As President and CEO of Detroit Public Television, Ritschard (Rich) Homberg oversees one of the largest public television stations in the country—a position he has held since 2008. Prior to joining DPTV, Homberg led WWJ Newsradio 950, a CBS owned-and- operated station, and launched Detroit’s sports radio, WXYT.
Active within his industry and his community, Homberg is a member of the PBS Board of Directors and the Chair of Culture Source, Southeast Michigan’s arts and culture leadership organization. He was appointed to the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder in 2013, following four years of service on the State Tenure Commission.
Homberg, whose success in broadcasting spans more than 35 years, credits his career achievement to the support, strong education, and encouragement he received while a student at Temple University. “I am a lucky guy. I do something I love every day. None of that could have been possible without the great foundation I was able to build at Temple,” said Homberg.
Looking back at his more than three decades in the industry, Homberg is also grateful to Temple’s long-time adjunct professor and broadcast pioneer, Lew Klein, who influenced his career and encouraged him to work in radio rather than television. “Lew Klein holds an important position for me in my career path. I never thought I would work in radio—it’s a career path I had not anticipated.”
Homberg’s other inspirations are Tracey, his wife of 30 years, and his son Nick.