Comedy Central Promotes Programming Head Kent Alterman

Consolidates content creation under one department

By Lindsay Rubino -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/23/2013 10:24:20 AM

Comedy Central, in a move to consolidate all its content creation under one department, has promoted Kent Alterman to president of content development and original programming.

Alterman will lead original content development and production across Comedy Central, including its social and other digital platforms. He will also continue to oversee the network's talent and specials team, which, along with the development team, will be more closely aligned with the Enterprises division to capitalize on future brand extensions.

Under this new structure, Mitch Fried, head of the Enterprises division, will report to Alterman and Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless, to whom Alterman will also report.

"In consolidating all content development under Kent's direction, Comedy Central is breaking the wall between linear, digital and social development, with a strategic vision that great content is great content, no matter what platform," said Ganeless.

Before joining Comedy Central as head of original programming in January 2010, Alterman had an overall feature film producing and directing deal with Fox Film Studios, and previously directed and executive produced Semi-Pro, a film from New Line Cinema starring Will Ferrell. He served as New Line's executive VP from 2001 to 2006. Prior to that, he was with Comedy Central as head of the brand's New York office before exiting that post in 2001.