FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 30, 2012

KERA’s “CEO” Moves to First Fridays Beginning in September

DALLAS/FORT WORTH – Beginning Friday, September 7 at 7:30 p.m., the KERA original program, CEO, moves to the first Friday of the month. The September episode features James R. (Jim) Lites, President and CEO of the Dallas Stars. Lites joins host Lee Cullum to discuss his return to the team now under new ownership by Tom Gaglardi. Learn how the Stars are strengthening their roster to prepare for a place in the playoffs. “As we transition from the team we have now into the future, we’re thrilled with the opportunities. We hope to transform ourselves into a team the Stanley Cup can be built around,” says Lites. The Stars’ President also shares his strategy on boosting lack-luster attendance numbers, growing the sport of hockey to increase the Stars footprint and returning the franchise to profitability. “So far, the season ticket base has stabilized and we hope to see partial plans and individual ticket sales grow by the time we start play in the fall. Empty seats are our enemy. I see them in my sleep,” continues Lites.

KERA’s CEO features insightful discussions with successful North Texas business leaders from the corporate and not-for-profit sectors about what it takes to make a company successful in today’s global marketplace and changing economy. The September episode featuring Jim Lites airs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 7, 2012, on KERA TV with rebroadcasts at noon Sunday, September 9, and at 10:30 p.m. Monday, September 10, 2012. CEO also can be heard at 5 p.m. Sunday, September 9, 2012, on KERA FM. Following the initial on-air broadcast, the half-hour program will be available on www.kera.org/ceo. Previous CEO episodes are available on demand at www.kera.org/ceo.

CEO is sponsored by Executive Education at the Naveen School of Management, The University of Texas at Dallas, Hodges Capital Management and Sewell Automotive Companies. For more information about the Dallas Stars, go to dallasstars.com.

ABOUT JAMES R. LITES

Jim Lites is very familiar with his position as President/CEO, having held it twice previously under owners Norm Green and Tom Hicks. Over the course of Lites’ two prior stints with the Stars (1993-2002; 2003-2007), the team won seven Division Championships, two Western Conference Championships, two Presidents’ Trophies, and the 1999 Stanley Cup. He played an active role in the conception, design and construction of American Airlines Center and the construction of the Dr Pepper StarCenter ice facilities.  From 1999-2002, Lites also served as president of MLB’s Texas Rangers, becoming one of only four executives to simultaneously manage the affairs of two major league franchises. He served three years on MLB’s Executive Council and was President when the Rangers captured the 1999 AL West Championship. Lites received a Bachelor of Arts degree with highest honors from the University of Michigan and graduated cum laude from Wayne State (MI) University Law School.

ABOUT CEO

Host Lee Cullum conducts insightful discussions with successful North Texas business leaders from the corporate and not-for-profit sectors about what it takes to make a company successful in today’s global marketplace and changing economy. CEO episodes are available on-demand at www.kera.org/ceo.

ABOUT KERA

KERA is a not-for-profit public media organization that serves the people of North Texas. The station broadcasts to the fourth-largest population area in the United States. KERA produces original multimedia content, carries the best in national and international public television and radio programs, and provides online resources at www.kera.org. The station’s extensive coverage of the arts can be found at www.artandseek.org. KERA-TV broadcasts on Channel 13.1. KERA WORLD broadcasts on 13.2. KERA-FM broadcasts on 90.1 in Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton, 88.3 in Wichita Falls, 100.1 in Tyler and 99.3 in Sherman. The music station KXT 91.7 FM is also streamed online at www.kxt.org.

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CONTACT:

Christopher Wagley

Director, Marketing & Communications

KERA, KXT and Art&Seek

cwagley@kera.org

214-740-9377