iHeartMedia has promoted Chris Berry to Executive Vice President of News, Talk and Sports Programming.
Berry has served as SVP of News/Talk/Sports since May 2017 and has been with the company since 2011. Based in Phoenix, Berry will continue to provide oversight for NBC News Radio and the 24/7 News Network as well as Format Brand Manager for News/Talk/Sports. In his career Berry has served as Executive Producer of CBS News Radio, Director of News & Programming for 780 WBBM Chicago, VP and GM of ABC News Radio, President/General Manager of News/Talk 630 WMAL Washington DC and Sports “ESPN Los Angeles” 710 KSPN.
iHeartMedia, the leading audio company in the U.S., announced today that Chris Berry has been promoted to Executive Vice President of News, Talk and Sports Programming, effective immediately.
iHeartMedia leads consumer reach and influence across multiple platforms and delivers more live programming than any other media company. In this newly-created role, Berry will continue to provide strategic guidance for the company’s spoken-word formats and connect key advertisers with iHeartMedia’s News, Talk and Sports audiences.
Berry has an extensive background in both local and network radio, and since 2011 has managed iHeartMedia’s 24/7 News Source, the world’s largest “broadcast-only” newswire. In 2017 he was promoted to Senior Vice President of News, Talk and Sports Programming, and in his new position he will continue as Format Brand Manager and provide oversight for NBC News Radio and the 24/7 News Network. Based in Phoenix, Ariz., Berry reports to Premiere Networks President Julie Talbott.
“Chris has tremendous programming experience and he’s been a valuable asset to our team for nearly a decade,” said Talbott. “As the spoken word format continues to grow, his leadership and vision will help ensure we’re strategically positioned to provide the best content across multiple platforms, while delivering unparalleled results for stations and advertising partners.”Berry’s resume includes 14 years at the Walt Disney Company where as Vice President, Radio for ABC News he managed the network’s global news operation along with the Paul Harvey News and Comment broadcast. During his time at Disney, he also served as President and General Manager of WMAL-AM in Washington, D.C. and KSPN-AM in Los Angeles. His radio career began at KNX Newsradio in Los Angeles, and he served as Executive Producer for CBS Radio, Washington and Director of News and Programming for Chicago’s WBBM Newsradio.
Berry is the recipient of numerous industry awards including “News/Talk Executive of the Year” from Radio and Records. While at ABC News, his team was honored with a George Foster Peabody Award for coverage of the events of September 11, 2001, and in 2008 he and his staff received a Marconi Award for “Major Market Station of the Year” from the National Association of Broadcasters.