Univision unifies Chicago TV, radio stations under Doug Levy

Doug Levy

Doug Levy

Doug Levy, an 18-year veteran of Univision Chicago Radio who’s also known as a former Chicago rock radio personality, has been promoted to vice president and general manager of Univision Local Media here.

He now adds Univision WGBO-Channel 66 and UniMás WXFT-Channel 60 to the five Spanish radio stations he already oversees — WOJO FM 105.1, WPPN FM 106.7, WRTO AM 1200, WVIV FM 103.1, and WVIX FM 93.5.

Sources said the company plans to move its operations to one location within the next two years. The television stations currently are at 541 North Fairbanks Court while the radio stations occupy studios and offices at 625 North Michigan Avenue.

Levy’s promotion is part of a nationwide restructuring of broadcast and digital assets, including consolidation of television and radio management in each market. What makes his move unusual is that Levy is one of only three radio managers companywide to add television to his portfolio. (The others are in Miami and Dallas.)

Larry Sands, who had been regional vice president of Univision Chicago since June 2013, is leaving the company. Sands, who also oversaw the operations of Univision Puerto Rico, was the fifth vice president and general manager of WGBO and WXFT in eight years — and the third in just the last four years.

For Levy, 47, a graduate of north suburban Deerfield High School and the University of Iowa, heading up the combined operations of Univision Local Media in his hometown is a crowning achievement.

He began his career as an intern at the former WCKG FM and spent 15 years as a weekend and fill-in personality at CBS Radio adult album alternative WXRT FM 93.1. At the same time, Levy pursued a career in media sales, joining Univision’s predecessor as an account executive in 1996 and moving up to general sales manager of Univision Radio Chicago. In 2011 he was named vice president and general manager of the five stations.