Edwin Cooperstein, television director and station executive, died Wednesday at the age of 80.

Mr. Cooperstein directed “Open End,” a talk show hosted by David Susskind, for WATV in New York, which later evolved into WNET-TV. In 1965 he founded WNJU-TV, the first commercial UHF station in the New York City market, and founded Phoenix’s KNXV-TV as an independent station in 1979.

As president of the Arlington Broadcast Group from 1979-86, Mr. Cooperstein supervised the formation and operations of TV stations in Boston, Milwaukee and Birmingham, Ala.

Survivors include his wife, a daughter, two sons and four grandchildren.

Services will be held Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the Green Acres Cemetery in Scottsdale, Ariz. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mr. Cooperstein can be made to either the National Kidney Foundation or the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Broadcasting.

(Editor: Gilbert)