• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, December 2, 2009

As the Television Bureau of Advertising readies for a new president, the trade group has named a new vice chairman of its board. Dave Lougee, who heads Gannett's broadcast operations, takes the post.

Steve Lanzano, formerly of agency MPG, is set to take the presidency in January at a time when the TVB has much on the line. The big issue: whether Nielsen will cave to advertiser demands and restore a "live" only ratings stream for local stations.

Nielsen has dropped "live" only effectively in favor of a "live plus same day" stream, which could benefit station groups like Lougee's, since it will give them higher ratings. But at a time when the local station business is struggling, frustrated advertisers might be prompted to shift elsewhere, which could have an adverse economic impact.

Dave Lougee, currently president of Gannett's broadcast division, will serve under TVB board chairman Frank Comerford of NBC Universal. TVB also said Peter Dunn, president of CBS Television Stations, and Jane Williams, vice president of sales, at Cox Media Group, have joined the board.

Lougee, who had been with Belo, replaced industry luminary Roger Ogden at Gannett in 2007. He oversees 23 stations with the company.

TVB is the trade group for local TV broadcasters.