Julie McNamara has been named executive vice president, original content for CBS All Access. The CBS Television Studios veteran will be the subscription streaming service’s first original-programming chief.
McNamara spent the last 10 years at CBS’ studio arm, most recently serving as executive vice president of drama development. Sources tell Variety that CBS Entertainment drama-development executive Bryan Seabury is set to succeed McNamara as head of drama at the studio.
In her new role, McNamara will continue to report to CBS Television Studios president David Stapf. She will also now report to Marc DeBevoise, executive vice president and general manager of CBS Digital Media and CBS Interactive.
“Julie has been one of the industry’s pre-eminent drama development executives for more than a decade,” said Stapf. “Her taste, business savvy and deep relationships with the creative community will serve her and CBS All Access well as we move forward with more marquee premium content for subscribers. As a Studio, we’re very excited to expand into this space, and even more excited to do so with a dedicated executive of Julie’s caliber.”
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McNamara’s transition to All Access is the most recent in a series of moves indicating that CBS has grown serious about building the $6-a-month subscription streaming service, which launched in 2014 as a hub for CBS-owned library content such as “Cheers” and “I Love Lucy.” CBS is now developing original programming to run solely on the service, and has given orders to two series — a new “Star Trek” show from executive producer Bryan Fuller, and a spinoff of “The Good Wife” starring Christina Baranski and Cush Jumbo.
CBS Corp. chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves has said that his goal is for CBS All Access to premiere three to four new original series every season.
Jim Lanzone, who heads All Access and CBS News streaming service CBSN, was promoted last week to the new post of CBS Corp. chief digital officer.
Among the series McNamara developed at CBS Television Studios are “The Good Wife,” “Elementary,” “Scorpion,” “Jane the Virgin,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “Blue Bloods, “Madam Secretary,” “Under the Dome” and “NCIS: Los Angeles.” Prior to joining CBS, she served as senior vice president of drama at ABC.
