On the heels of a year that saw the station's weatherman of nearly 30 years pass away, the start of high-definition news broadcasts, the implementation of a new brand name and a number of high-profile staff departures, Sam Rosenwasser has announced he will retire at the end of 2008 as president and general manager of Tampa Bay area CBS affiliate WTSP-Ch. 10.

Rosenwasser, 55, has led WTSP for seven years, with a total 35 years' experience in the TV industry. He wasn't sure what he might do next; WTSP owner Gannett Broadcasting is expected to name a new general manager soon, and Rosenwasser likely will help with the transition.

"The time was right for me," noted Rosenwasser, saying the move was his decision, though he knows some may speculate otherwise. "What people may think . . . there's nothing you can do about that."

  WTSP has faced a significant amount of change this year, beginning with the start of high-definition news broadcasts in January and longtime forecaster Dick Fletcher's death after a stroke in February.

In the following months, Chicago forecaster Tammie Souza was hired as Fletcher's successor, forecasters Randy Rauch and Anna Allen were let go, longtime weekend anchor Jennifer Howe was discharged and the station's brand name was changed to 10 Connects -- with retooled newscast names and a host of initiatives aimed at building new links to viewers.

Still, Rosenwasser points to the station's conversion to high-definition and the expansion of its newsroom as some of his biggest accomplishments. "You never feel as if you've gotten everything done, but we've done a lot," he said. "If you feel like there's nothing left to do, you're not doing your job."

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