Sean Plater was appointed GM for WHUT-TV in Washington, D.C., a role he took on an interim basis after Jefferi K. Lee left last year.
Plater also retains his role as GM for WHUR-FM, a commercial radio station. Both stations are owned by Howard University. Plater will continue to report to Debbi Jarvis, the university’s SVP of corporate relations.
“We are looking forward to Sean Plater taking on a larger role and setting the course for WHUT-TV,” said Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick in a news release Thursday. “Plater is a home-grown talent, and he has been instrumental in shaping Howard’s vision for its broadcasting operations.”
After graduating from Howard University in 2007, Plater worked at WHUR as a broadcast program assistant until 2010. He’s also worked as an associate producer for Sirius XM and audio/visual operations coordinator for George Washington University. Plater rejoined WHUR in 2013 as deputy GM and has led the radio station since 2019.
In the news release, Howard University credited him with diversifying revenue streams, reducing expenses, increasing digital content and expanding sales. Plater said he plans to increase original content production and community engagement at WHUT while overseeing its partnership to launch local ATSC 3.0 signals.
“It’s an honor to serve Howard University in this capacity and to lead two iconic media brands, such as WHUR and WHUT,” Plater said. “I look forward to the synergy that exists between both brands in this evolving media landscape.”