Manager before becoming the company’s SVP/GM Group Operations in 1999.
A longtime leader in industry organizations and initiatives, Halyburton is a member of the board of the Associated Press Radio Broadcasters and serves on advisory boards for the radio programs at Texas Wesleyan University and the University of North Texas.
“This is the ultimate job—three great radio stations in the greatest city in the world,” Halyburton said. “I have always admired Emmis Communications, and I’m honored to follow Barry Mayo as market manager. These are great radio people who value their employees, their customers and the communities they serve. Most importantly I am excited to work along side the Emmis New York staff. They are the foundation of these great stations.”
Halyburton succeeds Barry Mayo, who announced early this year that he would not renew his contract beyond its Feb. 28, 2006, expiration date. Mayo, who assisted in the search for his replacement and has continued to lead Emmis’ New York operations in the interim, said he is stepping down to focus on other interests. He will now serve as a consultant for Emmis.
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Emmis Communications is an Indianapolis based diversified media firm with radio broadcasting, television broadcasting and magazine publishing operations. Emmis owns 22 FM and 2 AM domestic radio stations serving the nation’s largest markets of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago as well as Phoenix, St. Louis, Austin, Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Ind. In addition, Emmis owns a radio network, international radio interests, two television stations, award winning regional and specialty magazines, and ancillary businesses in broadcast sales and publishing. Earlier this month, the company announced that it had agreed to sell Phoenix radio station KKFR-FM, subject to FCC and other regulatory approvals. In May 2005, Emmis announced its intent to seek strategic alternatives for its 16 television stations, and the Company has sold or announced signed definitive agreements to sell 14 of them.