TV Land’s Keith Cox Named President of Development at Paramount Network

Sharon Levy, currently head of development at Spike, is expected to leave the network

Keith Cox
Spike

Keith Cox, who currently heads development at TV Land, will add oversight of the new Paramount Network, TheWrap has learned.

The network’s current EVP of Original Programming, Sharon Levy, will step down from the network, which is currently called Spike and is expected to relaunch under its new name in 2018.

Cox will be named president of development and production for the Paramount Network and TV Land, in an official announcement expected to come tomorrow.

Cox was upped to president at TV Land in September 2016, previously having served as executive vice president of development and original programming.

He oversaw all of the network’s originals, including the hits “Younger,” “Teachers” and “Hot in Cleveland,” as well as the upcoming “Heathers” reboot and the Funny Or Die-produced “Throwing Shade.”

Prior to joining TV Land, Cox held the post of Executive Vice President, Comedy and Alternative Development at the WB Television Network, where he oversaw all of the network’s half-hour and reality development. He previously held positions at Greenblatt/Janollari and FX.

The Spike TV rebranding comes as part of Viacom’s “new strategic vision,” announced earlier this month. The restructuring will include increased emphasis on six Viacom brands — BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Paramount.

“Scripted programming will be a significant part of The Paramount Network’s slate as it comes to life in 2018,” Viacom President and CEO Bob Bakish told media analysts and reporters on a conference call earlier this month. “It will benefit from a concentration of some of the scripted stuff we’ve been doing across the house.”

Deadline first reported the news.

Comments