DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS NAMES CHARLIE FOLEY EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF NEWLY CREATED ORIGINAL CONTENT GROUP
June 26, 2013
(New York, NY, June 26, 2013) - Discovery Communications announced today that Charlie Foley has been named executive vice president of the company's newly created Original Content Group. Foley will create, write and executive produce both scripted content and non-fiction series and formats and oversee a team dedicated to creating and producing content for Discovery Networks in the U.S. and internationally. Based in the company's New York offices, he will continue to oversee Animal Planet's Development department. The announcement was made by Marjorie Kaplan, Group President and General Manager, Animal Planet, Science Channel & Velocity, to whom Foley will continue to report.
"Charlie's creative talents have helped transform Animal Planet into a Top 20 network with original series like River Monsters, Whale Wars and the network's two scripted Mermaids specials, which have become a global phenomenon," said Kaplan. "With him in this new role, the entire Discovery portfolio will be able to benefit from Charlie's big ideas, his creative leadership and his storytelling skills."
A Primetime Emmy®-nominated writer and executive producer, Foley is the creator, writer and executive producer of the most-watched and most-talked-about shows in Animal Planet's history, including its highest-rated program ever, Mermaids: The New Evidence, the sequel to his scripted two-hour Mermaids: The Body Found. These two specials caused a global sensation and prompted the U.S. government to declare that mermaids are not real. For its May 2013 premiere, Mermaids: The New Evidence was the #1 program in all television and the #1 show on cable for the week. In 2012, Mermaids: The Body Found was watched by more than 32 million people in the U.S. Foley also created and wrote Animal Planet's previous most-watched show, the scripted two-hour Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real, which went on to be nominated for two Primetime Emmy awards.
Foley is also responsible for the most successful non-fiction series in Animal Planet's history, River Monsters and the Emmy®-nominated Whale Wars. Foley's credits also include several of Animal Planet's top shows and formats, including breakout hit Treehouse Masters as well as Top Hooker, Off the Hook, Fatal Attractions, Monsters Inside Me and Tanked.
Foley began his career at National Geographic and has spent years in the independent production community. He graduated from Colby College with a degree in English and Creative Writing. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, daughter and son.
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than two billion cumulative subscribers in 223 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through 162 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Across the Nordic region, Discovery owns and operates SBS Discovery Media, a top-three portfolio of 20 television brands that feature leading nonfiction content, as well as locally produced entertainment programs, sports and the best scripted series and movies from major studios. Discovery also is the leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of digital textbooks, and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including Revision3. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
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