Paramount Appoints New Executives for TV Operation

In the wake of the resignation this month of Paramount Television Group Chairman Kerry McCluggage, the studio reorganized its television operation into two divisions and named executives to run them.

Joel Berman has been named president of Paramount’s worldwide TV distribution. The former head of the studio’s domestic TV operations, Berman will add international distribution and pay TV to his current responsibilities, which include the development, production and sale of first-run syndication series such as “Entertainment Tonight.”

Paramount’s new president of television production is Garry Hart, who has served as president of Paramount Network Television since 1993 and oversaw the development of network shows such as “Frasier.”

Both divisions will report to Viacom Entertainment Group Chairman Jonathan Dolgen.

Two months ago, Paramount’s parent company, Viacom Inc., shifted responsibility for the struggling UPN network from McCluggage to CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves in a move to consolidate Viacom’s two broadcast network operations.

The economic slowdown has crimped network advertising and the television industry has been looking for ways to cut costs, including trimming production expenses.

But Hart and Berman said there would be no “downsizing” at Paramount.