Tony Petitti has been named Executive Producer, CBS Sports, it was announced today by Sean McManus, President, CBS Sports. Petitti will begin his new post on July 29 and will report to McManus.

"Tony Petitti has an uncanny knowledge of what makes good sports television and is well positioned to continue and build on our already outstanding production quality and on-air talent," said McManus.

Petitti returns to CBS Sports after having served as Vice President and General Manager, WCBS-TV New York since August 1999. Before that, he was Senior Vice President, Business Affairs and Programming, CBS Sports.

"Tony is a terrific general manager who has made improvements across the board at WCBS-TV - most notably the acquisition of the Yankees broadcast rights and investing in the station's news product," said Fred Reynolds, President of the Viacom Television Stations Stations Group. "He was presented with two awesome opportunities and while our stations will miss him greatly, CBS Sports - as well as the Company - will surely benefit. I look forward to working with Tony on an ongoing basis."

"This is a great opportunity to work with Sean McManus and to be a part of television's most successful Sports Division," said Petitti. "CBS Sports has a terrific schedule of events and an outstanding production team. I am looking forward to getting started and I am eager to contribute to the Division's continued success."

Petitti replaces Terry Ewert who served as Executive Producer, CBS Sports since April 1997.

"Everyone at CBS Sports owes a huge debt of gratitude to Terry Ewert who has dramatically improved every aspect of our on-air presentation," said McManus. "His creativity and his operational expertise will be sorely missed."

While at WCBS-TV Petitti oversaw the transformation and reshaping of the CBS flagship-station, including acquiring the over-the-air rights to broadcast New York Yankees games, rehiring veteran anchor Ernie Anastos, introducing a 4:30 PM newscast and moving the station to new studios at the CBS Broadcast Center. Under Petitti's leadership, the station also was honored with a regional and national Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in journalism for its coverage of the attack on the World Trade Center.

In addition to his work at WCBS-TV, Petitti also continued his association with CBS Sports as Special Advisor to the President of the Division.

Petitti joined CBS Sports as Senior Vice President, Business Affairs and Programming in February 1997. His responsibilities included managing the Division's programming and business affairs activities, including all contract negotiations and future acquisitions. Petitti played a key role in the CBS Television Network's acquisition of the NFL and negotiated contract extensions with the PGA TOUR, U.S. Open Tennis Championships, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the PGA Championship. He was also involved in CBS Sports programming strategies and long-term planning for the Division. He joined CBS Sports from NBC Sports, where he was Senior Vice President, Negotiations.

He had been Vice President, Programming, ABC Sports (1994-96), overseeing the acquisition and scheduling of ABC Sports programming, including college football regular-season and bowl games, college basketball, track and field, the Little League World Series and NASCAR events.

Petitti joined ABC Sports in 1988 as general attorney and was later named Director of Programming. Prior to that he spent two years at the law firm of Caldwater, Wickersham and Taft.

He was graduated from Harvard Law School in 1986 and from Harverford College in 1983 with a degree in economics. He lives with his wife and daughters in Chappaqua, N.Y.