COMPANY TOWN : Cap Cities Exec Named to Head Video Venture

The video joint venture among four phone companies and Walt Disney Co. is being christened Americast, with Capital Cities/ABC Inc. executive Stephen A. Weiswasser named its chief executive.

Weiswasser’s appointment had been expected as word began spreading throughout Hollywood last week that he was in line for the job.

Currently president of Cap Cities/ABC’s multimedia group, Weiswasser will head Americast starting Nov. 1.

The video venture, which was announced in April, is expected to eventually create a range of video and interactive services with the backing of Ameritech Corp., BellSouth Corp., GTE Corp. and SBC Communications. Weiswasser joined Captial Cities/ABC nine years ago. His titles there included executive vice president for ABC Television Network Group and executive vice president of ABC News.

The venture is similar to another video project, Tele-TV, that is being backed by regional phone companies Pacific Telesis Group, Bell Atlantic Corp. and Nynex Corp.

* Matthew J. Hart has been hired as Walt Disney Co. senior vice president and treasurer from Host Marriott Corp. Hart is joining his former boss, Stephen F. Bollenbach, who earlier this year left Host Marriott, where he was chief executive, to join Disney as chief financial officer.

* Dennis Maguire was promoted to senior vice president of sales and distribution at Buena Vista Home Video.

* Jessica Roddy was named vice president of business and legal affairs at Castle Rock Entertainment.

* Marrianne (Mimi) Magnuson-Carson has joined Hanna-Barbera Inc. as assistant vice president for business and legal affairs. Edward L. Kaufman has been named director of business and legal affairs.