James Rosenfield, who helped turn CBS into a television powerhouse during his 20-year tenure, died Saturday at age 97. His family confirmed his death, which occurred in New York.
Rosenfield joined CBS in 1965, starting in sales. By 1977, he had been named president of the network, responsible for affiliated stations. In 1981, he became executive vice president of the CBS Broadcast Group, overseeing CBS News, CBS Entertainment, and CBS Sports.
During his leadership, CBS produced some of its most influential programs. “All in the Family,” “MAS*H,” and “60 Minutes” became cultural staples. Rosenfield counted Walter Cronkite, Morley Safer, Dan Rather, Lesley Stahl, and Mike Wallace among his colleagues and friends.
His rise through CBS was shaped by mentorship from William S. Paley, the network’s founder. Rosenfield’s early assignment involved managing CBS’s sales relationship with Grey Advertising. That opportunity launched his ascent within the company.
Born in Boston on July 18, 1929, Rosenfield attended Roxbury Latin School before graduating from Dartmouth College in 1952. At Dartmouth, he was a student DJ with his own radio show called Rhodes Record Rack.
After serving in the military and working in sales at NBC, Rosenfield joined CBS. He often recounted stories from the media’s “Mad Men” era. His family noted he enjoyed telling tales about the small, lively media world of New York, especially nights at the 21 Club where executives from all three major networks gathered, sometimes as competitors, sometimes as friends.
Rosenfield retired from CBS in 1985. He then served as chairman and CEO of John Blair Communications, a national sales rep for local TV stations. In 1999, he founded JHR & Associates, advising media companies on both traditional and digital platforms.
His community involvement included being a founding board member and chairman emeritus of Reisenbach Philanthropies, which aimed to create a “better and safer New York City.” He also served as president of the International Radio & Television Society, chairman of the Advertising Council, and a lifetime fellow at the Television Academy’s international council.
He is survived by his partner Charlotte; his daughter Laurie and son-in-law Peter; son Jim Jr. and his wife Dana. His grandchildren are Jamie, Kitt, Kristen, Kerrin, and Kendall, and he had five great-grandchildren. Rosenfield was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Nancy, and his brother Allan.
A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York. His family requested donations in his memory be made to Reisenbach Philanthropies.
Rosenfield’s influence on American television stretched beyond ratings and awards. His relationship with the industry’s giants, from Cronkite to Wallace, reflected a period when media figures often moved seamlessly between rival networks, sharing stories at a bar or a dinner table long after the cameras stopped rolling. His career exemplifies the close, sometimes cutthroat, world of broadcast television in the late 20th century.
According to Hollywood Reporter.