Hearst-Argyle Taps CNET Vet To Head Digital Media Sales

In an effort to boost its Web properties, Hearst-Argyle has hired CNET veteran Eric Koepele to serve as a new director of digital media sales. Koepele, former vice president of ad sales at CNET, will oversee sales at some 30 local station Web sites, as well as the Weather Plus digital television channels operated in partnership with NBC.

"I'm looking forward to building out multi-platform media-distribution strategies that deliver better access and convenience for Hearst-Argyle's audience," says Koepele, "while creating engaging and effective marketing platforms for the company's clients." He cites the strength of Hearst-Argyle's local content and community relationships, and says that digital distribution "of that great content will allow us to further strengthen the company's relationship with its audience and clients."

In the first quarter of this year, Hearst-Argyle reported a $3.2 million increase in revenue from digital media. In the second quarter, the company says Web sites affiliated with its local stations--which are part of the Internet Broadcasting network--generated over 330 million page views.

As growth in the ad market for local stations has slowed, station groups are increasingly looking to develop their Web and other digital businesses as alternate revenue streams. Hearst-Argyle stations, for example, are experimenting with providing content for mobile phones, a potential arena to develop an ad market.

At CNET, Koepele led the sales team for CNET.com, Download.com, and News.com. Hearst-Argyle says he was successful at attracting advertisers outside the technology category, such as automotive and telecommunications marketers. He joined CNET in 1999. "Eric's experience and success in developing advertising revenues for well-branded news-oriented Web sites at CNET makes him an ideal executive to direct our digital sales efforts," says Terry Mackin, Hearst-Argyle's executive vice president.

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