Former DIRECTV Exec Hartenstein Joins LA Times

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Former DIRECTV Exec Hartenstein Joins LA Times


Eddy Hartenstein, best known for his time leading DIRECTV until his departure from the satellite TV giant in 2004, has a new job in the media business.

On Friday, The Los Angeles Times announced that Hartenstein, 57, will lead the Southern California newspaper as publisher. It's an interesting time for the satellite TV industry veteran to enter the newspaper business given the shrinking reader base, slumping advertising dollars and staff cutbacks plaguing many papers across the nation.

"I'm not coming into this with blinders on," Hartenstein was quoted saying for a Times story announcing his new job. "I realize that the problems are huge and daunting, but I don't believe there's anything that can't be fixed as long as everyone is pulling in the same direction."

Sam Zell, who has led Tribune since taking the media company private last December, apparently approached the former DIRECTV executive about becoming publisher. Since leaving the DBS company, Hartenstein had been working on a plan to elevate the status of the National Hot Rod Association, but abandoned that push in February.

Hartenstein will be The Times' fourth publisher since Tribune acquired the paper in 2000.
 
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