Amazon hires CBS alum for unscripted

Amazon has hired the former head of alternative programming at CBS as its head of unscripted television following the departure of Heather Schuster in August.

Chris Castallo

Chris Castallo has joined the global streamer in the role and will report to Albert Cheng and Vernon Sanders, co-heads of television at Amazon Studios.

Castallo left CBS after a decade in 2017 having joined the network in 2007. He previously served as senior VP of development at US broadcast network NBC.

He had a short stint at Verizon’s OTT service Go90, which was shut down in July after failing to reach a sizeable audience.

Schuster left Amazon after less than a year in the position, which she took following the departure of Conrad Riggs, who was one of numerous executives to leave the firm in 2017 alongside Roy Price, the president of Amazon Studios.

Castallo’s appointment comes after James Farrell was named head of international originals at Amazon Studios on Friday.

In the newly created role, Farrell will lead the international original teams in Japan, India, Europe, Mexico and Brazil, as well as “future locales,” Amazon said.

Farrell was previously head of content, international expansion, where he was instrumental in the launch of Prime Video in Japan, India and Latin America, Amazon added.

Farrell will report to Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, who joined from NBC Entertainment in February.

Amazon has so far commissioned original series filmed in local languages, such as Breathe and Inside Edge in India, Documental in Japan, Extrano Enemigo in Mexico and You Are Wanted in Germany.

Brad Beale, VP of worldwide content licensing, will continue to oversee the acquisition and licensing of television and film for Prime Video globally.