TEGNA Taps Veteran Television Producer Maureen FitzPatrick to Lead “Daily Blast LIVE” Ahead of Fall 2017 Launch

“Daily Blast LIVE” to be produced from KUSA in Denver

Maureen FitzPatrick named executive producer of Daily Blast LIVE. (Photo: Business Wire)

MCLEAN, Va.--()--TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today named veteran executive Maureen FitzPatrick senior executive producer of “Daily Blast LIVE” (DBL), a new daytime syndicated show that will air LIVE in every TEGNA market this fall. DBL is a LIVE, 30-minute multi-platform news and entertainment show designed to complement people’s busy lifestyles with unpredictable, entertaining and trending news. The show will be produced out of KUSA in Denver and air on 36 TEGNA stations across the country.

FitzPatrick brings nearly 25 years of television production experience to DBL. Before joining TEGNA, Maureen worked at CBS Television Distribution (CTD) as a senior vice president and then executive vice president in charge of developing and launching new series for syndication and network sales, as well as guiding the re-tooling of several existing CTD brands. While in that role, Maureen was tapped by Judge Judy Sheindlin to launch her new series, “Hot Bench,” as executive producer. The show became the number one new strip in syndication in the last 10 years, doubling its ratings in the first two seasons. Now in its third season, “Hot Bench” has consistently scored as the third highest-rated show in daytime.

Prior to her role at CBS, Maureen was both senior vice president of comedy development and senior vice president of digital content and development for FremantleMedia, where she developed a number of scripted live-action and animated half-hour comedies for USA Network, TV Land, Cartoon Network and the Hub, and where she created and launched the company’s first digital channel. She also sold and produced the first scripted series that went from digital to broadcast, “Secret Girlfriend”, on Comedy Central.

Before Fremantle, Maureen worked as an executive producer, programming consultant and producer for over 15 years, with overall deals at multiple studios, including Sony, Buena Vista, and Fox. Among her many program credits are “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, “Donny & Marie”, “Jenny Jones Show”, “The Pyramid”, “The Dating Game”, and “The Newlywed Game.”

DBL will bring the latest trending stories to viewers 24/7 with broadcast and digital teams delivering a fun, entertaining and exciting half hour to the viewers. The show will run LIVE in every market and time zone that it airs, providing audiences across the country with the unique opportunity to participate LIVE with the show and its hosts at every moment. Viewers can become a part of the show’s conversation by sharing their reactions and opinions on stories, voting on content and submitting videos and other content that may appear on the show.

“We’re fortunate to have Maureen FitzPatrick at the helm of DBL. Maureen’s leadership and expertise will be incredibly valuable as we launch a show focused on what people are talking about, what they’re sharing and what’s going viral,” said Bob Sullivan, senior vice president, programming, TEGNA Media. “In Maureen’s very capable hands, DBL will provide audiences, most of who are multi-tasking today like never before, with 30 minutes of informative content across all platforms and invite them to participate at every moment.”

“Throughout my career, I’ve been privileged to produce shows that are progressive, unexpected, and most important, entertaining and informative to viewers, and I’m thrilled to embrace DBL as my next exciting challenge,” said Maureen FitzPatrick. “DBL will push the boundaries of traditional formats and resonate with audiences by allowing them to engage with our content on nearly every platform – a must for any successful show today. What’s unique about this show is that it’s always on, with both broadcast and digital teams dedicated to delivering a fun, entertaining and exciting half hour to the viewers.”

“We are incredibly excited to host this new and exciting program in our Denver studio,” said Steve Carter, president and general manager, KUSA. “There’s nothing else like it on television. The ability for the audience to interact with the show in real-time, all over the country, is both innovative and empowering.”

About TEGNA

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is comprised of a dynamic portfolio of media and digital businesses that provide content that matters and brands that deliver. TEGNA offers highly relevant, useful and smart content, when and how people need it, to make the best decisions possible. TEGNA Media includes 46 television stations and is the largest independent station group of major network affiliates in the top 25 markets, reaching approximately one-third of all television households nationwide. TEGNA Digital is comprised of Cars.com, the leading online destination for automotive consumers, CareerBuilder, a global leader in human capital solutions, and G/O Digital, a customized local digital marketing company. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com.

Contacts

TEGNA Inc.
For media inquiries, contact:
Steve Kidera
Manager, Corporate Communications
703-873-6434
skidera@TEGNA.com
or
For investor inquiries, contact:
Jeffrey Heinz
Vice President, Investor Relations
703-873-6917
jheinz@TEGNA.com

Release Summary

TEGNA Inc. today named veteran executive Maureen FitzPatrick senior executive producer of “Daily Blast LIVE” (DBL), a new daytime syndicated show that will air LIVE in every TEGNA market this fall.

Contacts

TEGNA Inc.
For media inquiries, contact:
Steve Kidera
Manager, Corporate Communications
703-873-6434
skidera@TEGNA.com
or
For investor inquiries, contact:
Jeffrey Heinz
Vice President, Investor Relations
703-873-6917
jheinz@TEGNA.com