Timothy Kuryak and Jill Dickerson Named Vice Presidents of Programming
OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 3, 2008
LOS ANGELES — Timothy Kuryak and Jill Dickerson have each been named vice president of programming for OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network reporting to both Nina Wass, senior vice president of creative affairs, and Maria Grasso, senior vice president of programming. In their new roles, Dickerson and Kuryak will collaborate with producers, writers, agents and distributors to drive development of new content. They will also supervise editorial management with outside production.
"Tim and Jill have proven on their own that they are successful at creating programming designed to enlighten and connect viewers," Wass says. "That is why we are eager to have them with us, because their creative philosophy is right in step with what is being developed at OWN."
Added Grasso: "Tim understands production from both an executive level and as a producer; that is a rare mix of talent. Coupled with Jill's creative style and extensive producing background, they are perfect additions to our first rate production operation."
Kuryak joins OWN effective immediately from Discovery Communications' Planet Green, where he served as vice president of West Coast production and development. Prior to joining Planet Green, Kuryak was vice president of Fox World Productions and head of development/programming at ReelzChannel. He served as executive producer for numerous series, including Greensburg, Focus Earth with Bob Woodruff and the international versions of Beauty and the Geek and other Fox formats.
Kuryak received dual bachelor of arts degrees in history and political science at Brown University. He is also a member of the Producers' Guild of America and a Gerson Lehrman Council Member within the Media Division.
Dickerson steps into her new role at OWN on January 5, 2009, from her post as head writer and consulting producer for The Real World. Prior to her work for The Real World, she served as co-executive producer for Venus & Serena: For Real, supervising producer for My Fair Brady 2, series producer for Miami Ink, and supervising story producer for The Player, Love Test and The Bachelorette. Additionally, she was the senior story editor on Big Brother 3 and supervising story editor for The Mole I & II and Making the Band I.
Dickerson received a masters of Arts degree in culture and media at New York University and a bachelor of arts in social anthropology from Harvard & Radcliffe Colleges.
About OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network
A joint venture between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network is a multiplatform media company designed to entertain, inform and inspire people to live their best lives. OWN will debut in more than 70 million homes on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel. The venture also will include the award-winning digital platform Oprah.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's number one nonfiction media company, reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services and a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
About Harpo
Harpo Productions, Inc. produces the number one–rated, award-winning The Oprah Winfrey Show; creates and develops original TV programming for primetime, syndication and cable television; and operates Oprah.com, a premier lifestyle website. Harpo Print, LLC and Hearst Magazines publish the monthly O, The Oprah Magazine. Harpo Films, Inc. produces feature films as well as top-rated telefilms under the "Oprah Winfrey Presents" banner. Harpo Radio, Inc. produces Oprah Radio (XM channel 156, Sirius channel 195) on Sirius XM Radio.
LOS ANGELES — Timothy Kuryak and Jill Dickerson have each been named vice president of programming for OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network reporting to both Nina Wass, senior vice president of creative affairs, and Maria Grasso, senior vice president of programming. In their new roles, Dickerson and Kuryak will collaborate with producers, writers, agents and distributors to drive development of new content. They will also supervise editorial management with outside production.
"Tim and Jill have proven on their own that they are successful at creating programming designed to enlighten and connect viewers," Wass says. "That is why we are eager to have them with us, because their creative philosophy is right in step with what is being developed at OWN."
Added Grasso: "Tim understands production from both an executive level and as a producer; that is a rare mix of talent. Coupled with Jill's creative style and extensive producing background, they are perfect additions to our first rate production operation."
Kuryak joins OWN effective immediately from Discovery Communications' Planet Green, where he served as vice president of West Coast production and development. Prior to joining Planet Green, Kuryak was vice president of Fox World Productions and head of development/programming at ReelzChannel. He served as executive producer for numerous series, including Greensburg, Focus Earth with Bob Woodruff and the international versions of Beauty and the Geek and other Fox formats.
Kuryak received dual bachelor of arts degrees in history and political science at Brown University. He is also a member of the Producers' Guild of America and a Gerson Lehrman Council Member within the Media Division.
Dickerson steps into her new role at OWN on January 5, 2009, from her post as head writer and consulting producer for The Real World. Prior to her work for The Real World, she served as co-executive producer for Venus & Serena: For Real, supervising producer for My Fair Brady 2, series producer for Miami Ink, and supervising story producer for The Player, Love Test and The Bachelorette. Additionally, she was the senior story editor on Big Brother 3 and supervising story editor for The Mole I & II and Making the Band I.
Dickerson received a masters of Arts degree in culture and media at New York University and a bachelor of arts in social anthropology from Harvard & Radcliffe Colleges.
About OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network
A joint venture between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network is a multiplatform media company designed to entertain, inform and inspire people to live their best lives. OWN will debut in more than 70 million homes on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel. The venture also will include the award-winning digital platform Oprah.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's number one nonfiction media company, reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services and a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
About Harpo
Harpo Productions, Inc. produces the number one–rated, award-winning The Oprah Winfrey Show; creates and develops original TV programming for primetime, syndication and cable television; and operates Oprah.com, a premier lifestyle website. Harpo Print, LLC and Hearst Magazines publish the monthly O, The Oprah Magazine. Harpo Films, Inc. produces feature films as well as top-rated telefilms under the "Oprah Winfrey Presents" banner. Harpo Radio, Inc. produces Oprah Radio (XM channel 156, Sirius channel 195) on Sirius XM Radio.
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