Radha Subramanyam, the chief research and analytics officer at CBS, has died.
Subramanyam died on Jan. 5.
“Radha was a true force of nature who passionately championed CBS,” George Cheeks, chair of TV media at CBS parent Paramount, said in a statement. “It would be hard to find someone who loved CBS more. Her passion for our work and her belief in the power of storytelling were contagious. She inspired us to think deeper and always strive for excellence.”
Subramanyam joined CBS in 2017 and quickly rose to head the network’s research and analytics division. She championed the value of broadcast TV and helped shape CBS’ programming and strategy with her ability to translate reams of data on viewers’ behavior and preferences into meaningful insights.
A native of New Delhi, India, Subramanyam moved the the United States to attend Northwestern University, where she earned a doctorate in radio, television and film. She later taught at Vassar Collage and New York University before moving into research at the suggestion of a friend. That led her to roles at iHeartMedia, Yahoo, MTV Networks and Nielsen before she joined CBS.
“I’m a little bit proud of my young self,” she told colleagues in 2021. “What I had was a degree of fearlessness, just jumping into the unknown without overthinking it.”
Subramanyam was given the International Women’s Day Award at the consulate general of India in 2023 and also received honors from the National Women’s Conference, the Tri-State Diversity Council and analytics firm Corinium, which named her a top innovator in data and analytics. Throughout her career, Subramanyam continued to advise and mentor students and younger colleagues to stretch themselves beyond conventional roles.
Subramanyam is survived by her husband, Joseph, and children Tara and River.
