• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, July 11, 2007

The executive who led the Game Show Network to profitability for the first time is leaving his post at the end of the month. President-CEO Rich Cronin is stepping down after six years--a period marked by a boom in distribution and a heightened focus on original program development, as well as re-branding the net as GSN.

GSN said a successor would be named soon. No word on Cronin's future plans.

Since 2001, the network co-owned by Liberty Media and Sony has seen distribution increase 106% to 64 million homes. It has also launched notable series, such as the "World Series of Blackjack," in an effort to shed any image of itself as a loop of re-runs of "100,000 Pyramid" and the like.

The makeover included the launch of the new moniker GSN in 2004. This year, the network took on a new tagline "Get in the Game," while continuing to emphasize interactive gaming, where viewers can play along with on-air offerings on its Web site and via mobile devices. GSN.com also offers separate game-playing opportunities.

Under Cronin, GSN has also tried several notable stunts along the lines of tapping "Joe Millionaire" winner Evan Marriott to host a dating show and partnering with National Lampoon on a series. (Neither is still airing.)

GSN said the network became profitable under Cronin. He joined after Liberty took its 50% stake in 2001. Previously, Sony had owned the network. Steve Mosko, head of Sony Pictures Television, said Cronin brought GSN "to profitability in a very competitive environment."

Other series launched under Cronin include "Lingo" and "High Stakes Poker." This year, the network sought to capitalize on some of the interest in young-adult spelling bees ushered in by the documentary "Spellbound" and ABC's carriage of the national championship in prime time. Next year, the "World Poker Tour" comes to GSN from the Travel Channel.