CBS Restructures Net Operations

Unlike other media companies' shake-ups, this move won't be accompanied by layoffs. CBS, a broadcast division of media giant Viacom (VIA) , will roll Internet operations CBS.com and CBSNews.com back into the television group, the company told employees in an internal memo Thursday. The restructuring reflects an industry-wide trend. Earlier Thursday, CNBC.com, affiliated with the eponymous cable news network, announced a similar shake-up, and both CNN.com and News Corp.'s Fox-related Web sites have weathered restructuring. The CBS decision brings online and on-air properties closer together and is consistent with restructuring at MTV Networks, another Viacom property, late last year. In the memo, CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves said the move would further cooperation between the company's broadcast and online properties. "CBS Entertainment and CBS News will assume a more focused, active role in the daily development and management of the online sites," the memo read. CBS Entertainment President Nancy Tellem will be responsible for entertainment-related sites while Viacom Interactive Ventures VP David Katz will oversee day-to-day online activities. CBSNews.com will fall under the aegis of CBS News President Andrew Heyward. CBS Network Sales, which is overseen by Joe Abruzzese, will handle both online and television-ad sales. "This new part of our network's sales operation will be dedicated to attracting an entirely new revenue stream to CBS, making sure that on-air and online activities are coordinated in the sale of advertising as well," Moonves said in the memo.