SHARON VUONG, SVP OF ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMMING, LEAVES CBS

CBS Entertainment’s SVP of Alternative Programming, Sharon Vuong has left the company after three years as Head of Unscripted and nine years at the network overall. Vuong’s contract expired and she decided to not renew it. Her last day on duty was on Friday, but no replacement has been determined yet. “Although it was a very difficult decision for me, I’m excited to carve out my next chapter, and to enjoy a much-needed break with my family,” Vuong wrote in an email to her CBS colleagues. 

Vuong oversaw the development of new alternative programs and CBS’ current slate of reality franchises. Although for the past decade, the network’s long-running reality franchises, “Survivor,” “Big Brother,” “The Amazing Race” and “Undercover Boss,” continue to do well, the network does not take too many shots in the unscripted area. Her most successful bet was “Love Island,” a U.S. version of the hit British series, which did well with a young audience and became the network’s most-streamed new show on CBS All Access and CBS.com in over a year. Social Media boosted the show’s popularity.  

Vuong joined CBS in 2011 as Director of Alternative Programming, working as the current executive on Big Brother, Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Undercover Boss. She was promoted to VP Alternative Programming in 2012. She was named to the position in April 2017 after spending six years in CBS’s alternative department and was well-liked by colleagues and producers. The popular reality series was renewed for a second season, but, similar to CBS’s “Big Brother,” it is uncertain about its upcoming season plans since Hollywood production is shut down.

The network still hopes to air both shows sometimes this summer. “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race” have also been put on hold. CBS has two upcoming reality series shepherded by Vuong, “Tough As Nails,” hosted by Phil Keoghan, and “Game On,”  hosted by Keegan-Michael Key, and featuring Venus Williams and Rob Gronkowski. “Our incredible head of alternative, Sharon Vuong, informed Thom (Sherman) and me recently that she would be leaving when her contract expires this week. (If I were on my iPhone, this is where I would type in the sad face emoji.),” CBS Entertainment President, Kelly Kahl wrote in a company memo last week. ”Sharon has been an invaluable member of CBS Entertainment, leading the alternative team with creativity, energy and a collaborative, talent-friendly style that our producers have always greatly appreciated.”