CBS named Sean McManus as President, CBS Sports, effective
December 16. McManus joins CBS from TWI, where he was Senior
VP/U.S. TV Sales & Programming (CBS Sports). McManus said
yesterday that reacquiring NFL rights was a "huge priority, but
it's not the only priority." McManus: "We have an excellent
foundation of great events. If you put the NFL aside, we're
competitive with every network" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/13). McManus,
asked if CBS-parent Westinghouse will make financing available
for the NFL: "That is the indication I've gotten from
Westinghouse and [CBS President] Peter Lund" (Rudy Martzke, USA
TODAY, 11/13). McManus: "I want to ... take a look at every
single [sports] event CBS currently has rights to and figure out
which ones can be renegotiated early" (Michael Starr, N.Y. POST,
11/13). Elizabeth Jensen of the WALL STREET JOURNAL notes
McManus is "expected to give CBS more fire power" in NFL
negotiations (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/13). MEDIAWEEK's Scotty
Dupree notes some TV execs think CBS "may try to partner with
Turner in an alliance that will split the cable games further"
(MEDIAWEEK, 11/11).
