Former WPIX Exec to Head up Metropolitan TV Alliance

The group tasked with building a new tower to replace the broadcast antennas destroyed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center has named a former WPIX executive to head up its effort.

Paul Bissonette, a former vice president and general manager with the New York City WB affiliate will become the new president of the Metropolitan Television Alliance, a coalition of New York City-area broadcast stations working to build the new tower. Bissonette replaces Ed Grebow, who has left the group to pursue other opportunities.

Bissonette, a 33-year veteran of the television industry and the recipient of seven New York Emmy Awards, worked for local stations in Buffalo, Philadelphia and New York, for Turner Broadcasting in Atlanta and for the CBS Network in New York before joining WPIX-TV 11.

"Paul Bissonette knows television, especially New York television," said Frank Comerford, MTVA Chair. "The MTVA board is very confident in his ability of oversee the critically important World Trade Center project."

In May 2003, the MTVA signed a memorandum of understanding with World Trade Center Larry Silverstein to build a television tower as part of the new Freedom Tower to be constructed on the WTV site.