Carol Altieri, Former CBS Executive, Dies at 76

Carol Altieri, Former CBS Executive, Dies at 76

Carol Altieri, a long-time CBS executive who formerly led the network’s standards and practices department, has died.

Altieri died Aug. 9 at her home in Palm Desert, California, after a long illness. She was 76.

Born in Queens, New York, and raised on Long Island, Altieri joined CBS at the height of its “Tiffany Network” era in 1969, first working as an executive assistant in the network’s C-suite. She was promoted to editor in 1974 and three years later became a senior editor in CBS’ program practices department, which ensures network programming meets broadcast standards (i.e., no nudity and limited profanity).

She moved to Los Angeles in 1982 as a director of program practices and was promoted to vp program practices two years later. She led the department for more than 20 years, rising to senior vp level in 2003 and retiring in 2005.

Altieri wrote CBS’ program standards manual, which is still in use today and helped set the network’s policies balancing creative freedom and broadcast standards. She testified before Congress numerous times and engaged with special interest groups and industry task forces to help protect the TV business’ First Amendment rights from government overreach. She also wrote for and lectured at UCLA’s Anderson School of Business.

Donations in Altieri’s honor can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Wounded Warriors Project.