KNWA Hires Sports Anchor, Promotes Barksdale

KNWA, Northwest Arkansas’ NBC affiliate, hired Jesse Abdenour on Aug. 11 as sports anchor. He replaces Matt Turner, who was promoted to news anchor.

Abdenour will also serve as sports anchor for KARK. Both stations are owned by Nexstar Broadcasting Inc. of Irving, Texas. Abdenour previously served as sports anchor for WREX, the NBC affiliate in Rockford, Ill.

KNWA also announced the promotion of Ginny Barksdale from general assignment reporter to anchor of “KNWA Today,” the station’s morning newscast. She replaces Dana Sargent, who will be anchor of KFTA’s Fox 24 News at 9 p.m. Nexstar sold KFTA to Mission Broadcasting of Brecksville, Ohio, in April with the agreement that Nexstar would operate the station for Mission.