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KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Meredith Local Media Group announced today that Mike Cukyne has been named Vice President and General Manager of its KCTV/KSMO Kansas City market duopoly.
Cukyne has more than 20 years of broadcasting experience. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of Digital Media for Meredith's Local Media Group. He will keep those responsibilities in addition to running the Kansas City stations.
Cukyne is familiar with the Kansas City market, having previously led digital sales at KCTV/KSMO. Prior to that, Cukyne spent 15 years at KMOV in St. Louis, working in progressively senior sales positions including Regional Sales Manager, Local Sales Manager and Digital Sales Manager. Meredith purchased KMOV in February 2014.
"Mike has shown great leadership with a successful track record of driving revenues and motivating those who work with him," said Paul Karpowicz, Meredith Local Media Group President. "We look forward to using his skills and expertise to enhance our powerful duopoly in the Kansas City market."
Cukyne is a 1995 graduate of University of Missouri-St. Louis with a B.A. in Business Administration, Marketing and Marketing Management.
"KCTV and KSMO have immense potential to grow our already strong presence here in Kansas City," Cukyne said. "I'm excited about the opportunity to build on what we've established."
About Meredith Corporation
Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; www.meredith.com) has been committed to service journalism for more than 110 years. Today, Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms – including broadcast television, print, digital, mobile, tablets and video – to provide consumers with content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners.
Meredith's Local Media Group includes 17 owned or operated television stations reaching more than 10 percent of U.S. households. Meredith's portfolio is concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation's Top 25 – including Atlanta, Phoenix and Portland – and 13 in Top 50 markets. Meredith's stations produce approximately 650 hours of local news and entertainment content each week, and operate leading local digital destinations. Additionally, Meredith Video Studios produces the Daytime Emmy Award-nominated The Better Show, a syndicated daily lifestyle television program reaching 80 percent of U.S. TV households.
Meredith's balanced portfolio consistently generates substantial free cash flow, and Meredith is committed to growing Total Shareholder Return through dividend payments, share repurchases and strategic business investments. Meredith's current annualized dividend of $1.73 per share yields approximately 4 percent. Meredith has paid a dividend for 67 straight years and increased it for 21 consecutive years.