W. Clark Bunting
President and General Manager of Discovery Channel
W. Clark Bunting President and General Manager of Discovery Channel
For more than 25 years, Clark Bunting has been asking a lot of good questions....and turning the search for those answers into award-winning, unforgettable and standard-setting television. As one of the Discovery Founder John Hendricks' first hires, Bunting has played a pivitol role in almost every facet of program development and production. Whether he's been knee deep in murky waters with the late, beloved Croccodile Hunter Steve Irwin, on the shop floor of Orange County Choppers or watching pumpkins take flight in rural Delaware, Bunting lives and breathes life into the Discovery brand with a signature mix of industry expertise and a genuine wonder and embrace of the world.
As president and general manager of Discovery Channel, Bunting oversees the flagship network now reaching nearly 100.6 million subscribers in the U.S. Bunting has overseen Discovery Channel in a year that included LIFE, the record breaking and breathtaking BBC co-production follow up to BLUE PLANET and PLANET EARTH, as well as highest rated SHARK WEEK, DEADLIEST CATCH and STORM CHASERS in network history. Bunting has presided over development and production of new hits including GOLD RUSH: ALASKA, AUCTION KINGS, FLYING WILD ALASKA and SONS OF GUNS. He also continues to innovate the natural history genre with leadership and investment in new technologies evidenced by the highly anticipated FROZEN PLANET and CANE TOADS.
In addition to all aspects of network programming, Bunting is closely involved with the network's enviornmental advocacy and stewardship. In 2010, Bunting, in partnership with The Ocean Conservancy, worked closely with Senator John Kerry (D-MA) to introduce legislation to further the crudade for shark conservation awareness. Bunting also serves on the board of the American Humane Society. In October 2011, Bunting will receive the Lifetime Acheivement Award in Media at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival.
Prior to his current post, Bunting was the president and general manger of the Emerging Networks, which includes Investigation Discovery, Science Channel, Military Channel and HD Theater. Bunting previously was in charge of Discovery Studios, which encompasses the Discovery Production Group, Discovery Films and Discovery Creative Resources. Prior to overseeing Discovery Studios. In additon to Discovery and the successful suite of emerging networks, Bunting launched Animal Planet in 1996 and served as its executive vice president and general manager until 2001.
In a previous post as executive vice president and general manager for Discovery Channel, Bunting oversaw a number of trendsetting new series, including MYTHBUSTERS and Werner Herzog's Academy Award® nominated documentary "ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD." Bunting also shepherded landmark specials including the ratings record-breaking NEFERTITI RESURRECTED and WALKING WITH CAVEMEN; as well as BUILDING THE GREAT PYRAMID, ANATOMY OF A SHARK BITE and WALKING WITH PREHISTORIC BEASTS.