WKRN brings back one of its own as news director

Could split time with another Young Broadcasting station in Virginia

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

For old news hounds in Nashville, it looks like it's time to welcome back an old name. NashvillePost.com has learned that Matthew Zelkind has been named news director of WKRN News 2 today, replacing Steve Sabato, who left the station last week. Zelkind previously served as WKRN's news director from 1995 to 2004.

Zelkind currently serves as news director and station manager at WRIC Richmond, an ABC affiliate also owned by WKRN's parent company, Young Broadcasting.

What is interesting, and could largely be seen as a cost-cutting move, is the possibility that Zelkind will be news director of both Young's Nashville and Richmond stations. Earlier this month, the company named Gwen Kinsey as WKRN's new general manager in addition to be general manager at a Young owned station in Knoxville.

By making both hires from within the Young corporate family, the company should see some financial savings.

In 1999, Young Broadcasting purchased KRON San Francisco for a record $823 million, the most ever paid for a single station, and it has faced signifcant debt issues ever since.