or


[07/09/14 - 09:48 AM]
Discovery Communications Names Rick Holzman General Manager, Executive Vice President of Animal Planet
In this role, Holzman will oversee strategy and all day-to-day operations for the network that's coming off its 2013 most-watched year to date.

[via press release from Animal Planet]

DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS NAMES RICK HOLZMAN GENERAL MANAGER, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF ANIMAL PLANET

(Los Angeles)--Discovery Communications today announced the elevation of Rick Holzman to General Manager and Executive Vice President of Animal Planet. In this role, Holzman will oversee strategy and all day-to-day operations for the network that's coming off its 2013 most-watched year to date. Previously, Holzman served as Executive Vice President of Programming and Scheduling for Animal Planet and Science Channel. He will continue to report to Marjorie Kaplan, Group President of TLC and Animal Planet.

"Rick Holzman is one of the most brilliant minds in the media industry and a key driver of Animal Planet's significant growth as an entertainment destination over the last several years," said Kaplan. "His leadership, knowledge and incredible passion for this brand make him the perfect General Manager for Animal Planet."

Holzman has been with Animal Planet since November 2007, during which time he has been instrumental in the network's rebrand and breakthrough growth, guiding Animal Planet's programming by overseeing the network's commissioning, acquisitions, co-productions and scheduling strategy. The best-performing series in network history - including RIVER MONSTERS, TREEHOUSE MASTERS, WHALE WARS, FINDING BIGFOOT and CALL OF THE WILDMAN - have all come to fruition during his strategic tenure, as did MONSTER WEEK, the week-long programming event that propelled Animal Planet to rank among the top-five, ad-supported cable networks.

Prior to joining Animal Planet, Holzman served as Vice President, Programming and Scheduling at Discovery Channel from 2004 to 2007. Under his guidance, the network launched a Tuesday-night slate of programming which included two of Discovery's most popular franchises ever: DEADLIEST CATCH and DIRTY JOBS. He also commissioned the network's first-ever game show, the Emmy(R)-winning CASH CAB, as well as the popular series STUNT JUNKIES and FUTURE WEAPONS.

Holzman came to Discovery Communications from the Universal Television Group where he led USA Network's first dedicated Programming/Marketing research team from 2001 to 2003. His audience research expertise helped steer the channel to its highest ratings in recent history and helped to develop, schedule and launch two of the most successful original series in the history of cable television: "Monk" and "Dead Zone." In 2002, Holzman was elevated to Senior Vice President of the Universal Television Group's Strategic Research division, reporting directly to the Chairman of the Universal Television Group.

His time at USA Network followed a successful 10-year career at MTV Networks, where Holzman held several leadership roles stemming from his work in audience research/ consumer insights. Holzman designed and conducted primary music, programming development, lifestyle and branding research for both MTV and VH1, helping the networks to move beyond "music video" programming and into full-blown lifestyle television networks. He established and led VH1's first dedicated Research and Planning Group, which helped lay the groundwork for VH1's successful repositioning and the highest ratings in network history. Later, Holzman went on to build and oversee MTV's groundbreaking Online Division, where he helped develop some of the industry's first TV/Online convergence programming initiatives, including Yack Live, Total Request Live and the first interactive gameshow WebRiot.

Holzman is a graduate of Middlebury College and began his media career in 1987 at Leo Burnett Co., where he sharpened his analytical and negotiating skills while overseeing the planning and buying for a multi-million dollar media portfolio for Procter and Gamble brands including Pert Plus shampoo.

ABOUT ANIMAL PLANET

Animal Planet, a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications, is the world's only entertainment brand that immerses viewers in the full range of life in the animal kingdom with rich, deep content via multiple platforms and offers animal lovers and pet owners access to a centralized online, television and mobile community for immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment, information and enrichment. Animal Planet consists of the Animal Planet television network, available in more than 94 million homes in the US; online assets www.animalplanet.com, the ultimate online destination for all things animal; Animal Planet L!VE, the go-to digital destination for round-the-clock, unfiltered access to the animal kingdom; and other media platforms including a robust Video-on-Demand (VOD) service, and merchandising extensions.





  [july 2014]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[11/22/24 - 01:31 PM]
Video: "Suits LA" Arrives February 2025 - NBC
The all-new spinoff of the beloved legal drama, starring Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt, and Bryan Greenberg, lands on the West Coast.

[11/22/24 - 12:11 PM]
Video: Peacock Releases First Look at the Third Season of Emmy Award-Winning Reality Competition Series "The Traitors" Returning January 9 with Alan Cumming as Host
Last season, "The Traitors" became the #1 unscripted series in the U.S. across all streaming platforms during launch week, according to Nielsen.

[11/22/24 - 10:15 AM]
Apple's Drama "Your Friends & Neighbors" Lands Early Season Two Renewal
Starring and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Jon Hamm, "Your Friends & Neighbors" will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, April 11 with two episodes, followed by one new episode weekly through Friday, May 30.

[11/22/24 - 09:01 AM]
Apple Original Films' "Fly Me to the Moon" to Premiere December 6, 2024
Since its debut in theaters worldwide, the film has received the Verified Hot certification on Rotten Tomatoes by fans.

[11/22/24 - 08:03 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams Blumhouse's "Speak No Evil" Beginning December 6
The psychological horror thriller stars James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough, Scoot McNairy, and more!

[11/22/24 - 07:35 AM]
2024 "Emirates NBA Cup" Championship Game Exclusively on ABC and ESPN+ December 17
In addition, ESPN platforms will exclusively present a semifinal game and a quarterfinal game as part of its 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Round coverage.

[11/22/24 - 07:12 AM]
Peacock and Sky's Original Hit Drama Series "The Day of the Jackal" Scores Second Season Renewal
In the US it ranked #1 on Peacock's Top 10 TV Shows on its platform and was a Top 5 streaming original in the US for its opening weekend (according to preliminary Nielsen data).

[11/22/24 - 06:31 AM]
Video: "Chef's Table" Volume 7 - Official Teaser - Netflix
Meet five world-class chefs who redefine culinary boundaries with delicious, innovative dishes honoring their diverse cultures and personal philosophies.

[11/22/24 - 05:41 AM]
"They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce" Set for January 2025 on ESPN
Airing on Friday nights/early Saturday mornings, the new personality-driven, one-hour program will take its inspiration from traditional late-night television, emphasizing a comedic approach throughout all five scheduled episodes which run in conjunction with the finale of the NFL regular season and playoffs.

[11/22/24 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Ad Vitam" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After escaping an attempted murder, Franck Lazarev (Guillaume Canet) must find his wife Léo, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious group of armed men.

[11/21/24 - 04:01 PM]
"Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die" Premieres December 10: A Battle for Supremacy Begins
In the shadows of Korea's rugby world, seven teams engage in a fierce battle of strength, strategy, and teamwork - all vying to be crowned champion.

[11/21/24 - 04:00 PM]
ABC Presents a Two-Night Special Event To Commemorate the Diamond Anniversary of "Mary Poppins"
First, "The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20," a two-hour special from ABC News Studios chock full of rarely seen footage, photos and stories from the film's living legends, airs Wednesday, November 27 on ABC and streams next day on Hulu and Disney+.

[11/21/24 - 01:32 PM]
2024 International Emmy Nominees on Hulu
Check out these Emmy-worthy international series streaming on Hulu.

[11/21/24 - 01:12 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Semifinals Is Top Program of the Night in Adults 18-49 and All Key Women Demographics
The spectacular season 33 penultimate episode grew over the previous week's 500th episode celebration in both Total Viewers (5.19 million vs. 5.13 million) and Adults 18-49 (0.75 rating vs. 0.71 rating), hitting a season high in Total Viewers.

[11/21/24 - 01:05 PM]
NBC Orders Five Additional Episodes of Its Friday Night Comedy Hit "Happy's Place"
The "Happy's Place" premiere has hit 14 million viewers across all platforms.