More Proof that the GM Role is a Part Time Job

In another example of why the GM job at a TV station, is really just a part time job. Cox Media Group has decided that Kevin Hayes, the current VP and General Manager of WPXI in Pittsburgh, has way too much free time on his hands. Instead of letting him focus on the Steel City, CMG is tagging him to also oversee WHIO in Dayton, Ohio.

Effective immediately, Hayes takes on the title of Regional Vice President and General Manager for both markets. While the corporate suits at CMG are framing this as a reward for his "strong performance" in Pittsburgh, it’s really just the latest move in the industry-wide trend of consolidation. We have seen this play out at other station groups across the country, where companies decide they can save a buck by splitting one General Manager between two or even three different stations in different cities. Apparently, the days of a GM being a fixture in their local community five days a week are fading fast.

Hayes is expected to split his time between Pittsburgh and Dayton, which means he’ll be spending plenty of time on the Pennsylvania and Ohio Turnpikes. He steps into the Dayton role to replace Darren Moore, who recently moved up the corporate ladder to become CMG’s chief sales officer and GM in Orlando. CMG CEO Dan York says Hayes is the right choice to keep the momentum going at WHIO, which is known for being a dominant CBS affiliate. But you have to wonder how "local" a station feels when the boss is a couple of hundred miles away for half the week. Hayes says he is honored and excited to work with both teams, but for the staff in Dayton and Pittsburgh, it just means they’ll be seeing half as much of their leader while the bean counters celebrate the efficiency.