Deborah Barak, who has led business affairs for Entertainment at both the Network and the Studio since 2004, has been promoted to President of Business Operations, it was announced today by Leslie Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corporation, to whom she reports.

In her new position, Barak will expand her purview to include CBS News, as well as CBS Entertainment and CBS Television Studios. She will work closely with the presidents of each of these divisions to manage the business issues and strategies for their respective areas. She will also run the Business Affairs departments for each division, overseeing negotiations for talent and producer deals, program licensing agreements and developing new business models.  In addition, Barak will continue to represent CBS on the board that oversees The CW.

“Debby’s business acumen, deal-making skills and strategic vision have been instrumental in supporting the success of our programming and overall Entertainment business,” said Moonves. “She is a forward-thinking executive who is always one step ahead on how new business models can work to build and enhance content assets. We’re pleased to expand her role and her purview with this new position.”

During her tenure at CBS, Barak has led some of the Network’s and Studio’s highest-profile negotiations. Most recently, she negotiated the talent and production agreements for CBS’s new late night franchises with Stephen Colbert and James Corden, the first late night shows to be produced by CBS Television Studios.

Barak also helped establish a new business model to finance original scripted series in the summer, with lower network license fees and a unique in-season SVOD window. The deal template helped expand the Network’s original programming in the summer with shows such as UNDER THE DOME, EXTANT and ZOO, while also creating more profitable program assets for the Company.

In addition, she has handled license renewals for many of the Network’s biggest hits, including THE BIG BANG THEORY, TWO AND A HALF MEN and the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, and cast renegotiations for long-running series such as NCIS, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION and CRIMINAL MINDS.  

For the Network’s big events, Barak has secured long-term renewals for key franchise specials, including THE GRAMMY AWARDS, THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS and the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS.   

In 2000, Barak drafted the original SURVIVOR cast contract, which became the template for reality television agreements.

Barak had been Executive Vice President, Business Operations, CBS Network Television Entertainment Group since October 2010.  Prior to that, she served as Executive Vice President, Business Affairs, CBS Network Television Entertainment Group since 2004 and Senior Vice President, Business Affairs, CBS Entertainment from February 2002 through October 2004. Previously, Barak served as Senior Vice President, Business Planning and Special Projects, playing a key role in the negotiation of new media deals and co-production agreements.

From 1997 through 2000, Barak served as Vice President, Associate General Counsel at CBS. She was appointed Deputy West Coast Counsel, supervising the Network’s in-house productions in 1991. She joined CBS in 1985 as Broadcast Counsel in the Network’s West Coast law department.

Prior to joining CBS, Barak was an associate at O’Melveny & Myers.

* * *

Press Contacts:

Chris Ender

818-655-1100

cender@cbs.com

Phil Gonzales

818-655-1580

phil.gonzales@cbs.com