Television veteran Peter Liguori was elected chief executive of
the Tribune Co. during the media company's first board meeting
since emerging from bankruptcy, the company announced Thursday.
Bruce Karsh, the president of major shareholder Oaktree Capital
Management, was named chairman of the board. Eddy Hartenstein,
Tribune's former CEO, will remain on the board and continue to
serve as publisher of the Los Angeles Times and CEO of Los Angeles
Times Media Group.
The long-expected selection of Mr. Liguori, a former
TV-programming executive at News Corp. (NWS, NWSA) and Discovery
Communications Inc. (DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), signals how important
television will be for the future of Tribune Company. It owns 23
television stations and eight daily newspapers, including the Los
Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, but is expected to try and sell
the newspapers. News Corp. owns the Wall Street Journal and this
newswire.
"Collectively, the company's digital operations, broadcast
outlets and newspapers are some of the best in the country," Mr.
Liguori said in a statement. "In many ways, Tribune is like a
165-year old start-up--there is a lot to build upon."
Write to Keach Hagey at keach.hagey@wsj.com
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