Gannett & Debmar-Mercury Hire Development VP for Joint Partnership

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES: Gannett Broadcasting and Debmar-Mercury have tapped TV executive Stephanie Eno as the VP of development for the companies’ new programming partnership.

That recent partnership was made to produce and test programming of varying lengths and genres, with chosen shows entering national syndication. Gannett will use its digital presence to engage the viewing audience while Debmar-Mercury will oversee distribution. Eno will be charged with scouring the industry for projects with an interactive angle, and she will also lead their development. She’ll be based in Debmar-Mercury’s Santa Monica offices.

The exec previously worked at TLC, where she served an executive producer and senior director of programming. Eno oversaw the production of various titles, specials and events while at TLC, including the majority of the network’s wedding programming.

“We are excited to welcome Stephanie to lead this one-of-a-kind partnership between Gannett Broadcasting and Debmar-Mercury,” said Dave Lougee, the president of Gannett Broadcasting. “Working together with the Debmar-Mercury team, we are well positioned to create innovative, truly interactive, quality first-run programming that can meet the needs of our stations across dayparts well into the future.”

Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus, co-presidents of Debmar-Mercury, commented: “Stephanie’s diverse industry background in—and vast knowledge of—reality programming, development, physical production and the digital space makes her the ideal candidate to create the type of integrated programming we seek. She has earned a reputation as a highly creative collaborator who we believe can effectively execute on the vision we share with our great partners at Gannett.”