Milt Grant(1923-2007)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Milton Grant grew up in radio and television in Washington, D.C. He has
had extensive experience in all areas of the business, including
talent, sales, news, production, programming, general management,
finance and ownership. Grant served, with distinction, in the O.S.S.,
the Office of Strategic Services of the United States Army, in North
Africa and Italy, for three years, during World War II.
He attended New York University, where he received a B.A. degree in Economics and English. He began his broadcast career while at NYU as news director of WNYC in New York City. After graduation he became an announcer for WARM in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He later went to Washington, D.C. to work for WTOP. He innovative created Washington's first and only radio network with his radio show being carried simultaneously on stations WINX, WOL, WAVA AND WPGC. He also was featured on WWDC.
During the 1950s, Grant created and produced "The Milt Grant Show". This was a dance and variety program that aired each day, seven days a week, on WTTG, Channel 5 at 5:00PM. The program was live. It was Washington, D.C.'s most popular program.
In the 1960s, when UHF frequencies became available, he founded the Capitol Broadcasting Corporation, which was licensed to operate WDCA-TV, Channel 20 in Washington, D.C. The Station began operation in 1966 with Grant as President and Chief Executive Officer. WDCA-TV, was sold in 1969 to the Superior Tube Company. He continued in his capacities until 1980, when the station was sold to Taft Broadcasting.
In 1980, Grant joined with a group of Houston, Texas based investors to found KTXA-TV, Channel 21 in Dallas, Texas, and later KTXH-TV, Channel 20 in Houston, Texas. The rapid success of both stations led to their sale to Gulf Broadcasting in January, 1985 for $175,000,000. While preparing for the sale of the two Texas stations, he built WBFS-TV, Channel 33 in Miami, Florida. Continuing the momentum, Grant Broadcasting System, Inc., built WGBS-TV, Channel 57 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then added to the Grant Broadcasting System stations WGBO-TV Channel 66 in Chicago, Illinois.
He formed a new company, Grant Communications, Inc., which continues to develop a new group of television stations, and on March 29, 1990,purchased WZDX-TV, Huntsville, Alabama. On September 1, 1991, He then purchased KLJB-TV, Davenport, Iowa following that on September 15, 1993, added WFXR/WJPR-TV, Roanoke-Lynchburg, Virginia. On March 1, 1996, he purchased KJMH-TV, Burlington, Iowa. Then on May 15, 1996, added WLAX/WEUX-TV, LaCrosse-Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Finally, on October 23, 1996, he purchased WNYO-TV, Buffalo, New York.
In 2001, Grant sold his Buffalo station and then, employing modern technology through his Roanoke, Huntsville and Davenport stations, began multi-casting The WB Network along with his Fox Network stations via the digital transmission of the station's signals. Today, WBVA (Roanoke), WAWB (Huntsville) and KGBS (Burlington-Davenport) serve their respective markets 24 hours a day.
He attended New York University, where he received a B.A. degree in Economics and English. He began his broadcast career while at NYU as news director of WNYC in New York City. After graduation he became an announcer for WARM in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He later went to Washington, D.C. to work for WTOP. He innovative created Washington's first and only radio network with his radio show being carried simultaneously on stations WINX, WOL, WAVA AND WPGC. He also was featured on WWDC.
During the 1950s, Grant created and produced "The Milt Grant Show". This was a dance and variety program that aired each day, seven days a week, on WTTG, Channel 5 at 5:00PM. The program was live. It was Washington, D.C.'s most popular program.
In the 1960s, when UHF frequencies became available, he founded the Capitol Broadcasting Corporation, which was licensed to operate WDCA-TV, Channel 20 in Washington, D.C. The Station began operation in 1966 with Grant as President and Chief Executive Officer. WDCA-TV, was sold in 1969 to the Superior Tube Company. He continued in his capacities until 1980, when the station was sold to Taft Broadcasting.
In 1980, Grant joined with a group of Houston, Texas based investors to found KTXA-TV, Channel 21 in Dallas, Texas, and later KTXH-TV, Channel 20 in Houston, Texas. The rapid success of both stations led to their sale to Gulf Broadcasting in January, 1985 for $175,000,000. While preparing for the sale of the two Texas stations, he built WBFS-TV, Channel 33 in Miami, Florida. Continuing the momentum, Grant Broadcasting System, Inc., built WGBS-TV, Channel 57 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then added to the Grant Broadcasting System stations WGBO-TV Channel 66 in Chicago, Illinois.
He formed a new company, Grant Communications, Inc., which continues to develop a new group of television stations, and on March 29, 1990,purchased WZDX-TV, Huntsville, Alabama. On September 1, 1991, He then purchased KLJB-TV, Davenport, Iowa following that on September 15, 1993, added WFXR/WJPR-TV, Roanoke-Lynchburg, Virginia. On March 1, 1996, he purchased KJMH-TV, Burlington, Iowa. Then on May 15, 1996, added WLAX/WEUX-TV, LaCrosse-Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Finally, on October 23, 1996, he purchased WNYO-TV, Buffalo, New York.
In 2001, Grant sold his Buffalo station and then, employing modern technology through his Roanoke, Huntsville and Davenport stations, began multi-casting The WB Network along with his Fox Network stations via the digital transmission of the station's signals. Today, WBVA (Roanoke), WAWB (Huntsville) and KGBS (Burlington-Davenport) serve their respective markets 24 hours a day.
