Indianapolis – EMMIS Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: EMMS) today announced the appointment of Randall Bongarten as President of EMMIS Television.
“Randy’s 27 years of radio experience serves as an excellent base to lead EMMIS Television,” EMMIS Chairman and CEO Jeff Smulyan noted. “Not only does Randy know the EMMIS approach and culture, but he understands that in order for television to be successful in the future, it will need to embrace and adopt many of radio’s traits.”
Bongarten has served as head of EMMIS International, overseeing EMMIS radio properties in Hungary and Argentina, since June of 1998. He will continue to serve in that capacity.
Bongarten replaces Greg Nathanson, who has led EMMIS Television since July of 1998. Nathanson had pledged to ‘slow down’ when the Chicago White Sox had the best record in the American League – which, Nathanson noted, took them 41 years to do. He will continue to advise the company and serve on the EMMIS Board of Directors.
Among his professional experiences, Bongarten was President of NBC Radio, Executive Vice President of EMMIS Communications, and Chairman of EMMIS Argentina. He has served on the National Association of Broadcasting Board of Directors and the board of the Radio Advertising Bureau. Bongarten holds Masters Degrees in both business and journalism from Columbia University in New York.