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Doug Barker is President, Broadcast Distribution and the Southern Region for ION Media Networks. Since joining in 1998, Mr. Barker has expanded the company’s broadcast reach, contributing to overall growth of the company from 56% to over 80% of U.S. television households. Beginning with no broadcast distribution outside of the company’s owned and operated stations, Mr. Barker's division has been successful in adding more than 50 affiliates during his tenure.
Mr. Barker spearheaded ION’s liaisons with outside broadcast stations and key television group operators when he joined the company as Vice President, Affiliate Relations in 1998. In 1999, he was named Senior Vice President and initiated implementation of the company's Joint Sales Agreement (JSA) strategy, negotiating JSA contracts with NBC affiliated broadcast stations in markets where ION also owned a station.
Prior to joining ION, Mr. Barker was Vice President and General Manager of WPBF-TV, the West Palm Beach, Florida ABC affiliate formerly owned by ION, which was then known as Paxson Communications Corporation. In 1986, Mr. Barker led a group of investors to acquire WWSB-TV, the ABC affiliate serving the Tampa/Sarasota television market, where he served as President until 1993. The station achieved unprecedented ratings and revenue increases during Mr. Barker's management/ownership tenure. Mr. Barker's previous broadcast television experience also includes serving as Station Manager at WTVJ-TV in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, then affiliated with the CBS network, where it was the top-rated station in the market and nationally prominent. Prior to his time in Florida, Mr. Barker was Midwest Manager for Telerep, the national television sales representation company owned by Cox Enterprises, Inc., where he directed national sales for more than 60 network affiliated and independent stations.
Mr. Barker received his Bachelor of Arts degree in radio and television from Michigan State University. He is a former Chairman of the Florida Association of Broadcasters and is currently a member of the FAB Board of Directors. | 