MICHAEL SORENSEN NAMED VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION FOR DISCOVERY CHANNEL
May 7, 2014
Discovery Channel has named Michael Sorensen Vice President of Development and Production for Discovery Channel. He will be responsible for bringing new series and specials to Discovery while supervising the development and production of concepts to green light, in addition to maintaining the quality of current series through production and delivery. Additionally, he will identify writers, producers and talent for new programming. Sorensen will report to Dolores Gavin, Executive Vice President of Development and Production for Discovery Channel.
Sorensen most recently served as senior director of development for Discovery Channel where he developed programming including Skywire Live with Nik Wallenda, Bering Sea Gold: Under the Ice and Yukon Men. While overseeing the development and production of numerous series, Sorensen also served as Executive Producer on select productions, including the upcoming Survival Live and The West. Sorensen also oversaw Discovery Channel's slate of 2013 Shark Week programming, the most watched and highest rated year of Shark Week in the history of the event.
Prior to his tenure with Discovery Channel, Sorensen was senior director of program development at Science Channel, where he worked on series such as Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman, Dark Matters and Oddities. He also led the creative team in establishing the network's 'Sci-Sports' strand with programming such as Punkin' Chunkin' and Large Dangerous Rocket Ships (LDRS).
Sorensen earlier worked at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in Los Angeles in the Television Alternative Department. Before joining CAA, Sorensen worked as a development executive for Atlas Media Corporation in New York where he worked on such shows as It Can Happen Tomorrow for The Weather Channel and Skeleton Stories for Discovery Health. He received his Masters of Science in Media Studies from Brooklyn College and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Television and Film Production from Chapman University.
About Discovery Communications
About Discovery Communications: Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 pay-TV programmer reaching 2.5 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity, engaging and entertaining viewers with high-quality content on more than 200 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery and Science, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and the Hub Network. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, and a digital leader with a diversified online portfolio, including Discovery Digital Networks. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
About Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 98 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 225 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.
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