King World Productions has let its entire programming staff go, including
Steven Nalevansky, senior vice president of programming and development,
spokesman Arthur Sando confirmed.
King World is in the process of hiring a new programming staff, Sando said.
Nalevansky's contract expired and was not renewed, and that was also true for
Vanessa Coffey, VP of development, and Mary Duffy, VP of
production and development.
Three other staffers also were laid off: manager Mark Severino and two
assistants.
The move has led to speculation that Viacom Inc. will consolidate syndication
development and production under Paramount Pictures, which also is owned by Viacom,
leaving distribution to King World.
Spokesmen from both Paramount and King World said there is no truth to the
speculation and the two companies continue to be run separately.
Working together, however, the two have had great success this year with the
launch of Paramount-produced and King World-distributed Dr. Phil.
Next fall, King World is launching Living It Up! With Ali & Jack,
an idea that was developed by King World's sales department.
