Les Moonves Staffs Up CBS Films Division

cbs-films.jpgDebbie Miller has been named executive VP of worldwide marketing for his new CBS Films division. She comes over when her contract expires in June with Warner Bros. Pictures, where she serves as executive VP of domestic theatrical marketing. What has yet to be adequately explained is why Les Moonves needs this film division in the first place.  

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5 Comments »

  1. But, another studio could make even more uninspired and impotent contributions to our already rich culture of craptactular commercial films.

    Comment by Benjamin — March 26, 2008 @ 12:29 pm

  2. Les needs his own CBS film division because he desperately wanted Paramount to be assigned to him during the breakup of mother Viacom. Sumner of course put Paramount in the same bed as all of the cable networks, leaving Les at CBS to come up with his own film studio. Les isn’t one to take ‘no’ for an answer.

    Comment by Anonymous — March 26, 2008 @ 1:37 pm

  3. Nikki, here is the main reason. Les simply wants Oscar glory for himself. He somewhat controls Showtime which currently holds a movie called “An American Crime” which co-stars Ellen Page who is a hot name in Hollywood as of right now. The only problem is that the movie is scheduled to air May 9th on Showtime, but Les can cut the Showtime airing and release it into theaters December 19th under the new CBS Films banner. I don’t like him as much as you, but I admire him for jumping at opportunities like this.

    Comment by Jessy S. — March 26, 2008 @ 1:38 pm

  4. I can’t wait for Dexter: The Movie Based on the CBS Show Based on the Showtime Original Series based on the Graphic Novel.

    Comment by tenpercenter — March 26, 2008 @ 2:25 pm

  5. Nikki, ask yourself why Sumner spun CBS off in the first place. Probably because he knows that in 5 years, the value of all networks will be minimized and CBS’ future reduced margins would ultimately drag down the Viacom stock. You watch, the CBS Films division will end up being the most lucrative division of the whole company. Which might not be saying much. Plus, with Showtime in his division, he not only guarantees Showtime future releases at an insider price, it guarantees CBS Films movies a Pay TV deal - that is something even Messrs. Weinstein don’t have.

    Comment by Shayne R. — March 26, 2008 @ 7:54 pm

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