Today, CBS Sports announced the retirement of Sean McManus, who has served as Chairman of CBS Sports since 1996. McManus has been a major part of the CBS Sports family for more than two decades, and his leadership has helped the network become one of the most successful sports networks in the world.
McManus is credited with helping to launch the NFL on CBS in 1998, and he was instrumental in the network’s acquisition of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2011. He also oversaw the launch of CBS Sports Network in 2002, and he was a key figure in the network’s acquisition of the rights to broadcast the Masters Tournament in 2013.
McManus will be replaced by David Berson, who has been with CBS Sports since 2003. Berson has held a variety of roles with the network, including Senior Vice President of Programming and Executive Vice President of Programming. He was also responsible for developing the network’s digital strategy and overseeing its digital operations.
Berson has a long history in sports broadcasting, having worked at ESPN from 1994 to 2003. He was responsible for developing ESPN’s college football and basketball coverage, and he was a key figure in the network’s acquisition of the rights to broadcast Major League Baseball games.
In his new role as Chairman of CBS Sports, Berson will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the network’s sports programming. He will also be tasked with developing new programming initiatives and expanding the network’s reach.
McManus’ retirement marks the end of an era at CBS Sports, but Berson is well-equipped to take on the challenge of leading the network into the future. With his extensive experience in sports broadcasting and digital media, Berson is poised to continue McManus’ legacy of success at CBS Sports.
