Samples tapped at Turner nets

Senior VP heads Spanish TNT, Cartoon Network

By ANDREW PAXMAN

MIAMI -- Jim Samples has been named senior veep and general manager of the Spanish-lingo versions of Turner's TNT and Cartoon Network, two of the most popular cablers in Latin America.

Samples, formerly Turner's Buenos Aires-based Latino senior veepee, fills the vacancy left by Charlotte Leonard, who unexpectedly ankled last fall.

Samples will be aided by two VPs: Barry Koch, who will help to oversee Cartoon Network, and Rick Perez, who will help manage TNT.

Based in Atlanta, where he will report to Turner Latino prez Jon Petrovich, Samples will manage all operations, development, marketing and PR for the two nets.