Rod Challenger

Rod Challenger is the Manager of the News Department at News Channel 8's Pinellas Bureau which started operating in July of 1983.

Challenger has been with News Channel 8 since 1979, first as an assignment editor, then assistant news director followed by news operations manager. He came to News Channel 8 from WTSP-TV in St. Petersburg where he was news director for a year. He was with WTVT-TV in Tampa for two and a half years as 11pm anchor.

Rod came to Florida from WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where for four and a half years he was a reporter and part-time anchor. He received a B.S. from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and was a member of the United States Army from 1965 - 1968.

Challenger and his wife, Kathy reside in St. Petersburg, Florida.

His step-son lives in St. Petersburg and has given them a young grandson.

His daughter, Leigh, is a graduate of The University of Maryland and now works in Miami.

He and his wife are avid scuba divers and their pursuit of their hobby has taken them all over the world.

Rod enjoys shooting underwater videos, which have won several amateur videography competitions.