CBS CBS Corp

By Joe Flint 

Nina Tassler, the chairman of entertainment at CBS and an architect of the network's prime-time success for almost two decades, is stepping down at the end of the year.

CBS said Glenn Geller, who has been with the network in various programming roles since 2001, would be promoted to president of the entertainment division. That position had been vacant since Ms. Tassler was named chairman last year.

The departure of Ms. Tassler, 58 years old, didn't come as a surprise to industry insiders. Although her current contract has more than two years left on it, she has indicated for some time that the grind of the job was starting to overtake the fun and glamour. She approached CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves earlier this summer and said she'd like to leave sooner rather than later, a person familiar with the matter said.

"It is time for my next chapter," Ms. Tassler said in a statement. She is working on a book and has also expressed a desire to return to her roots as a theater producer.

Although making a change at quarterback just before the fall television season starts might seem unusual, the broadcast networks are already getting in gear to start the development process for next season. Putting Mr. Geller, 43 years old, in a position play a part in that process motivated CBS's timing.

Ms. Tassler has been one of the most successful programming executives in recent history. Shows launched on her watch include "The Big Bang Theory," "The Good Wife" and "How I Met Your Mother." Ms. Tassler first gained notice working under Mr. Moonves at Warner Bros. Television, where she was involved the development of several hits, including the medical drama "ER." She joined CBS in 1997, a few years after Mr. Moonves went there as head of entertainment and rose through the ranks.

In a statement, Mr. Moonves praised Ms. Tassler and their 25 years of collaboration. "Nina is a creative executive with the instincts of an artist, so it came as no surprise that she would eventually want to express those talents beyond television," he said.

The reporting structure of CBS's entertainment operations will remain unchanged. Mr. Geller will report to Mr. Moonves just as Ms. Tassler had. David Stapf, the head of CBS's production studio, will also continue to report to Mr. Moonves. Unlike Walt Disney Co.'s ABC and 21st Century Fox, CBS keeps its production and network arms independent of each other.

CBS is coming off a season in which it finished first in total viewers and was a second in the coveted demographic of adults of 18-to-49 years old. The network returned four of its six new shows for a second season. This season CBS will get a big boost from broadcasting Super Bowl 50.

The network's big bets for the new season include "Supergirl," which will debut in November, and "Code Black," a hospital drama in the vein of "ER." Advertisers project that the network will again be solid.

That doesn't mean it will be smooth sailing for Mr. Geller. All the broadcast networks are struggling to hold on to viewers in an era where there is a plethora of options, including cable and streaming services. In addition, companies such as CBS have done very well selling reruns of their shows to Netflix and Amazon, but there is concern among some Wall Street analysts that this practice is ultimately going to hurt the traditional media business.

Write to Joe Flint at joe.flint@wsj.com

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 15, 2015 12:51 ET (16:51 GMT)

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