Tony Ventrella back on TV

Veteran newscaster Tony Ventrella is back on television — this time as host of Comcast Local Edition, a five-minute interview segment airing on CNN Headline News.

The program airs at approximately 24 minutes and 54 minutes past each hour (with the exception of evening primetime hours) on CNN Headline News, Channel 45. Comcast Local Edition features interviews with local public figures, including Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, King County Executive Ron Sims and Gov. Christine Gregoire.

Ventrella's last regular TV gig was as a sports and newscaster on KCPQ-TV, which he left in January. Ventrella, a former sports director for KIRO, has worked at every news affiliate in Seattle since arriving here in 1981. His evening talk-radio show on KIRO-AM (710) ended in September.

Pamela Sitt, Seattle Times staff reporter