Nexstar Broadcasting Names Eric Thomas VP / General Manager of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Television and Digital Operations

Accomplished Local Broadcasting and Sales Management Executive with over 20 years of Experience to Lead WGMB-TV (FOX), WBRL-TV (CW) and brproud.com

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana and IRVING, Texas – Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST) announced today that Eric Thomas has been promoted to Vice President and General Manager of WGMB-TV (FOX), WBRL-TV (CW) and associated digital services, including community web portal www.brproud.com, serving Baton Rouge, LA (DMA #93). In his new role, he will also oversee Nexstar’s joint operating agreement with White Knight Broadcasting’s WVLA-TV (NBC) and KZUP-TV (IND). Since 2013, Mr. Thomas has served as Vice President and General Manager of KLBK-TV (CBS) in Lubbock, TX (DMA #145) where he was responsible for overseeing Nexstar’s joint operating agreement with Mission Broadcasting’s KAMC-TV (ABC). Mr. Thomas will assume his new responsibilities immediately and report to Brian Jones, Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of Nexstar Broadcasting.

Eric Thomas is an accomplished industry executive with over 20 years of combined local broadcasting and sales management experience serving Nexstar stations. During his tenure in Lubbock, Mr. Thomas developed and led highly effective teams and implemented sales, marketing and digital initiatives that resulted in increased market share and profitability at the stations. In addition, he provided strategic news and sales oversight resulting in increased sales revenue and strong broadcast cash flows. Prior to that, from 2007 to 2013 he served as Vice President and General Manager at KTAB-TV (CBS) and KRBC-TV (NBC) in Abilene, Texas (DMA #165). Under his leadership, Eric directed the integration of the stations’ news and web operations, developing interactive platforms and digital sub channels, including the launch of KRBC.2 and Bounce Abilene. Eric is a two-time recipient of the Texas Association of Broadcasters’ Bonner McClain Public Service Award for outstanding service to the local community over the course of his four years at the stations.

Prior to Abilene, from 2003 to 2007 he served as General Sales Manager of KAMC-TV and KLBK-TV in Lubbock, where he consistently exceeded economic goals and spearheaded the launch of the stations’ digital platform, EverythingLubbock.com, managing all sales and the creative development of the site. Earlier in his career, he served as General Sales Manager of KTAB-TV from 2000 to 2003, implementing sales, marketing and new media initiatives that resulted in increased market share and profitability. Eric began his broadcasting career in 1993 where he held Account Executive roles at KAMC-TV and KLBK-TV in Lubbock, prior to that he was in the newspaper industry.

Commenting on the appointment, Brian Jones stated, “Eric has outstanding executive broadcast leadership experience with expertise in managing operations in markets with multiple network affiliations. He brings to his new position a proven record of success and a deep understanding of Nexstar and our critical functions including station management, news and local programming, digital and social media integration and strategic planning, which have resulted in new revenue-generating opportunities for the stations he has managed. A well-respected leader, Eric has built high-achieving, deeply engaged sales teams that have established enduring partnerships with local advertisers, businesses and community organizations by providing unparalleled client service and effective cross-platform marketing solutions. Throughout his career he has demonstrated a results-oriented and entrepreneurial approach to the business of broadcasting and we are confident that his valuable management, marketing, and relationship building expertise will enhance the effectiveness and value of our marketing solutions platforms and services in Baton Rouge.”

Commenting on his new role, Eric Thomas stated, “I am excited to reconnect with my Baton Rouge roots and my family who reside throughout greater region. My parents are LSU graduates from area. We lived in Slidell when I was a boy and I can’t wait to get back to the hunting and fishing that I grew up with in my youth.

“Nexstar’s long-term success reflects our core commitment to viewers and advertisers across each of our individual markets. In my new role, I will leverage my multiple market experience and relationships built over my career to generate results and further strengthen the position of our Baton Rouge television and digital operations. I look forward to taking on this new opportunity at Nexstar and working alongside the exceptional team of broadcasters at WGMB-TV (FOX), WBRL-TV (CW) and brproud.com. I plan to immediately immerse myself into the Baton Rouge community and becoming an active participant in the economic development of the area by developing strong relationships with local businesses and community organizations,” concluded Mr. Thomas.

Mr. Thomas earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. He currently serves on the Board for the Lubbock United Way, President for the Lubbock Coronado High School Football Booster Club, Member of the National Football Foundation, and in 2016 was elected to a second term on Board for Texas Association of Broadcasters.

Mr. Thomas and his family will immediately relocate to Baton Rouge.

About Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc.
Nexstar Broadcasting Group is a leading diversified media company that leverages localism to bring new services and value to consumers and advertisers through its traditional media, digital and mobile media platforms. Nexstar owns, operates, programs or provides sales and other services to 104 television stations and 200 related digital multicast signals reaching 62 markets or approximately 18.1% of all U.S. television households. Nexstar’s portfolio includes primary affiliates of NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV and The CW. Nexstar’s community portal websites offer additional hyper-local content and verticals for consumers and advertisers, allowing audiences to choose where, when and how they access content while creating new revenue opportunities.

Pro-forma for the completion of all announced transactions, Nexstar will own, operate, program or provide sales and other services to 171 television stations and their related low power and digital multicast signals reaching 100 markets or nearly 39% of all U.S. television households. For more information please visit www.nexstar.tv.

Forward-Looking Statements
This communication includes forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Forward-looking statements include information preceded by, followed by, or that includes the words “guidance,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “could,” or similar expressions. For these statements, Nexstar and Media General claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this communication, concerning, among other things, the ultimate outcome and benefits of a transaction between Nexstar and Media General and timing thereof, and future financial performance, including changes in net revenue, cash flow and operating expenses, involve risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various important factors, including the timing to consummate the proposed transaction; the risk that a condition to closing of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied and the transaction may not close; the risk that a regulatory approval that may be required for the proposed transaction is delayed, is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated, the impact of changes in national and regional economies, the ability to service and refinance our outstanding debt, successful integration of Media General (including achievement of synergies and cost reductions), pricing fluctuations in local and national advertising, future regulatory actions and conditions in the television stations’ operating areas, competition from others in the broadcast television markets, volatility in programming costs, the effects of governmental regulation of broadcasting, industry consolidation, technological developments and major world news events. Nexstar and Media General undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this communication might not occur. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. For more details on factors that could affect these expectations, please see the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus of Nexstar and Media General and Media General’s and Nexstar’s other filings with the SEC.

Contact:
Brian Jones
EVP and Co-Chief Operating Officer
Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc.
972/373-8800

Joseph Jaffoni, Jennifer Neuman
JCIR
212/835-8500 or nxst@jcir.com