NEW YORK, June 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Matthew C. Blank, who has served as Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Showtime Networks since 1995, will pass
his title and duties as CEO to a key lieutenant on Jan. 1, 2016. Blank will continue on in his role
as Chairman of the division after the transition.
"Matt Blank has led Showtime as
its Chairman and CEO through two decades of dramatic change and
evolution in the industry," said Leslie
Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corporation. "At each and
every turn, he has shown terrific instincts and knowledge of the
business. His patience, energy and dedication were central to
building Showtime into the powerhouse it is today. He is passing
the CEO torch at a terrific time, with Showtime now poised
for significant new growth over the Internet."
David Nevins, the current
President of Showtime, will become the President and Chief
Executive Officer, Showtime Networks Inc. In his new role, Nevins
will be responsible for all aspects of the daily and strategic
management of the division. In addition to his current role, which
includes all creative development and acquisition of premium
programming, marketing, and other duties as noted below, his new
role will add responsibility for all of the other business
functions at Showtime.
In connection with his appointment to CEO, Nevins' term of
employment is extended through calendar year 2018.
"One of the key attributes I look for in my leadership team is
the capacity and willingness to bring up the next generation of
management," Moonves added. "Matt has been an eager partner and
invaluable contributor to the succession planning process at
Showtime. It is a credit to Matt that we are now prepared to add
the CEO duties to a talented executive like David Nevins, who is more than ready to take on
this important role."
On Nevins' promotion, Moonves stated: "David is quite simply one
of the most brilliant creative minds in our business today, and a
great business manager as well, a combination that is both rare and
incredibly valuable. In this world that is flooding with content,
he is a peerless programmer whose work immediately rises to the
top, be it in entertainment, in documentaries or in sports,
all of which have blossomed under his leadership at Showtime. We
couldn't be more excited about the great skills that he brings to
the job, and the incredible potential that he will be sure to
realize."
Blank added: "I'm so proud of all the success
at Showtime over the past few years. One of the great
joys of my career has been working with David Nevins. I know he'll bring his great
programming, business and leadership skills, as well as his passion
for Showtime, to his new responsibilities. This is a time of great
opportunity for the company, and we are delighted David will be at
the helm."
"This transition comes at a time of truly exciting growth for
Showtime," said Nevins. "I feel fortunate to be handed the reins by
Leslie and Matt, who have been the kind of mentors you can only
hope to find once in a lifetime. Looking forward, all of us at
Showtime will benefit immeasurably from Matt's ongoing guidance and
counsel as Chairman."
As President of Showtime Networks Inc., David Nevins has been responsible for
developing, acquiring and supervising all aspects of programming
for all of the Showtime Networks channels across all genres
including comedy, drama, reality, specials, documentaries and
films. Nevins also manages SHOWTIME Sports®, and the Company's
marketing, creative, digital media, scheduling, research,
acquisitions, home entertainment, business affairs and corporate
communications teams. He also serves as the liaison to CBS
Corporation's international and domestic distribution groups. Under
his tenure, SHOWTIME launched eight consecutive hit series,
including the record-breaking, critically acclaimed series THE
AFFAIR and RAY DONOVAN, MASTERS OF
SEX, as well as HOMELAND, SHAMELESS, PENNY DREADFUL, EPISODES,
HOUSE OF LIES, all of which rank among the network's top-rated
shows. The first project greenlit by Nevins at the network,
HOMELAND, was the recipient of Golden Globe® and
Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Drama Series, as well
as a prestigious Peabody Award.
Before joining Showtime, Nevins was an Emmy Award-winning
producer and network programming executive. He served as President
of Imagine Television from 2002-2010, where he oversaw development,
production and was an executive producer on all Imagine Television
shows. Under his leadership, Imagine produced "Arrested
Development," which won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, and
"24", which won for Outstanding Drama Series. He also developed and
executive produced "Parenthood," "Lie to Me," "Shark" and the
critically acclaimed series "Friday Night Lights," which received
honors from the American Film Institute (AFI) for Television
Program of the Year and the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. Nevins also
received an Emmy Award nomination for his work as an executive
producer on the final season of "Friday Night Lights."
Prior to joining Imagine, Nevins served as Executive Vice
President of Programming at Fox Broadcasting Company. He oversaw
all development and current programming for such series as "The
Bernie Mac Show," "Malcolm in the Middle," as well as the Emmy and
Golden Globe Award-winning first season of "24." Previously, Nevins
served as Senior Vice President, Primetime Series at NBC, where he
was responsible for the development and creative supervision of
such renowned dramas and comedies as "ER," "The West Wing," "Will
& Grace," "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Law & Order:
SVU."
In 2014 Nevins was awarded the prestigious Vanguard Award
for Programmers, the NCTA's top honor. He serves on various
industry boards, including the HRTS Board of Directors, the George
Foster Peabody Awards Board of Advisors, the Paley Center
Los Angeles Board of Governors, and
is on the ATAS Executive Committee. Nevins currently serves as the
Vice President and as a member of the Board of Directors for the
Friends of the Saban Community Clinic.
Nevins graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College in Amherst, Mass. He and his wife, Andrea, live
in Los Angeles with their daughter
and two sons.
Matt Blank has made a significant
and indelible mark on the cable television industry in a career
spanning over three decades. Blank has been with Showtime Networks
Inc. since 1988, assuming the position of President and Chief
Operating Officer in 1991, followed by President and CEO, and then
Chairman and CEO in 1995. Prior to that, he served as Executive
Vice President, Marketing, where he oversaw all of the networks'
consumer marketing, creative services and public relations
functions. Before joining Showtime Networks, Blank worked for Home
Box Office Inc. for 12 years, departing as Senior Vice President of
Consumer Marketing.
Under Blank's leadership, Showtime Networks has grown from three
premium networks – SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL and FLIX – to 27
digital channels. SNI has also been a champion and early adopter of
the latest technologies, such as high definition and subscription
video on demand (SVOD), providing subscribers with an enhanced
viewing experience, along with more choice, convenience and value.
During his tenure, Blank has helped transform Showtime into one of
the most successful networks in the TV industry.
Blank is active in numerous industry organizations. He currently
serves on the Board of Directors of the National Cable Television
Association (NCTA) and the Cable Center. In 2013, he was honored by
the Center for Communication with the Dr. Frank Stanton Award for Excellence in
Communications. He was inducted
into Broadcasting and Cable magazine's
Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Cable Center Hall of Fame in 2009. He
has garnered numerous industry awards, including the NCTA's top
honor, the Vanguard Award for Leadership in 2008. In 2003, Blank
received the Grand TAM Award, the Cable and Telecommunications
Association for Marketing's (CTAM) highest honor. In March 2004, he was honored by Cable Positive with
the Joel A. Berger Award for his
contribution to the fight against AIDS.
Blank has also been honored by a number of other nonprofit
organizations. In 2001, he was the recipient of People for the
American Way Foundation's prestigious "Spirit of Liberty" award at
its 17th annual gala. In 2003, he was honored with the
UJA-Federation of NY's Entertainment Media & Communications
Division Award, and in 2004 he was presented with the Lifetime
Visionary Award by the Israel Film
Festival. In 2006, the T. Howard Foundation honored him for
his and Showtime Networks' efforts in support of diversity. In
2007, Blank was honored by the Innocence Project for the SHOWTIME
production of the award-winning documentary AFTER INNOCENCE, which
made a significant contribution to advancing an understanding of
the plight of the wrongfully convicted.
Blank has been a Trustee of the Harlem Children's Zone for
almost 20 years. He also serves as a Trustee of the Museum of the
Moving Image, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the
Manhattan Theatre Club.
Blank is a graduate of the University of
Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and holds an
M.B.A. from Baruch College. He resides
in New York City with his wife,
Susan McGuirk.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc.
(SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and
operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE
MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON
DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON
DEMAND®, and the network's authentication service
SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service
SHOWTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a
joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which
offers Smithsonian Channel™. SNI markets and distributes sports and
entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a
pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go
to www.SHO.com.
About CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and
CBS) is a mass media company that creates and distributes
industry-leading content across a variety of platforms to audiences
around the world. The Company has businesses with origins that date
back to the dawn of the broadcasting age as well as new ventures
that operate on the leading edge of media. CBS owns the
most-watched television network in the U.S. and one of the world's
largest libraries of entertainment content, making its brand — "the
Eye" — one of the most recognized in business. The Company's
operations span virtually every field of media and entertainment,
including cable, publishing, radio, local TV, film, and interactive
and socially responsible media. CBS's businesses include CBS
Television Network, The CW (a joint venture between CBS Corporation
and Warner Bros. Entertainment), CBS Television Studios, CBS Global
Distribution Group (CBS Studios International and CBS Television
Distribution), CBS Consumer Products, CBS Home Entertainment, CBS
Interactive, CBS Films, Showtime Networks, CBS Sports Network, Pop
(a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Lionsgate),
Smithsonian Networks, Simon & Schuster, CBS Television
Stations, CBS Radio and CBS EcoMedia. For more information, go
to www.cbscorporation.com.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/showtime-executive-transition-plan-is-announced-300097779.html
SOURCE CBS Corporation