|Exhibit 31.1
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|SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION
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|I, David J. Barrett, certify that:
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|1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K
      of Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. (the registrant);
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|2. | Based on my knowledge, this annual report does
      not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
      fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
      under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the
      period covered by this annual report;
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|3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements,
      and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present
      in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations
      and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in
      this annual report;
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|4. | The registrants other certifying officer
      and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls
      and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e))
      for the registrant and have:
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| | a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures
      to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including
      its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
      entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is
      being prepared;
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| | b) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants
      disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to
      the filing date of this annual report (the Evaluation Date);
      and
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| | c) | Presented in this annual report our conclusions
      about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based
      on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
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|5. | The registrants other certifying officer
      and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrants
      auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors
      (or persons performing the equivalent function):
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| | a) | All significant deficiencies in the design or
      operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrants
      ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have
      identified for the registrants auditors any material weaknesses in
      internal controls; and
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| | b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
      management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants
      internal controls; and
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|6. | The registrants other certifying officer
      and I have indicated in this annual report whether or not there were significant
      changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly
      affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation,
      including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies
      and material weaknesses.
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|Date: March 12, 2004
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|       | /s/ DAVID J. BARRETT                 
|------ | -------------------------------------
|      
|Name:  | David J. Barrett                     
|Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer