GailBerman was officially named as president of Paramount Studios yesterday, makinga move to movies from television which has stunned the Hollywood industry.

Currentpresident Donald De Line will likely step down, although his exact exit has yetto be determined. Berman will make the move to Paramount in May and join newstudio chief Brad Grey who officially started his post at the studio on March1.

Bermanhas been president of Fox Entertainment for the last five years, overseeing TVproduction for Fox Broadcasting including hit shows such as 24, ArrestedDevelopment and American Idol.

Themove puts two veteran TV executives in charge of the film studio which has beenrun by movie veteran Sherry Lansing for the last ten years. Berman will beresponsible for crafting a slate of films at the studio.

Paramount's2005 lineup includes mostly Lansing/De Line projects such as The War Of TheWorlds, The Longest Yard, The Bad News Bears and Aeon Flux, but Greyrecently made his first movie deal, ponying up some $20m for the rights toAlejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's next film Babel to star Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett.