• Chris McCarthy

    President and CEO, SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks

    Full Bio
  • GARY S. LEVINE

    Senior Creative Advisor, Showtime Networks Inc.

    Gary Levine serves as Senior Creative Advisor for Showtime Networks Inc. 

    Under his creative leadership, SHOWTIME has become an acclaimed source of distinctive and provocative series including: DEXTER, THE CHI, SHAMELESS, HOMELAND, BILLIONS, Sacha Baron Cohen’s WHO IS AMERICA, WEEDS, THE AFFAIR, RAY DONOVAN, NURSE JACKIE, EPISODES, THE L WORD, BLACK MONDAY, THE TUDORS, PENNY DREADFUL, CALIFORNICATION, THE CIRCUS, DESUS AND MERO, ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA, the return of TWIN PEAKS, YOUR HONOR, and YELLOWJACKETS.

    Prior to joining Showtime Networks, Levine served as President of Icebox, a pioneering Internet entertainment programming company. Previously, Levine headed development at Warner Brothers Television, Witt-Thomas Productions and ABC (drama), resulting in several memorable primetime series including The West Wing, Blossom, and David Lynch’s original Twin Peaks.

    Levine began his professional career in theatre and was a producer with New York’s Roundabout Theatre, The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre and served for five years as the Managing Director of the acclaimed Williamstown Theatre Festival.

    Gary Levine serves as Senior Creative Advisor for Showtime Networks Inc. 

    Under his creative leadership, SHOWTIME has become an acclaimed source of distinctive and provocative series including: DEXTER, THE CHI, SHAMELESS, HOMELAND, BILLIONS, Sacha Baron Cohen’s WHO IS AMERICA, WEEDS, THE AFFAIR, RAY DONOVAN, NURSE JACKIE, EPISODES, THE L WORD, BLACK MONDAY, THE TUDORS, PENNY DREADFUL, CALIFORNICATION, THE CIRCUS, DESUS AND MERO, ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA, the return of TWIN PEAKS, YOUR HONOR, and YELLOWJACKETS.

    Prior to joining Showtime Networks, Levine served as President of Icebox, a pioneering Internet entertainment programming company. Previously, Levine headed development at Warner Brothers Television, Witt-Thomas Productions and ABC (drama), resulting in several memorable primetime series including The West Wing, Blossom, and David Lynch’s original Twin Peaks.

    Levine began his professional career in theatre and was a producer with New York’s Roundabout Theatre, The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre and served for five years as the Managing Director of the acclaimed Williamstown Theatre Festival.

  • STEPHEN ESPINOZA

    President, Sports and Event Programming

    Stephen Espinoza serves asPresident, Sports and Event Programming, reporting directly to President And Chief Executive Officer, Showtime Networks Inc., David Nevins.

    As head of SHOWTIME Sports, Espinoza is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the sports and event group, including developing and executing the overall strategy of the group and its pay-per-view unit, managing the network's relationships with distributors, talent and suppliers, and the acquisition and licensing of SHOWTIME and pay-per-view sports and event programming. The network's current hard-hitting sports programming includes SHOWTIME Championship Boxing®, ShoBox: The New Generation, Jim Rome on SHOWTIME, 60 Minutes Sports, and the Emmy® Award-winning INSIDE THE NFL. 

    Prior to joining SHOWTIME, Espinoza was a partner in the firm of Ziffren Brittenham LLP. At the firm, he specialized in representing athletes and sports personalities, including professional boxers Oscar De La Hoya and Mike Tyson, who generated a total of over $500 million in pay-per-view revenues under his representation. Espinoza has served as lead counsel for De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions since the formation of the company. Through his representation of Tyson, De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions, Espinoza has been directly involved in several of the highest-grossing pay-per-view boxing events in the history of the sport. Other notable former sports clients include former NFL star and current broadcaster Michael Strahan and mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano.

    During his tenure at Ziffren Brittenham, Espinoza also represented a variety of established and emerging performers and filmmakers, including actors Keanu Reeves, James Spader, Vanessa Hudgens and Kevin McHale, musical artists Alicia Keys, Eminem, Shakira and Snoop Dogg, writer/directors Tyler Perry and Matthew Vaughn, director Barry Sonnenfeld, and producers Scott Rudin and Gavin Polone, among many others. 

    Espinoza has extensive experience in structuring and negotiating distribution, financing, debt and equity arrangements for independent television and motion picture companies. He was personally responsible for closing over $100 million in debt and equity deals from 2009 to 2010. Some of his deals included Tyler Perry Studios in connection with the television series "House of Payne" and "Meet the Browns," Revolution and Cubevision in connection with the television series "Are We There Yet," and Everest Entertainment in connection with the motion pictures "127 Hours" and "Win-Win."

    He began his legal career in the entertainment department of Greenberg, Glusker, Fields, Claman & Machtinger, where he was directly responsible for many of the firm's highest-profile accounts, including Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Joel Silver and Playboy TV International. Espinoza previously worked at the Law Offices of Steinberg & Moorad, one of the nation's preeminent sports law firms.

    Espinoza earned a B.A. in Communication from Stanford University and received his J.D. from UCLA School of Law. An active community volunteer, he previously served as the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Echo Park Boys and Girls Club, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA).

    He is based in Showtime Networks' New York offices.

     

     

    Stephen Espinoza serves asPresident, Sports and Event Programming, reporting directly to President And Chief Executive Officer, Showtime Networks Inc., David Nevins.

    As head of SHOWTIME Sports, Espinoza is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the sports and event group, including developing and executing the overall strategy of the group and its pay-per-view unit, managing the network's relationships with distributors, talent and suppliers, and the acquisition and licensing of SHOWTIME and pay-per-view sports and event programming. The network's current hard-hitting sports programming includes SHOWTIME Championship Boxing®, ShoBox: The New Generation, Jim Rome on SHOWTIME, 60 Minutes Sports, and the Emmy® Award-winning INSIDE THE NFL. 

    Prior to joining SHOWTIME, Espinoza was a partner in the firm of Ziffren Brittenham LLP. At the firm, he specialized in representing athletes and sports personalities, including professional boxers Oscar De La Hoya and Mike Tyson, who generated a total of over $500 million in pay-per-view revenues under his representation. Espinoza has served as lead counsel for De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions since the formation of the company. Through his representation of Tyson, De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions, Espinoza has been directly involved in several of the highest-grossing pay-per-view boxing events in the history of the sport. Other notable former sports clients include former NFL star and current broadcaster Michael Strahan and mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano.

    During his tenure at Ziffren Brittenham, Espinoza also represented a variety of established and emerging performers and filmmakers, including actors Keanu Reeves, James Spader, Vanessa Hudgens and Kevin McHale, musical artists Alicia Keys, Eminem, Shakira and Snoop Dogg, writer/directors Tyler Perry and Matthew Vaughn, director Barry Sonnenfeld, and producers Scott Rudin and Gavin Polone, among many others. 

    Espinoza has extensive experience in structuring and negotiating distribution, financing, debt and equity arrangements for independent television and motion picture companies. He was personally responsible for closing over $100 million in debt and equity deals from 2009 to 2010. Some of his deals included Tyler Perry Studios in connection with the television series "House of Payne" and "Meet the Browns," Revolution and Cubevision in connection with the television series "Are We There Yet," and Everest Entertainment in connection with the motion pictures "127 Hours" and "Win-Win."

    He began his legal career in the entertainment department of Greenberg, Glusker, Fields, Claman & Machtinger, where he was directly responsible for many of the firm's highest-profile accounts, including Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Joel Silver and Playboy TV International. Espinoza previously worked at the Law Offices of Steinberg & Moorad, one of the nation's preeminent sports law firms.

    Espinoza earned a B.A. in Communication from Stanford University and received his J.D. from UCLA School of Law. An active community volunteer, he previously served as the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Echo Park Boys and Girls Club, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA).

    He is based in Showtime Networks' New York offices.

     

     

  • ERIN CALHOUN

    Executive Vice President, Communications Paramount Streaming & SHOWTIME and Cross-Company Publicity

    Erin Calhoun serves as Executive Vice President of Communications for Paramount Streaming, SHOWTIME and Cross-Company Publicity. She is responsible for leading communications for the integrated Paramount streaming team, which includes Paramount+, Pluto TV and SHOWTIME, overseeing programming publicity, media and talent relations, events, photography, awards, film festivals, philanthropy, sports and corporate branding. Calhoun also has oversight of cross-company publicity, with a focus on planning and elevating announcements that showcase the Paramount Global multiplatform strategy.

     

    Most recently, she was Executive Vice President of Communications for both SHOWTIME and Paramount Television Studios (PTVS). Calhoun joined SHOWTIME in 2017 as Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications where she was responsible for corporate communications initiatives supporting marketing, digital media, research, consumer products, distributor relations and new business development, as well as the network’s stand-alone streaming service. She also managed long-range communications strategies to raise the profile of SHOWTIME and its executives.

     

    Calhoun previously served as Vice President of Corporate Communications for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, where she managed trade and business strategies and internal communications for USA Network, SYFY and Chiller. In her role, she oversaw communications for the networks’ marketing and digital initiatives, ad sales, corporate social responsibility and business development. She also provided executive support for speaking engagements and industry events.

     

    Prior to joining NBC, Calhoun worked for six years at Discovery Communications, where as Vice President of Communications she performed similar corporate PR functions while managing communications teams in both New York and Silver Spring, Maryland. Previously, she spent 10 years as an independent consultant for various clients including TNT, TBS, Disney Channel, Discovery and GSN (Game Show Network) supporting their original films and programs. Before that, Calhoun worked at TNT for three years as a Unit Publicist and Press Project Manager, overseeing unit publicity for TNT original films. Calhoun began her career at The Today Show as an Executive Assistant and Talent Coordinator.

     

    Calhoun is a graduate of Texas Tech University.

     

    Erin Calhoun serves as Executive Vice President of Communications for Paramount Streaming, SHOWTIME and Cross-Company Publicity. She is responsible for leading communications for the integrated Paramount streaming team, which includes Paramount+, Pluto TV and SHOWTIME, overseeing programming publicity, media and talent relations, events, photography, awards, film festivals, philanthropy, sports and corporate branding. Calhoun also has oversight of cross-company publicity, with a focus on planning and elevating announcements that showcase the Paramount Global multiplatform strategy.

     

    Most recently, she was Executive Vice President of Communications for both SHOWTIME and Paramount Television Studios (PTVS). Calhoun joined SHOWTIME in 2017 as Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications where she was responsible for corporate communications initiatives supporting marketing, digital media, research, consumer products, distributor relations and new business development, as well as the network’s stand-alone streaming service. She also managed long-range communications strategies to raise the profile of SHOWTIME and its executives.

     

    Calhoun previously served as Vice President of Corporate Communications for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, where she managed trade and business strategies and internal communications for USA Network, SYFY and Chiller. In her role, she oversaw communications for the networks’ marketing and digital initiatives, ad sales, corporate social responsibility and business development. She also provided executive support for speaking engagements and industry events.

     

    Prior to joining NBC, Calhoun worked for six years at Discovery Communications, where as Vice President of Communications she performed similar corporate PR functions while managing communications teams in both New York and Silver Spring, Maryland. Previously, she spent 10 years as an independent consultant for various clients including TNT, TBS, Disney Channel, Discovery and GSN (Game Show Network) supporting their original films and programs. Before that, Calhoun worked at TNT for three years as a Unit Publicist and Press Project Manager, overseeing unit publicity for TNT original films. Calhoun began her career at The Today Show as an Executive Assistant and Talent Coordinator.

     

    Calhoun is a graduate of Texas Tech University.

     

  • MICHAEL ENGLEMAN

    Chief Marketing Officer

    Michael Engleman joined Showtime Networks Inc as Chief Marketing Officer in July 2019. Engleman oversees the network’s marketing, creative advertising and digital media divisions, including consumer and distribution marketing, promotions and media. He also manages day-to-day operations of digital platform marketing, broadband, mobile, emerging platform initiatives and multiplatform content for Showtime Networks. He is based in Los Angeles but works bi-coastally.

    Prior to joining Showtime, Engleman served as Chief Marketing Officer for TBS and TNT, where he was responsible for overseeing all branding and marketing initiatives – including social and digital content – in support of those networks, as well as the creation of a new content marketing group designed to maximize opportunities presented by a fast-changing media landscape. He also worked hand in hand with the networks' development, programming, ad sales, research and publicity teams to define and execute key entertainment business strategies and initiatives.

    Over the past three years, Engleman helped launch several prominent series, including The Alienist, The Last O.G., Claws, Drop the Mic, Animal Kingdom and Full Frontal. In the digital space, he supervised product development and platform management of a suite of more than 20 streaming products for TBS/TNT. He joined Turner in 2016 as Executive Vice President of Entertainment Marketing and Brand Innovation, after having served as Executive Vice President, Marketing, Digital and Global Brand Strategy for Syfy and Chiller, where he oversaw U.S. branding and marketing activities as well as Syfy’s expansion in 87 countries. 

    Michael Engleman joined Showtime Networks Inc as Chief Marketing Officer in July 2019. Engleman oversees the network’s marketing, creative advertising and digital media divisions, including consumer and distribution marketing, promotions and media. He also manages day-to-day operations of digital platform marketing, broadband, mobile, emerging platform initiatives and multiplatform content for Showtime Networks. He is based in Los Angeles but works bi-coastally.

    Prior to joining Showtime, Engleman served as Chief Marketing Officer for TBS and TNT, where he was responsible for overseeing all branding and marketing initiatives – including social and digital content – in support of those networks, as well as the creation of a new content marketing group designed to maximize opportunities presented by a fast-changing media landscape. He also worked hand in hand with the networks' development, programming, ad sales, research and publicity teams to define and execute key entertainment business strategies and initiatives.

    Over the past three years, Engleman helped launch several prominent series, including The Alienist, The Last O.G., Claws, Drop the Mic, Animal Kingdom and Full Frontal. In the digital space, he supervised product development and platform management of a suite of more than 20 streaming products for TBS/TNT. He joined Turner in 2016 as Executive Vice President of Entertainment Marketing and Brand Innovation, after having served as Executive Vice President, Marketing, Digital and Global Brand Strategy for Syfy and Chiller, where he oversaw U.S. branding and marketing activities as well as Syfy’s expansion in 87 countries. 

  • PUJA VOHRA

    Executive Vice President, Marketing and Strategy

    Puja Vohra is Executive Vice President, Marketing and Strategy, for Showtime Networks, Inc. In her role, Vohra oversees the marketing of all SHOWTIME original programming, including award-winning series such as BILLIONS, THE CHI, BLACK MONDAY, YOUR HONOR, THE GOOD LORD BIRD and THE L WORD: GENERATION Q. She also oversees its full-funnel media efforts, promotions, digital strategy and social media, as well as the marketing strategy and analytics. 

    Vohra is a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience working with leading brands around the world. Prior to SHOWTIME she was most recently CMO for BSE Global, where she directed marketing, creative and digital efforts for BSE Global properties, including the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center. 

    Prior to that, she served as Executive Vice President of Marketing and Digital for truTV, a division of Warner Media. In this role, she was responsible for all on- and off-air marketing campaigns for the network’s slate of programming, including the Emmy® Award-nominated At Home with Amy Sedaris, I’m Sorry, Impractical Jokers, Adam Ruins Everything and Tacoma FD. 

    Vohra joined truTV in March 2014 after serving as Senior Vice President of Marketing at Oxygen Media, where she managed the network’s consumer and ad sales marketing teams. She also previously had senior consumer and sales marketing roles at Bravo Media, making a splash with several successful launches including early seasons of Project Runway, Top Chef and The Real Housewives franchise, as well as the network’s first “Affluencers” trade campaign.

    Prior to her time in the US, Vohra held marketing roles at Seagram India and MTV India. 

    She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Delhi University and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. She’s been a speaker on several high-profile industry panels including Advertising Week, Variety Massive, NAB, TVOT and Promax. Under her direction, her teams have been the recipients of several awards, including a CLIO Grand, a Shorty, several CLIOs and Promax Awards for breakthrough social response and marketing campaigns. Vohra lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, Laxman, their 12 year-old daughter, Mira, and their mutt, Bailey. If she could, she would eat PB&J’s from Sarabeth’s every day. 

     

     

    Puja Vohra is Executive Vice President, Marketing and Strategy, for Showtime Networks, Inc. In her role, Vohra oversees the marketing of all SHOWTIME original programming, including award-winning series such as BILLIONS, THE CHI, BLACK MONDAY, YOUR HONOR, THE GOOD LORD BIRD and THE L WORD: GENERATION Q. She also oversees its full-funnel media efforts, promotions, digital strategy and social media, as well as the marketing strategy and analytics. 

    Vohra is a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience working with leading brands around the world. Prior to SHOWTIME she was most recently CMO for BSE Global, where she directed marketing, creative and digital efforts for BSE Global properties, including the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center. 

    Prior to that, she served as Executive Vice President of Marketing and Digital for truTV, a division of Warner Media. In this role, she was responsible for all on- and off-air marketing campaigns for the network’s slate of programming, including the Emmy® Award-nominated At Home with Amy Sedaris, I’m Sorry, Impractical Jokers, Adam Ruins Everything and Tacoma FD. 

    Vohra joined truTV in March 2014 after serving as Senior Vice President of Marketing at Oxygen Media, where she managed the network’s consumer and ad sales marketing teams. She also previously had senior consumer and sales marketing roles at Bravo Media, making a splash with several successful launches including early seasons of Project Runway, Top Chef and The Real Housewives franchise, as well as the network’s first “Affluencers” trade campaign.

    Prior to her time in the US, Vohra held marketing roles at Seagram India and MTV India. 

    She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Delhi University and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. She’s been a speaker on several high-profile industry panels including Advertising Week, Variety Massive, NAB, TVOT and Promax. Under her direction, her teams have been the recipients of several awards, including a CLIO Grand, a Shorty, several CLIOs and Promax Awards for breakthrough social response and marketing campaigns. Vohra lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, Laxman, their 12 year-old daughter, Mira, and their mutt, Bailey. If she could, she would eat PB&J’s from Sarabeth’s every day. 

     

     

  • AMY ISRAEL

    Executive Vice President, Global Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

    Amy Israel serves as Executive Vice President, Global Programming, Showtime Networks Inc., where she oversees the Original Programming Department and the development and production of all scripted series. She is responsible for the creative oversight of high-profile SHOWTIME original series, including THE GOOD LORD BIRD, BILLIONS, BLACK MONDAY, ON BECOMING A GOD IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, SMILF, MASTERS OF SEX, and the Golden Globe® winning series THE AFFAIR.  In addition, Israel spearheads the network’s upcoming programming slate, which includes RIPLEY (written and directed by Steve Zaillian and starring Andrew Scott), FIRST LADIES (starring Viola Davis), AMERICAN RUST (created by Dan Futterman and starring Jeff Daniels and Maura Tierney), THE AUTEUR ( directed by Taika Waititi and staring Jude Law) and THE CURSE (created by and starring Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie).

    Prior to joining Showtime in 2011, Israel served as New Regency’s Executive Vice President of Production. Previously, she was Head of Production and Acquisitions at Paramount Vantage, where she oversaw the development and production of a number of award-winning films including The Coen Brother’s No Country For Old Men (winner of four Academy Awards®, including Best Picture), Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood (winner of two Academy Awards, including Best Actor), Sean Penn’s Into The Wild, Noah Baumbach’s Margot at the Wedding, Mike White’s Year of the Dog, Michael Winterbottom’s A Mighty Heart and Ed Zwick’s Defiance. She was also instrumental in the acquisition of Nannette Burstein’s American Teen and the Academy Award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth.

    Previous to Paramount Vantage, Israel was co-head of Acquisitions and Co-Production at Miramax Films, where she was responsible for the acquisition and co-production of over 60 movies, including the seminal films Life Is Beautiful (winner of three Academy Awards), The Others, Academy Award winner Il Postino, Kids, Swingers, Flirting with Disaster, Academy Award winner Sling Blade, Smoke Signals, Chunking Express, Clerks and Trainspotting, among others. 

    As a producer, Israel executive produced Andrew Niccol’s In Time, which starred Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, and Peter Chelsom’s Shall We Dance with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez. She also produced Hysterical Blindness for HBO, for which Uma Thurman won a Golden Globe, and Griffin and Phoenix. Israel is a member of the Producer’s Guild.

    Israel is a graduate of Oberlin College, with a B.A. in Art History. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, RD Robb, and her two children.

     

     

    Amy Israel serves as Executive Vice President, Global Programming, Showtime Networks Inc., where she oversees the Original Programming Department and the development and production of all scripted series. She is responsible for the creative oversight of high-profile SHOWTIME original series, including THE GOOD LORD BIRD, BILLIONS, BLACK MONDAY, ON BECOMING A GOD IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, SMILF, MASTERS OF SEX, and the Golden Globe® winning series THE AFFAIR.  In addition, Israel spearheads the network’s upcoming programming slate, which includes RIPLEY (written and directed by Steve Zaillian and starring Andrew Scott), FIRST LADIES (starring Viola Davis), AMERICAN RUST (created by Dan Futterman and starring Jeff Daniels and Maura Tierney), THE AUTEUR ( directed by Taika Waititi and staring Jude Law) and THE CURSE (created by and starring Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie).

    Prior to joining Showtime in 2011, Israel served as New Regency’s Executive Vice President of Production. Previously, she was Head of Production and Acquisitions at Paramount Vantage, where she oversaw the development and production of a number of award-winning films including The Coen Brother’s No Country For Old Men (winner of four Academy Awards®, including Best Picture), Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood (winner of two Academy Awards, including Best Actor), Sean Penn’s Into The Wild, Noah Baumbach’s Margot at the Wedding, Mike White’s Year of the Dog, Michael Winterbottom’s A Mighty Heart and Ed Zwick’s Defiance. She was also instrumental in the acquisition of Nannette Burstein’s American Teen and the Academy Award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth.

    Previous to Paramount Vantage, Israel was co-head of Acquisitions and Co-Production at Miramax Films, where she was responsible for the acquisition and co-production of over 60 movies, including the seminal films Life Is Beautiful (winner of three Academy Awards), The Others, Academy Award winner Il Postino, Kids, Swingers, Flirting with Disaster, Academy Award winner Sling Blade, Smoke Signals, Chunking Express, Clerks and Trainspotting, among others. 

    As a producer, Israel executive produced Andrew Niccol’s In Time, which starred Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, and Peter Chelsom’s Shall We Dance with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez. She also produced Hysterical Blindness for HBO, for which Uma Thurman won a Golden Globe, and Griffin and Phoenix. Israel is a member of the Producer’s Guild.

    Israel is a graduate of Oberlin College, with a B.A. in Art History. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, RD Robb, and her two children.

     

     

}