David Nevins Named President, Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.

NEW YORK, June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- David Nevins, an Emmy® Award-winning producer and veteran network programming executive, has been named President of Entertainment at Showtime Networks Inc., it was announced today by Matthew C. Blank, Chairman and CEO of Showtime Networks Inc., to whom he will report.  Mr. Nevins will succeed Robert Greenblatt, who announced he will leave the network after completing his current contract in July.

Nevins, who has served as President of Imagine Television since 2002, will be responsible for developing, acquiring and supervising all aspects of programming for all of the Showtime Networks channels.  He will be based in Los Angeles and begin his new position later this summer.

At Imagine, Nevins oversaw development and production and served as executive producer for all of the company's television productions, including the Golden Globe® and Emmy Award-winning 24 and the critically acclaimed Friday Night Lights.  He also developed and served as executive producer on FOX's Emmy Award-winning comedy series ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT. Other shows Nevins currently has on the air are FOX's LIE TO ME, NBC's PARENTHOOD, and the upcoming comedy FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, also on NBC.

Previously, as Executive Vice President, Programming at FOX Broadcasting Company, he spearheaded development and current programming for both comedy and drama series.  During his tenure at FOX, he developed 24, THE Bernie Mac SHOW and Boston Public, among others.  Before joining FOX, Nevins was Senior Vice President, Primetime Series at NBC, overseeing the award-winning series Will & Grace, ER, The West Wing, Law & Order: SVU and Homicide: Life on the Street.

"I'm thrilled to welcome a creative executive of the caliber of David Nevins to our company," said Blank. "David's career has been punctuated by genre-defining programming at every turn and has the perfect creative sensibility for Showtime Networks' next exciting chapter," he added.

"At the same time, I have to say that Bob Greenblatt is one of the finest executives in the business and has developed some of the most extraordinary original programming of the past decade.  His legacy has us grateful and well-positioned for the company's future."

"Showtime has shown a remarkably consistent ability to develop unique, signature shows with that rare combination of creative integrity and mass appeal- and frankly they do the kind of shows I like to watch," said Nevins. "Matt and Bob have done this by creating a nurturing environment where the best creative talent can thrive.  It's exactly the same philosophy that we had at Imagine under Brian (Grazer) and Ron's (Howard) leadership. Showtime is a place where quality wins and I'm excited to build on its legacy."

Greenblatt joined Showtime in July 2003 with a mandate to reinvigorate the Showtime brand and establish the network as a leading premium subscription network with original programming.  He leaves the network with significant growth in both its subscriber base and operating profit, and a full portfolio of original programming that includes DEXTER, WEEDS, NURSE JACKIE, and CALIFORNICATION, among many others.

"During the last seven years, we've managed to reinvigorate Showtime as a vital, attention-getting network, which is now known as a destination for some of the best, most original series anywhere on television," said Greenblatt.  "Showtime's programming line-up is directly responsible for the network's remarkable growth and has brought wide-ranging critical acclaim. I have enormous respect and admiration for everyone at Showtime who have worked so passionately as a team, and I can't thank Matt Blank enough for his unconditional support, his leadership, and his partnership with me every step of the way. I leave exceedingly proud that Showtime now stands as a vibrant, exciting, groundbreaking network and I predict it will remain so for many years to come."

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®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™  XTRA.  SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, SHOWTIME 2 HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™ and FLIX ON DEMAND®.  SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution which recently launched SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL™.  All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

SOURCE Showtime Networks Inc.