Allan Pizzato, who was suddenly terminated in June as executive director of Alabama Public Television, is the new president and general manager of WYES-TV, the New Orleans station announced today.
Pizzato
Pizzato takes over in January 2013, succeeding Randall Feldman, who is retiring after 22 years.
Jonathan McCall, chair of the WYES Board of Trustees, said in a statement that Pizzato “possesses a great depth of experience in award-winning television production, development, financial management, engineering and technical infrastructure, education and outreach, as well as leading successful new building construction and campaigns.”
Pizzato served 12 years at Alabama Public Television prior to his dismissal, which came in the midst of a programming dispute with the state licensee’s governing body. He later sued the Alabama Educational Television Commission; that complaint is currently pending in the Alabama Supreme Court.
Prior to his time in Alabama, Pizzato spent 13 years as g.m. and director of WSRE-TV in Pensacola, Fla., and seven years as station manager at WSIU-TV in Carbondale, Ill.
Good for Allan, and good for the WYES board. This is going to be a great partnership.