CBS' Watch! Magazine Debuts Redesign In September/October 2017 Issue

CBS' Watch!, an elegant leisure/entertainment magazine offering a rare and glamorous window into the lives of television and film's biggest stars, today announced its redesign, which will be unveiled in its September/October 2017 issue, on newsstands as of today. The updates include a more vibrant and sophisticated look, an expanding team of seasoned writers, new sections and added columns.

"As Watch! enters its second decade, we thought it was the perfect time to both refresh and reinvigorate the content and the entire look of the book," said Rachel Clarke, Executive Editor. "We are all very proud and excited about our fresh new look, our stable of award-winning journalists and photographers, and our masthead, which features some of the best editors and publishing executives in the business."

"Watch! is the only consumer publication of its kind - a beautiful bi-monthly lifestyle and entertainment magazine, with substance and artistic flair, that seamlessly showcases the stars and creative teams behind an array of CBS properties, from television shows to films and books," said Michael Rizzi, Publisher of the magazine. "Advertisers appreciate our unique position in the marketplace, and we provide them with print and digital platforms like no other property can."

"Watch! just keeps getting better and better," said Gil Schwartz, Chief Communications Officer of CBS, who oversees the operations of the magazine. "At CBS, the world is our beat - in entertainment, news, sports, at the CBS Television Network, SHOWTIME, The CW, on every platform both traditional and digital around the world. There are really NO LIMITS to what we can cover, and this team of writers, photographers and editors has the deep experience and unparalleled creativity to accomplish that vision."

The relaunch issue features separate covers of Scott Bakula (CBS' NCIS: NEW ORLEANS), David Boreanaz (CBS' SEAL TEAM), Sanaa Lathan (CBS Films' "American Assassin") and Sonequa Martin-Green (CBS All Access' STAR TREK: DISCOVERY), includes a richer color palette and an enhanced energy and sophistication in its designs and photography - and cleaner, more cohesive layouts. The visual modifications were overseen by Creative Director Ed Mann and Director of Photography Christopher Ross. The shoots are produced by Beverly Byrd, the production director at Watch! Lindsay Brown serves as managing editor.

The redesign also includes the introduction of four new sections and several new columns and columnists:

SPARK - A carefully curated combination of entertainment news, cultural criticism and humorous essays edited by veteran journalist (Entertainment Weekly) and author Rebecca Ascher-Walsh. This section's regular columnists/columns include new and established Watch! writers:

Brantley Bardin's "Upfront Chat" showcases his flair for chatting up celebrities and creative talent. Bardin has written for a roll call of international publications, from InStyle to Interview.

Stuart Elliott's "Ad Vantage" is an enlightening look back at memorable advertising campaigns. Elliott was the longtime Advertising and Media reporter for The New York Times and appears as a commentator on CBS, SHOWTIME, Turner Classic Movies and VH1, among others.

Emily Hirshey's "Couch Trip" is a humor column about binge-watching the biggest shows on TV. Based in Los Angeles, Hirshey is a freelance writer for both television and magazines.

Fred Schruers's "Scene Makers" profiles notable showrunners, directors and other key behind-the-scenes players. Schruers is the author of Billy Joel: The Definitive BIOGRAPHY and is a longtime contributor to magazines such as Rolling Stone and Premiere.

Bill Zehme's "The Way We Were" celebrates pop culture, past and present. Zehme is the author of the New York Times bestselling homage to Frank Sinatra, The Way You Wear Your Hat, and Lost in the Funhouse: The Life and Mind of Andy Kaufman. He has written for Esquire, Rolling Stone, Playboy and Vanity Fair.

SHINE-The best in style, fashion, beauty and lifestyle edited by beauty insider and former Allure executive editor Kristin Perrotta.

Watch! Style Director Sasha Charnin Morrison, a tastemaker and author who has worked for publications such as Allure, Elle, Harper's Bazaar and Vanity Fair, launches her new Watch! column "Casa De Sasha," a fabulous guide to all things fashion.

In her column "Best Betts," Watch! Fashion Director Kate Betts continues to arm the magazine's fashion-forward readers with intel on the season's newest trends. One of the top editor-writers in fashion today, Betts, former editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar, is author of the best-sellers My Paris Dream and Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style.
FOCUS -In-depth, extensive features by award-winning writers and photographers, which give readers an inside, exclusive - and unique - look at their favorite stars.

This section boasts a broad range of contributors, such as Jeffrey Toobin (best-selling author and staff writer at The New Yorker), John Griffiths (US Weekly, Emmy Magazine, Women's Health), Lynn Darling (writer/reporter and author of Out of the Woods: A Memoir of Wayfinding) and Judith Newman (The New York Times, Vanity Fair and the new book To Siri with Love: A Mother, Her Autistic Son, and the Kindness of Machines).

Among the notable photographers contributing to the stunning spreads in the next two issues are Kwaku Alston, Cliff Lipson, Mary Ellen Matthews and David Needleman.
WOW -Inspiration on food, drink, travel, lifestyle and assorted cultural experiences from around the globe, edited by Mona Buehler, the longtime director of digital and lifestyle editorial at Watch!

Watch! astrology writer Virginia Bell (TV Guide, US Weekly) will continue her enchanting horoscopes column.

Stanley Bing joins the Watch! team to pen Last Call, the last page of every issue. Bing, a longtime columnist for Esquire and Fortune, is the author of a phalanx of books exploring the interface between insanity and business management. His new novel, Immortal Life, will be published in December.

Additionally, CBSWatchmagazine.com has also undergone a redesign in order to better complement the print magazine's articles while still showcasing its own unique content, including photos and videos that are original to Watch! Call-outs throughout the magazine will direct the readers to the abundant digital fare. Buehler and Director of Talent and Digital Content Strategy Laura Passero spearhead the content on the site.

About Watch!:

The official magazine of CBS since 2006, Watch! offers a rare, glamorous window into the lives of television and film's biggest stars. With distinctive photography by top tier talents and first class stories curated by industry veterans, Watch! has steadily become one of the most elegant, sophisticated publications today. This intriguing amalgam of entertainment, celebrity, culture, fashion, travel and beauty features talent from CBS, SHOWTIME, The CW, CBS All Access, CBS Television Distribution, Simon & Schuster, CBS Films, Pop and beyond.

The magazine's digital properties present readers with richer pathways to continue THE JOURNEY beyond the velvet rope. Timely behind-the-scenes videos and photo galleries bring the reader closer to their favorite characters and their favorite shows. The digital version of Watch! can be found at cbswatchmagazine.com. The bi-monthly print magazine is enjoyed by subscribers and sold on newsstands at select Barnes & Noble, Hudson News, Target and Walmart stores.

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