Turner Ent. builds Levi to top of acquisitions
Exec to oversee nets
The announcement was made late last week at the Television Critics Assn. press tour in Pasadena by Steven Heyer, president and chief operating officer of Turner Broadcasting System Inc.
Levi, who was formerly executive VP of worldwide program planning and acquisitions, is responsible for strategic program planning for Turner's entertainment networks -- TBS Superstation, TNT, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies -- with overall responsibility for program acquisitions.
Levi is also a member of TBS Inc.'s executive committee, and oversees the company's standards and practices division and the public affairs department.
Over the last few years, Levi has spearheaded TBS' strategy to aggressively acquire major theatrical films and off-network series.
Levi has acquired for TBS the broadcast network window of films such as "You've Got Mail," "Stepmom," "As Good as It Gets," "L.A. Confidential," "The English Patient," "Shine," "Batman & Robin" and "The American President."
Levi's off-network series acquisitions include "ER," "Law & Order," "Seinfeld," "The Drew Carey Show," "Friends" and "Home Improvement."
Levi began working for Turner almost three decades ago. He joined TBS (then called Turner Communications Group) in 1970 as an account executive for Atlanta Independent Channel 17, the forerunner of TBS Superstation. He was named regional account executive in 1978, retail sales manager in 1980 and spot sales manager in 1981.
In 1982, Levi was appointed general sales manager for TBS Sales, and VP and general manager of Turner Reciprocal Advertising Corp. He was named VP and general sales manager of TBS Sales in 1984, VP and general manager for TBS Superstation in June 1986 and executive VP of TBS in April 1988.
Levi was named executive VP of program administration and acquisitions for Turner Entertainment Networks in May 1991, before being named to his most recent position in November 1996.
