Planet Green Head Tapped to Lead TLC

SILVER SPRING, July 28:
Angela Shapiro-Mathes has left her post as the president and general manager of
TLC and has been replaced by Eileen O’Neill, a 17-year veteran of Discovery Communications.

During her time at TLC,
Shapiro-Mathes completed a three-year deal for the network to become the new
home of Miss America, which also included a companion reality series. She was
responsible for a partnership with Real Simple to develop multimedia lifestyle content, a
production deal inked with Kelly Ripa and played a part in the return of Paige
Davis as host of Trading Spaces.

O’Neill has been serving
as the president and general manager of the newly launched 24-hour
eco-lifestyle network Planet Green, and previously served as the executive VP
and general manager of Discovery Health Channel. She also ran TLC on an interim
basis during a period of management transition in 2007.

Clark Bunting, the
president of Discovery’s emerging networks group, will oversee Planet Green
while the company determines future leadership plans for the brand.

“My thanks to Angela for
her hard work, leadership and passion over the past year,” said David Zaslav,
the president and CEO of Discovery Communications. “She has diversified TLC’s
programming mix and increased the network’s development presence in Los
Angeles.

“With massive reach, brand
awareness and a foothold in popular programming genres including lifestyle,
fashion, real estate and families, TLC is well positioned for the future,”
Zaslav continued. “Eileen is a proven cable programmer, and has guided one of
the most successful network introductions in Planet Green. Her exceptional
reputation and understanding of TLC’s passionate audience makes Eileen the
perfect executive to lead TLC.”

He added: “Planet Green’s
launch has been exceptional in every way. Eileen leaves the channel in an ideal
position—entrenched in the marketplace, respected by advertisers and
distributors and thriving on all platforms. Growing its brand strength remains
a top priority for Discovery Communications.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski