CBS Grows Cable Programming Unit

LOS ANGELES, August 12:
CBS Paramount Network Television is ramping up its original programming
operation for basic and pay-cable platforms, with Jim McKairnes being named
senior VP of cable development and strategic planning.

In this newly created
post, McKairnes will oversee the cable unit’s expansion into comedy, and will
concentrate on identifying international formats and multiplatform
opportunities in the U.S. cable landscape. McKairnes will report to David
Stapf, the president of CBS Paramount Network Television, and will work
alongside Bela Bajaria, the senior VP of cable programming and movies, who
continues to oversee the unit's drama development.

McKairnes, who served as
the senior VP of program planning and scheduling for CBS, has a 13-year history
with the company. He also led scheduling and planning operations at Discovery
Communications for all 11 of its networks.

"I worked with Jim
for years on the network side and have always admired and respected his
intuition for what makes good programming and for what audiences want to
watch," said Stapf. "His experience in both the cable and network
arenas will help set the course for our exploration into new creative ways to
take advantage of today's media landscape."

Stapf continued: "The
demand for original programming on cable networks is growing; our goal is to
service those needs and develop valuable content assets for the company in the
process."

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski