Nickelodeon Names New Programming Executive

Paul Ward Tapped For Primetime Acquisitions Post

By Larry Barrett -- Multichannel News, 6/30/2008 10:47:00 AM

Nickelodeon Monday named Paul Ward as its new executive vice president, primetime acquisitions and strategy, for the Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group.

In this new role, Ward will oversee program acquisitions for the primetime and overnight Nick at Nite programming block. He will partner with all Kids and Family Group departments, including programming, on-air promotions and ad sales to further develop Nickelodeon’s primetime brand with families. He was a member of the Nick at Nite team from 1990 to 2006.

“Paul will be a key member of our team as Nick at Nite continues its evolution from its original mission as an adults-only destination to one that is inclusive of kids and serves the first generation of Nickelodeon families currently coming of age,” Cyma Zarghami, president, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group, said in a statement. “He will help us identify and acquire new primetime programming and will help put a long-term strategy in place.”

Ward, an 18-year veteran of MTV Networks, returns to the MTVN Kids and Family Group from TV Land where he most recently served as senior vice president for communications. Part of the team that launched TV Land in 1996, Ward served on the network’s strategy team and was responsible for all communication strategies relate to original programming, acquired programming, TVLand.com and on- and off-air branding.