Paul McGuire is the new svp, communications, The CW, the new fifth broadcast television network, a joint venture between Warner Bros. Ent. and CBS Corp. scheduled to launch in fall 2006. Dawn Ostroff, who is slated to become The CW's president of entertainment, made the announcement.
In this new position, McGuire will work with Ostroff and John Maatta, The CW's coo, to develop communications strategies to reach all the network's key constituents in the programming, advertising and station communities. He will also be responsible for orchestrating The CW's launch campaign in the press, build its communications department and oversee all publicity, media relations, internal communications and talent relations activities for the new network.
"Paul is a skilled and talented public relations executive whose respect from the press is matched only by the admiration of his peers," said Ostroff. "He is a brilliant strategist and manager whose intuitive understanding of the media landscape will be of enormous benefit in communicating The CW message to the press and all of our key constituents. In addition, Paul comes to The CW having worked at both UPN and The WB, providing a unique background and vantage point of what it takes to compete as the fifth broadcast network."
McGuire has been svp, network communications, The WB Television Network since 2001, where he directed and oversaw the network's corporate and consumer publicity campaigns, as well as talent relations and photography.
From 1998-2001, McGuire was svp, media relations, UPN, overseeing all corporate communications and planning and executing show publicity campaigns for the network.
Previously, McGuire was vp, prime time program publicity, corporate communications, NBC (1995-1998), directing print publicity campaigns on behalf of ER, SEINFELD, FRASIER and LAW & ORDER, in addition to the network's other series, movies, miniseries and specials.
The new CW Network will consist of a six-night, 13-hour primetime lineup, including Monday through Friday nights from 8:00-10:00 PM (ET/PT); Sundays from 7:00-10:00 PM (ET/PT); Sunday from 5:00-7:00 PN (ET/PT) outside of primetime as well as a Monday-Friday afternoon block from 3:00-5:00 PM (ET/PT) and a five-hour Saturday morning animation block. Altogether, the network will program 30 hours a week over seven days.
