San Francisco, August 13, 2012—Anthony Tiano, who served as the President of KQED Inc. from 1979-1993 passed away on August 12, 2012 at his home in New Mexico. Tiano had been serving as the President of Santa Fe Productions, a company that produced independent programming for public television stations nationwide.
Tiano led KQED through a period of significant growth and change including the institution of a full 7-day a week schedule for KQED Public Television and the conversion of KQED Public Radio to an all news and public affairs format. These and other innovations during Tiano’s tenure positioned KQED to become one of the largest and most successful public broadcasting organizations in the country.
He also ushered in new programming, including This Week in Northern California on television and Forum on radio, both of which remain among KQED’s most popular offerings. In 1989, Tiano worked with legendary promoter Bill Graham to broadcast an Earthquake Relief Concert that raised more than $2 million dollars for victims of the Loma Prieta Earthquake.
In the early 1990’s, Tiano managed in a difficult economy to consolidate all of KQED’s San Francisco operations – previously scattered among a number of South-of-Market locations – under one roof in a building on Mariposa Street that remains KQED’s headquarters today.
“Tony Tiano made important strategic moves during his tenure that laid the foundation for KQED’s great success in the 21st
century and, more important, positioned us to do a better job of serving the community,” stated John L. Boland, current president of KQED. “Even after leaving KQED, Tony remained part of public broadcasting as an independent producer of many outstanding specials that aired on KQED and other PBS stations nationwide. He will be missed.”
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