ABC executive returns to alma mater, BU, to discuss TV’s future
BLOOMSBURG — A Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania alumna, now president of the ABC-Owned Television Group, will share her observations on “The Future of TV,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, in BU’s Carver Hall, Kenneth S. Gross Auditorium. The lecture by Rebecca Funk Campbell ’83 is open to the public free of charge.
“For decades, television could be watched only one way — through the television set — and audiences had a choice of three channels,” Campbell said. “Today, consumers have as many as 17 media platforms from which to choose, from video game consoles and MP3 players to smart phones and tablets. We will look at how networks are adapting to this fragmented and rapidly changing market.”
Campbell, appointed president of the ABC-Owned Television Stations Group in May 2010, is responsible for the company’s local TV stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham and Fresno. Based in Burbank, Calif., she also oversees other businesses within the group, including ABC National Television Sales, The Live Well Network and the syndicated series, “Live with Kelly and Michael.”
Campbell previously served as president and general manager of WABC-TV, New York, and president and general manager of WPVI-TV, Philadelphia. She joined WPVI-TV as program director and also held programming and production positions at WFMZ-TV, Allentown, and WGAL-TV, Lancaster. A 1983 BU graduate with a dual major in journalism and political science, Campbell began her broadcasting career as a college student working on a local teen magazine show at KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh.
Active in civic and industry organizations, Campbell was recently named 2013 Broadcaster of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters and will be inducted into their Hall of Fame in May. She is on the board of the Broadcasters Foundation of America and served on the boards of MSTV: The Association for Maximum Service Television and the New York and Pennsylvania State Broadcasters Associations. She received the Women of Distinction Award from the Philadelphia Business Journal and the Pinnacle Award of Excellence from the Philadelphia Ad Club.
In addition to her BU lecture, Campbell will meet with mass communications students and faculty and tour the campus. For information, contact BU’s College of Liberal Arts, (570) 389-4410.
