CBS ents chief takes leave after heart attack

CBS Entertainment president Glenn Geller is to take medical leave after suffering a heart attack, US reports say.

Geller (pictured) told CBS staff the episode had been “mild” and that he is “on track for a full recover”, but he would not be attending the upfronts next month.

CBS Corp. CEO Les Moonves has not appointed an interim entertainment chief and has instead urged the existing executive team to “step up”, while he himself will be more involved in the closing stages of pilot season.

Geller has been president of entertainment at US broadcaster CBS since September 2015, when he succeeded Nina Tassler.

Last year, he oversaw a slate of new shows that included the high-rating dramas Bull and MacGyver and comedies such as Kevin Can Wait and Superior Donuts. He has also taken a gameshow based on the Candy Crush app to series.

Last week, CBS recently renewed 18 series, including the long-running Big Brother, The Big bang Theory and Survivor, the rights to which were yesterday snapped up by Banijay Group as part of a deal to acquire Castaway Television, as TBI revealed.

New season pilots include comedies Living Biblically, Brothered Up and Real Life and dramas The Get, Perfect Citizen and S.W.A.T.

He has been with CBS since 2001.