The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

Paul F. Harron, Jr., Former Chairman and President, had nearly 40 years experience in the cable and broadcast television industries. After the death of Paul F. Harron, Sr. in 1977, Paul Harron, Jr. became President and CEO of Harron Communications, one of the largest cable television companies prior to its sale in 1999.

Under his entrepreneurial leadership, the company grew from 30,000 subscribers in two states to over 300,000 in six states. Additionally, as Chairman and President of Harron Entertainment, Paul Harron oversaw other businesses, prior to their divestiture, including Harron Television Holdings (interests in television stations in New York and California, stock in a company that owned wireless communications licenses and DIRECTV franchises), Radio Partners of Maine (three FM and two AM stations in Maine and New Hampshire) and WMTW Broadcast Group (ABC Television affiliate in Portland, Maine).

Harron also started cable advertising firm, Metrobase Cable Advertising, which was later sold to Comcast Corp. He was also a founding board member of C-SPAN. Harron Communications Corp was sold in 1999 to Adelphia Communications, but the Harron family remains actively involved and deeply committed to the cable television industry through their involvement in MetroCast.

Today, James J. Bruder, Jr. (grandson of Paul Harron, Sr. and nephew of Paul F. Harron, Jr.) serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company. Harron Communications LP d/b/a MetroCast serves over 220,000 customers in nine states with video, Internet and voice services.

On Friday, Novmber 19, 2010, Paul Harron, Jr. was posthumously inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame.

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com