Van Gordon Sauter, former president of news...

Van Gordon Sauter, former president of news for the CBS and Fox television networks, has been appointed president and general manager of Sacramento public TV station KVIE, it was disclosed Wednesday.

Sauter, 59, said in an interview in Sacramento that he has agreed to a two-year contract with KVIE. Jack LaRue, interim general manager of KVIE, said he would remain “for a short time to help Van in the transition.”

LaRue added: “I am very excited for KVIE in the board’s selection of Mr. Sauter. I think that a man with his experience and knowledge of broadcasting will help public broadcasting during the transition phase that seems to be started by the discussion of public funding in Washington.”

Sauter, a self-described registered Libertarian and conservative Republican, is the husband of Kathleen Brown, the Democratic party candidate who failed last year in her bid to unseat Gov. Pete Wilson.

Sauter, who rose to the top rung of CBS management, was fired in 1986 in a network upheaval. He had also been under fire for what his critics said was a glitzier approach to network news. He went to Fox in 1992.He is still a consultant at Fox and will continue as one until around the end of the year, Sauter said.

A free-wheeling and controversial executive whose career has ranged from print to broadcasting, Sauter said he believes that local programming, including news, is a solution to the problems of PBS stations, especially as they face the challenge of cable and other new TV alternatives that are co-opting the type of programs long identified with public TV.