Maynard returns to CBS

CBS has appointed one of its former reality programming chiefs to head up a new unscripted department at its studios division.

Ghen Maynard

Ghen Maynard becomes senior VP of alternative programming at CBS TV Studios, reporting to president David Stapf.

Maynard will oversee the development of unscripted shows for all outlets, with existing shows including TBS’s Drop the Mic and Apple’s Carpool Karaoke spin-offs from The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Maynard oversaw unscripted at CBS from 2000 until 2004 and was behind shows such as Survivor, The Amazing Race and America’s Next Top Model. He left to join NBC as exec VP of primetime development, working on shows including Heroes.

He then returned to CBS to oversee alternative programming, before leaving again in 2008 to become an indie producer, working on pilots for AMC and The CW among others.

Stapf said Maynard’s “outstanding track record in the unscripted arena” and his “creative instincts and strong relationships within the alternative community will be key as we grow our roster of unscripted hits and new formats.”

Earlier this year NBC Entertainment launched unscripted arm Universal Television Alternative Studios, headed up by Meredith Ahr.

The new initiative is part of NBC’s strategy to make its content more global and will supply NBC and other networks with series in the reality and formats space.

It will run alongside NBC’s existing scripted studio, Universal Television, which is led by newly installed president Pearlena Igbokwe.