HEATHER OLANDER NAMED SVP, ALTERNATIVE SERIES DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION FOR SYFY
NEW YORK - August 6, 2014 - Seasoned programming executive Heather Olander has been tapped to become senior vice president, alternative series development and production for Syfy, effective immediately, where she will report to Bill McGoldrick, EVP, Original Content for Syfy. In the short term until early next year, Olander will continue in her current role as Senior Vice President USA alternative development and production.
Dave Howe, president Syfy and Chiller, said, "Heather's impressive pedigree and track record makes her the perfect choice to take over the reins of Syfy's growing slate of high quality unscripted programming. Syfy is committed to developing innovative, ambitious and ground-breaking unscripted series that fulfill Syfy's strategic goal to "imagine greater" across all of our content and I'm confident Heather's creative leadership will help raise the bar even higher."
Bill McGoldrick, EVP, Original Content, Syfy, added, "Heather did a great job launching USA Network into the reality space. We are very excited to bring an executive with her energy, taste and tenacity to Syfy where she will have a large canvas and many hours of alternative programming to oversee."
Jackie De Crinis, USA's EVP of Programming and Development, will continue to oversee both scripted and unscripted programming for USA, and will fill Olander's role after her departure.
Olander currently oversees the development of Chrisley Knows Best, USA's buzzy new breakout reality series that returns this fall for season two. In its first season, Chrisley Knows Best captured a loyal following, averaging 945,000 P18-49, 880,000 P25-54, 552,000 P18-34, and 1.7 million total viewers. The series is the network's youngest original series to date with a median age of 35.
Prior to joining USA, Olander was vice president, programming and development for CBS Television Distribution where she was involved with developing new syndicated shows as well as overseeing current first-run strips. Prior to CTD, Olander was at MTV, where she served as vice president of original series development and current programming.
Olander graduated with a B.A. from Cornell University and is based in Los Angeles.
About USA Network
The #1 network in all of basic cable for an unprecedented eight straight years, USA Network is seen in more than 102 million U.S. homes. USA offers a powerful stable of dramatic, comedic and unscripted originals. The network also features spectacular live television, a dynamic portfolio of acquired series and the best in blockbuster theatrical films and entertainment events. A trailblazer in digital innovation and storytelling, USA is defining, driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV. USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. The award-winning website is located at http://www.usanetwork.com.
About Syfy
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. (Syfy. Imagine Greater.)
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