Cohen reups at MGM TV

By VARIETY STAFF

Syndication sales veteran Sid Cohen has reupped as president of MGM Domestic TV Distribution, just as Leo gets ready to hit the syndie marketplace with a new talkshow strip for fall 1998.

Cohen confirmed Monday that MGM is moving forward on plans to launch a Las Vegas-based talkshow hosted by actor Meshach Taylor ("Dave's World," "Designing Women") next year. A pilot shot at the MGM Grand casino last week will be shopped to station buyers later this month.

Cohen is said to have signed a new five-year contract with MGM. As part of the deal, Cohen will oversee a new three-person sales unit focusing on basic cable networks. In addition to overseeing domestic marketing and distribution for MGM's syndie fare, he's also taking on new responsibility for sales to pay TV outlets in Canada. Cohen continues to report to John Symes, president of MGM Worldwide Television Group.

Cohen has been president of MGM Domestic TV Distribution since 1991. During his tenure, Cohen has helped revive the studio's flagging TV fortunes with the successful syndication launch of the MGM/Showtime dramas "The Outer Limits," "Poltergeist: the Legacy" and the reality strip "LAPD: Life on the Beat." His misses, however, include MGM's most recent foray into the syndie talkshow biz, last season's short-lived "The Bradshaw Difference."

Before coming to MGM, Cohen spent six years as president of domestic sales for King World Prods. Cohen's resume also includes stints as a syndie sales exec for Paramount and Warner Bros.