CBS entertainment chief Nina Tassler extends deal through 2017

CBS’ entertainment chief, Nina Tassler, has earned a bigger title -- chairman of CBS Entertainment -- and a new employment contract that will keep her at the network through 2017.

Tassler will continue to be responsible for all of CBS’ entertainment programming, including prime-time, daytime and late-night hours. She also will head program development for all genres, including comedy, drama, reality, mini-series and other TV specials.

Tassler will oversee scheduling, research, advertising, promotions, publicity and business affairs for entertainment programming matters, but those division chiefs will continue to report CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves.

“There are very few executives with her track record of consistently achieving high-level success in all forms of entertainment programming,” Moonves said in a statement Thursday announcing Tassler’s new contract.

Tassler also will continue to report to Moonves. The two executives have worked together for 25 years, dating back to their days at Lorimar Television and, later, Warner Bros. Television, where they developed and produced “ER.”

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Over the years, Tassler has helped nurture some of the most popular shows in television, including “The Big Bang Theory,” “How I Met Your Mother,” and the critically acclaimed “The Good Wife.” Earlier, when she served as senior vice president of drama development, Tassler helped shepherd “CSI” and “NCIS” to the screen.

Tassler joined CBS in August 1997 as vice president for drama programming for CBS Productions. The following year, she moved over to the CBS network as senior vice president of drama development and became the network’s entertainment president in 2003.

Tassler also serves on the board for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation and for Jewish Family Services. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for Boston University. She graduated from Boston University after majoring in theater.

She began her career as an assistant at the Roundabout Theater Company in New York while waiting tables and auditioning for acting roles. She got a call back for the play “Come Back, Little Sheba,” but failed to land the part. However, she excelled in program development.

Tassler is married to director Jerry Levine, and they have two children, Matt and Alice.

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