ABC Family Taps Karey Burke as EVP of Programming & Development

BURBANK: Karey Burke, who has overseen such hit shows as Friends and ER, has been named executive VP of programming and development at ABC Family.

Burke has worked across all genres of television as a producer, buyer and seller. She has also overseen the series The West Wing, Will & Grace, Beauty and the Geek and Game Show in My Head. She worked with Ashton Kutcher at Katalyst Films, where she oversaw the TV division and executive produced its first scripted series, Miss Guided. Most recently, her production company, Dark Toy Entertainment, has had an overall deal with ABC Studios.

At ABC Family, Burke will oversee all scripted and unscripted development and current original programming, in addition to casting and talent development. She will also be responsible for creating and executing a cohesive programming strategy for multiplatform distribution. She will report to Tom Ascheim, the president of ABC Family.

Ascheim said, “Karey is a proven hit maker [who] has worked across all genres of television and successfully held different roles as a buyer, seller and producer. She is a dynamic leader with a vision for our programming that will result in more stand-out, must-commit, must-share content. In collaboration with the programming team, she will continue to grow the slate of successful series and build an environment for creativity to flourish. We are thrilled to have her lead our creative vision.”

Burke added, “I admire what ABC Family has accomplished and am honored to be a part of growing its future. I have a house full of ABC Family viewers and am keenly aware of what the network does right. I’m inspired to be a part of growing the next wave of appointment viewing.”