Iowa Public Television

Iowa Public Television Names Bill Riley, Jr., 

Host of the Network’s Iowa State Fair Coverage 

Fair 2012 airs August 13 – 18 at 9 p.m.

(Johnston, Iowa)— Iowa Public Television announced today that Bill Riley, Jr. will serve as the host of the network’s coverage of the Iowa State Fair. Riley takes the reins following the death of long-time host Mark Pearson. Riley’s father, Bill Riley, Sr., hosted IPTV’s state fair coverage until 1997. 

Already a well-known fixture at the Iowa State Fair, Riley has directed the Bill Riley Talent Search and emceed the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation’s “Corn Dog Kickoff” and Iowa State Fair Queen Pageant since 1996. 

“I’m so proud to be hosting Iowa Public Television’s State Fair coverage this year. The State Fair has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I’m looking forward to this opportunity to share the Fair with Iowans,” said Riley. 

Iowa Public Television viewers are already familiar with his work covering the network’s broadcasts of the Iowa State Fair Talent Championships for several years. 

Riley is founder and president of the Bill Riley Talent Search Foundation. As a business owner, radio personality, and master of ceremonies, Riley has extensive knowledge of the Iowa State Fair.

 “Bill was a natural choice to serve as our next Fair host,” said Deb Herbold, executive producer of Fair 2012. “Bill grew up around the state fair, of course, and his life’s work has been dedicated to telling the story of the great Iowa State Fair. “

 “As one of the most-viewed programs on Iowa Public Television each year, our state fair coverage is an important tradition in our state,” said Daniel K. Miller, executive director and general manager of Iowa Public Television. “Bill knows that tradition well, which makes him a great fit for the program.”

Hundreds of clips from IPTV’s 42 years of Iowa State Fair Coverage are available at www.iptv.org/fair. 

For additional information, or to schedule an interview, contact Jennifer Konfrst at 515-242-3146 or Jennifer@iptv.org.   

Major funding for Fair 2012 is provided by EMC Insurance and Mid-American Energy.