Dana Walden Reorganizes Disney TV Team

Dana Walden, chairman of entertainment at Walt Disney Television, has unveiled a restructuring of the TV production and original content business, with Karey Burke taking on a new role as president of 20th Television and Craig Erwich expanding his oversight to include ABC Entertainment.

Disney Television Studios will be consolidated into two studio teams, 20th Television and ABC Signature. Touchstone Television will be rolled into 20th Television. Karey Burke becomes president of 20th Television, transitioning from her role as president of ABC Entertainment.

Working with Burke at the newly expanded studio, Carolyn Cassidy will be executive VP of development. Jane Francis moves from Touchstone Television to become executive VP of series. Both will report to Burke.

Jonnie Davis will continue as president of ABC Signature.

Both Burke and Davis will report directly to Walden.

Bert Salke will transition from president of Touchstone Television to a new multiyear overall producing deal with Disney Television Studios.

“We feel incredibly fortunate that Bert has chosen to set his production company up with Disney Television Studios,” said Walden. “He has impeccable taste and no one works harder or is more committed to creators, whether they are new voices or long-established hitmakers. Writers can feel his passion and dedication, and that creates an environment where they can do great work.”

Craig Hunegs will move from his role as president of Disney Television Studios to serve as president of entertainment for Walt Disney Television, working alongside Walden across all business units. He will lead centralized business affairs, production, casting and creative talent development and inclusion teams. He’ll also oversee 20th Animation and a newly formed production unit for unscripted programming.

Craig Erwich and Tara Duncan will have oversight of the original content teams responsible for choosing and managing development slates and greenlighting shows. Erwich will oversee Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, and Duncan will oversee Freeform. Both will continue to report to Walden.

Walden commented: “This has been an incredibly challenging but successful year. Our television studios produce many of the top-rated shows in the industry. ABC is now the number one entertainment network and the Hulu Originals team launched their most successful slate yet of critically acclaimed, award-winning, high-performing shows. I am proud of our exceptional leadership team and all we have accomplished, but the media landscape is changing, and this reorganization better positions us for the future. The changes we are announcing today are in service of three goals: rightsizing our organization, streamlining functions across our studios and original content teams, and strengthening our partnerships with the extraordinary creators who call Disney Television Studios their home.”

Peter Rice, chairman of Disney general entertainment content, to whom Walden reports, commented, “Dana is a hall of fame television executive leading an all-star team of the best and brightest creative leaders in Hollywood. This new organization under Dana will allow us to compete amidst a transforming industry by attracting the best talent, encouraging creative risk and facilitating the creation of groundbreaking series.”