Sagansky Takes Over CBS Entertainment

Jeff Sagansky, a former NBC executive who now heads Tri-Star Pictures, was named today as president, CBS Entertainment.

Sagansky will take over programming for the network on Jan. 1. CBS, which once dominated television entertainment, has been No. 3 in prime time since the 1987-88 season.

Sagansky replaces Kim LeMasters, who resigned Nov. 30 after two years in the job.

“I am delighted that Jeff Sagansky will be joining CBS,” said Howard Stringer, president, CBS/Broadcast Group. “He has earned the respect and admiration of the Hollywood entertainment community. He brings to our entertainment division not only a clarity of vision but a combination of creative and organizational skills that will prove invaluable to the company.”

The announcement was made jointly by Stringer and Alan J. Levine, head of the filmed entertainment group of Columbia Pictures Entertainment, the parent company of Tri-Star, which released Sagansky from the remaining year of his contract so he could accept the CBS post.

Sagansky developed and oversaw a variety of successful films for Tri-Star including “Peggy Sue Got Married,” “Like Father, Like Son” and the current releases, “Look Who’s Talking,” “Steel Magnolias” and “Glory.”

Before joining Tri-Star in 1985 Sagansky was senior vice president of series programming at NBC for two years, where he was involved in developing such series as “St. Elsewhere,” “Cheers,” “The Cosby Show,” “Miami Vice,” “The A-Team” and “Family Ties.”