NBC NAMES JAMILA HUNTER TO NEWLY CREATED POSITION OF SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, PROGRAMMING AND DEVELOPMENT � ALTERNATIVE & DIGITAL, NBC ENTERTAINMENT
BURBANK, Calif. � July 7, 2008 � NBC has named veteran program executive Jamila Hunter to the newly created position as Senior Vice President, Programming and Development -- Alternative & Digital, NBC Entertainment, it was jointly announced today by Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment, and Vivi Zigler, President, NBC Universal Digital Entertainment. Hunter will report to both executives.
Hunter will be responsible for developing alternative programming while also working with NBC Digital Entertainment, including web-based series development and distribution projects as well as ancillary business development for web properties.
"We are fortunate to have Jamila back on our team where her vast programming experience will prove to be extremely valuable in multiple capacities in alternative and digital development," said Plestis. "She has a knack for developing hit programming at every level and we greatly anticipate this next stage in our creative relationship."
"Our expanding digital content will benefit tremendously from Jamila's industry connections, well-rounded programming experience, and creative passion for her projects," said Zigler. "She is a good fit for our ambitious plans and we're excited to be able to work with her again."
Most recently, Hunter had served as Vice President of Comedy Development for 20th Century Fox Television since January 2005. She joined the comedy team as they launched two successful series, "My Name Is Earl" at NBC and "How I Met Your Mother" at CBS. In that position, Hunter was responsible for developing and overseeing new comedies (live-action and animation) for network television. She was also charged with fostering relationships with promising new comedians, writers, directors and animators. In that capacity she worked with well-renowned producers and talent ranging from Darren Star, Joel Surnow and Bob Cochran to Robert Smigel, Steve Levitan, Ashton Kutcher, Shawn Levy and the Wayans Brothers.
Earlier, Hunter served as Vice President of Development and Production at Bravo. She was part of the team that re-branded the channel and launched seminal shows like "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," "Celebrity Poker Showdown," "Blow Out" and "Project Runway." Based in Los Angeles, Hunter was responsible for targeting and shepherding new programming ventures at the expanding cable channel. Some of the variety of the projects under her watch include Kathy Griffin's infamous Laugh Factory show "The D-List," the improvisational comedy series "Significant Others," Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's "Project Greenlight," the reality series "Long Way Round" featuring Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman and "The Dan Band" special with McG's Wonderland Sound and Vision and DreamWorks Television.
Before her time at Bravo, Hunter served as Vice President of Alternative Programs for NBC Entertainment since 2002. While there, she was responsible for supervising all aspects of development, production and post-production in the rapidly growing area of alternative programming. During her tenure at NBC, the network launched iconic reality series "Fear Factor" and "The Apprentice." Projects under her watch ranged from "Last Comic Standing" and "The Rerun Show" to "TV's Most Outrageous Gameshow Moments" and "The Cosby Show: A Look Back."
Prior to that, Hunter served as Director of Alternative Programs for NBC Entertainment, a position she held since July 2001. Hunter also was Director of Movies and Miniseries for NBC Entertainment from July 2000-July 2001, acting in the same capacity of overseeing development and production for longform projects. She was promoted to that position after working as Manager of Movies and Miniseries from August 1999-July 2000.
From June 1998-August 1999, Hunter was Manager of Development at Robert Greenwald Productions. Prior to that, she was an assistant in the Movies and Miniseries department at NBC Entertainment.
A native of San Diego, California, Hunter holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She resides in Studio City, California.
|