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.