L.A. sportscaster 'thrilled' to join Comcast SportsNet

Siera Santos

Siera Santos

Comcast SportsNet Chicago filled one of two vacancies in its on-air staff Wednesday with the hiring of Siera Santos as a full-time reporter/anchor, effective immediately.

Santos will appear on “SportsNet Central,” the regional sports network’s nightly sports news program, and contribute to its digital initiatives on CSNChicago.com.

"There is no way to describe how thrilled I am!" she wrote on Facebook. "I landed my dream job and can't wait to start this next chapter of my life in Chicago. I want to say thank you to all the viewers, mentors and colleagues who have helped me reach this pinnacle in my career!"

For the past year Santos was a sportscaster for KCBS-TV and KCAL-TV, the CBS-owned stations in Los Angeles. A graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, she previously worked KWTV-TV, the CBS affiliate in Oklahoma City, and KOAA-TV, the NBC affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“We are very pleased to bring someone of Siera’s news reporting experience and local sports enthusiasm to our network,” Kevin Cross, senior director of news and original content for Comcast SportsNet Chicago, said in a statement. “A variety of successful multimedia achievements in her rising career has certainly prepared her for her arrival at Comcast SportsNet.  We are looking forward to Siera joining our already talented roster.”

A second new hire is expected to be announced shortly, according to a Comcast SportsNet spokesman. Reporter Jen Lada resigned to join ESPN in August, and reporter Aiyana Cristal left after her contract was not renewed in early September.