TV & VIDEO - March 27, 1989

Tom Kirby, who has been president and general manager of Gannett-owned KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City, takes over today as executive producer of “USA Today on TV.” It’s the second major management change in recent months for the syndicated magazine series that’s produced by GTG, a partnership between Grant Tinker and Gannett. Earlier, Jim Bellows, a former Los Angeles newspaper executive, was called in as managing editor to resuscitate the show following its debut last September. Bellows will continue as a consultant. With the changing of the guard, Grant Tinker, president of GTG Entertainment, assured the “USA-TV” staff that the program will remain on the air for its two-year commitment. He called Bellows “a brilliant editor . . . (who has) completed the task of reshaping the show and giving it new direction.” Said Bellows: “I came in to do what they wanted and I did it. The show has a good, long future, and I feel good about the show.”