KTTV-KCOP general manager Kevin Hale to retire

Kevin Hale announced his retirement as longtime vice president and general manager at Fox-owned KTTV and KCOP.

Hale had an 18-year run with Fox Television stations. He took over KTTV (Fox, Channel 11) and KCOP (MyNetworkTV, Channel 13) in 2004. He previously held GM positions at fellow Fox-owned stations in Phoenix (at KSAZ) and Memphis (at WHBQ).

“It only happens one time,” Hale told The Times about retirement. “I think as you start to get there in years, you want to make sure that you still have great health to go out and do the things you’ve always dreamed of doing.”

For the 64-year-old native Angeleno, who has been in the television business for 43 years, that means giving his musical ambitions a more concerted try.

“Now I’ll have the time to really pursue songwriting,” said Hale, who took an interest in the art form during the time he served as general manager of country music-oriented cabler Nashville Network. “Ever since I left Nashville, I’ve been working on developing those skills but haven’t taken time to do much with songs I’ve written. Now I can.”

Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television stations, praised the “talented leader” for his “boundless energy and enthusiasm.”

“He has been a loyal employee who has risen to every challenge presented to him in his nearly 20-year tenure, filled with countless achievements,” Abernethy said in a statement.

Hale will stay at the stations, in West Los Angeles, through July. A replacement for Hale has not been selected.

Tuesday’s announcement is the latest hit to L.A.’s station market. Just last month, KABC-TV’s longtime general manager Arnold J. Kleiner entered retirement after 46 years in the television business — which Hale characterized as “coincidental.”

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