CBS Lays Off 20 of Its Film, Miniseries Staff

In a move that reflects a renewed emphasis on series programming, CBS has laid off 20 of its 35-member TV movie and miniseries development staff, including several vice presidents, a network spokeswoman confirmed Monday.

Ann Morfogen said the cuts resulted from the network’s decision last spring to reduce the number of movie blocks in its prime-time schedule this season from three to one.

“We still have all of that staffing we had for last year’s requirements. It’s just too many people,” Morfogen said.

Kim LeMasters, promoted to the presidency of CBS’ entertainment division last week, was not immediately available for comment. Morfogen said that LeMasters, who formerly was vice president of programs for the network, believes that the backbone of CBS is its regular prime-time series and documentaries, rather than special programming such as miniseries and movies.

At a news conference last May, then CBS Entertainment President B. Donald (Bud) Grant said that the decision to cut the movie nights was made because the network “has enjoyed the best program development season we’ve had for five or six years” and CBS wanted to make room for the new product.

Morfogen said the layoff decision was not made by LeMasters in the first days of his new position, but that “concurrent management changes” had inevitably brought the need for revamping the movie and miniseries operations into discussion. She said that there was no significance to CBS deciding to make the cuts now instead of last summer when the fall schedule was announced.

Morfogen said the cuts involved staffers at all levels, including several vice presidents of production, but she declined to reveal which ones. Other CBS staffers said the list of layoffs included Nancy Bein and Robert Silberling, both vice presidents of motion pictures for TV, and Peter Frankovich, vice president of miniseries.

Tony Barr, vice president of CBS Entertainment Productions, confirmed that he was among those laid off.

Most of the dismissals involved West Coast employees, although two New York-based staffers were also axed.

Morfogen said the layoffs would be staggered, with some employees leaving within the next few weeks and others remaining until the first of the year. Some staffers will remain to complete projects already in the works. Morfogen said no projects already under way were being scrapped.

Earlier this year CBS fired 215 employees in its news division.