Ep. 62 Patsy Smullin

EPISODE SUMMARY: Patsy Smullin is the owner and president of California Oregon Broadcasting as well as the host of the successful TV interview series Up Close and Personal. She shares her insights on leadership, family dynamics, philanthropy and the changing media landscape.

Smullin will be among those honored this fall as Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2024 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony on November 12th at Gotham Hall in New York City.

On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Patsy Smullin about:

1. Growing up in Eureka, California and how her the influence of her father, legendary broadcaster Bill Smullin, shaped her career path.
2. Working in just about every facet of cable TV until she began running cable operations throughout Oregon and California
3. The value of every single subscriber and doing whatever it takes to make them happy
4. Her belief in fair, unbiased journalism, and giving her reporters autonomy
5. Joining KOBI and starting her interview series Up Close and Personal where she helped viewers get to know interviewees as peopel
6. Taking over her father’s company and her expectations as his daughter
7. Serving on the NAB and NBC boards
8. importance of community service and philanthropy and the organizations she supports including SMART and Community 101

And More!

ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST: Patsy Smullin is the owner and President of California Oregon Broadcasting, the longest, continuously operated, independent broadcast organization in the West. Its holdings include five television stations serving California and Oregon, three cable systems and a digital HD video production company.

Over the years, Patsy’s commitment to community is evident every day personally and through her TV stations.  She has consistently given back to the communities her broadcast company serve. She has been an active member of the NBC Affiliate Board, National Association of Broadcasters Board, The World Affairs Council of Oregon, Oregon Children’s Foundation, Southern Oregon University Board and Willamette University Board.

Two of her “hands on” favorites are being a SMART reader and Community 101 supporter, which teach children philanthropy at a really young age. 

She has been recognized with countless awards including the 2007 National Broadcasters Foundation Pioneer Award and the 2008 Oregon Association of Broadcaster’s Tom McCall Award for outstanding service to the state and to the nation and most recently the Governor’s Gold Award for service to Oregon. 

ABOUT THE PODCAST: Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry.

PEOPLE MENTIONED:

• Hillary Clinton
• Lester Holt
• Jay Leno
• Jeff Zucker
• Walter Cronkite
• Scott Burton
• Bill Smullin
• JFK
• Bibby Kennedy
• Ronald Reagan
• Ted Turner
• John Malone
• Tom Brokaw
• Barbara Bush
• Dick Clark
• Hillary Clinton
• Elizabeth Dole
• Wayne Newton
• Dr. Oz
• Dr. Phil
• Barbara Walters
• Jeff Zucker
• Lester Holt
• Oak Ridge Boys
• Jenna Bush
• Curtis LeGeyt
• Brandon Tartikoff
• Laura Bush
• Al Roker
• Mike McVay
• Steve Jones
• Rupert Murdoch
• Ted Turner

ABOUT BENZTOWN: Benztown is a leading international audio imaging, production library, voiceover, programming, podcasting, and jingle production company with over 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. Benztown provides audio brands and radio stations of all formats with end-to-end imag