Los Angeles, CA — Herb Scannell, who has successfully led global media and digital organizations ranging from Viacom’s Nickelodeon, Next New Networks, BBC Worldwide North America and Mitú, has been selected by the Southern California Public Radio (SCPR) Board of Trustees to be its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Scannell will join SCPR in February and succeeds founding president and CEO Bill Davis, who announced his retirement last June. SCPR operates Los Angeles’ award-winning local journalism leader KPCC and is the publisher of the newly re-launched innovative digital Angeleno news website LAist.
“I began my career in radio, and I couldn’t think of a better time, place or city to return to this medium I love,” Scannell said. “We’re experiencing an audio renaissance. Podcasts are blossoming and local public radio is filling a journalistic void left by the diminishing number of local newspapers. At the same time technology is changing the game with the emergence of smart speakers and – very soon – smart cars. California and Los Angeles are the hub of both culture and innovation, and what happens here matters everywhere. I want to congratulate Bill Davis for what he has accomplished, and I thank the SCPR Board for giving me the opportunity to build upon his legacy.”
“We are incredibly excited that Herb will lead SCPR through its next period of innovation and growth,” said SCPR Board Chair Ana Valdez. “Herb has the perfect mix of media experience and commitment to public service journalism. And through his Puerto-Rican heritage, he brings a very deep and personal understanding of the power of diversity and the importance of authentically representing the audience we serve. We are also thrilled that Bill Davis will continue his relationship with SCPR as President Emeritus.”
“I am profoundly honored to pass the baton to Herb Scannell,” said Bill Davis. “I’ve had an amazing run during the past 18 years, and I’m confident that Herb will lead SCPR to new heights. I look forward toward supporting Herb and everyone at SCPR through this transition as we move forward and realize our potential as a diversified media company.”
Part of the American Public Media Group, SCPR is a national leader in public service journalism and civic engagement. With award-winning programs such as AirTalk with Larry Mantle, Take Two and The Frame, KPCC produces more local news and public affairs programming than any other public radio station in the country. It is also one of the most diverse news organizations in the country, with more than 50% of its journalists being people of color.
Herb brings to SCPR a track record of successfully launching and scaling a wide range of successful media companies and platforms, as well as a long connection to public radio. Since 2000, he has been on the board of New York Public Radio (NYPR) where he served as Chairman of the Board from 2009-2013. During his time as Chair, the organization went through its most expansive period, purchasing WQXR, the leading classical music station, and acquiring half of the NJ Public Radio stations closest to NYC. With WNYC management Scannell helped plot a strategic course resulting in the station becoming a leading producer of podcasts, including such hits as Here’s the Thing, 2 Dope Queens, Freakonomics Radio, and more. Regularly, NYPR appears among Apple’s most popular podcasts.
These initiatives and investments resulted in impressive audience growth and an equally impressive expansion in membership and funding. SCPR’s broadcast audience has grown from 200,000 in 2000 to 800,000 in 2018. SCPR’s audience is one of the most diverse—if not the most diverse—audiences in all of public media. One in five KPCC listeners is Latino, and more than 40% of the station’s weekly audience are people of color. LAist has added a digital audience that now totals 800,000. Current memberships at SCPR are also at an all-time high of 73,196 members. SCPR’s revenues for 2019 are projected to reach a record $32.5 million.
As president at Viacom’s Nickelodeon, Scannell led the network to an unprecedented stretch of 10-years as the top-rated network in cable television. Under his leadership Nickelodeon birthed some of the most iconic properties in youth entertainment, including Dora, the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants and Rugrats, all of which became multi-billion-dollar global licensing powerhouses. In addition to his role at Nickelodeon, Scannell was the Vice Chairman of MTV Networks and oversaw adult brands Spike TV and TV Land, among other businesses.
After leaving Nickelodeon, Scannell served as founding CEO of Next New Networks, a pioneer in the online video network space, partnering with independent web creators to produce and package innovative original web content. Next New Networks was acquired by YouTube in 2011. Scannell subsequently joined BBC Worldwide as President, North America, where he oversaw a portfolio that included the flagship cable channel BBC America, as well as sales of the vast BBC library and original shows via its LA-based original production group. In 2017 he moved to Los Angeles at CEO of the Latino-targeted digital media company Mitú.
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