David Eilenberg has joined Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. as senior vice president of unscripted development for TBS and TNT. In this newly created role, Eilenberg will oversee all unscripted original programming for the two networks, which are in the process of expanding their original series lineups significantly to a fill a year-round slate. Eilenberg is based is Los Angeles and reports to Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies.
"We believe that success comes from working with the best people in the business," said Wright. "David Eilenberg has been instrumental in the success of some of television's biggest reality hits. His taste and his relationships within the talent community are both first rate and will be vital to our efforts to grow this new aspect of our business. We're thrilled to have him on board as we expand our lineup with high-quality, unique and engaging reality series targeted to TBS's comedy fans and TNT's drama lovers."
Eilenberg comes to TBS and TNT after serving as head of development and current programming for Mark Burnett Productions, working on such popular series as The Voice, The Apprentice and Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?, which earned him a Daytime Emmy® nomination.
"David has been a great colleague and friend for many years," said Mark Burnett, president of One Three Media. "We’re thrilled that he’s going to a terrific network, and we look forward to working closely with him and his colleagues in the future."
Prior to joining Mark Burnett Productions full time, Eilenberg was a producer on several of the company's series, as well as online projects with AOL. In addition, Eilenberg served as co-creator of Dismissed, head writer on Weakest Link and writer on Da Ali G Show.
TNT and TBS recently announced a bold new strategy to evolve from linear television networks into branded video destinations offering original content across multiple platforms. As part of this transformation, the networks will expand their original programming lineup to a year-round model. The networks have already greenlit several new series, including the unscripted TNT projects Boston Blue (working title) and 72 Hours (working title). This summer, TNT launched its first reality-competition series, The Great Escape. TBS's expanded originals slate includes the competition series King of the Nerds (working title) and the newly greenlit Deon Cole's Black Box (working title) and Who Gets the Last Laugh? (working title).
About TNT
TNT, one of cable’s top-rated networks, is television’s destination for drama. Seen in 99 million households, TNT is home to such original drama series as The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles, Falling Skies, Dallas, Perception, Franklin & Bash, Leverage, Southland and the upcoming series Major Crimes and Monday Mornings. The network also features dramatic unscripted originals like this summer's The Great Escape and the upcoming Boston Blue (working title) and 72 Hours (working title). In addition, TNT is the cable home to popular dramas like The Mentalist, Bones, Supernatural, Las Vegas, Law & Order and Castle, which starts this year; primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards®; blockbuster movies; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR, the NBA and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.
About TBS
TBS is basic cable's #1 network among young adults in primetime. Available in 100 million households, TBS features the Emmy®-nominated late-night series CONAN, starring Conan O’Brien, and original primetime comedy series like Men at Work, Sullivan & Son, Cougar Town, Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse, Wedding Band, King of the Nerds (working title), Deon Cole's Black Box (working title) and Who Gets the Last Laugh? (working title). TBS also features an outstanding slate of contemporary comedies, such as The Big Bang Theory and Family Guy, as well as blockbuster movies and championship sports. In addition, TBS produces special live comedy events, like the star-studded comedy festival held each year in Chicago.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.