Discovery appoints Discovery Channel and TLC boss

Discovery has restructured its US nets. It has looked in-house for a new boss for its flagship channels and put Eileen O’Neill in charge of the Discovery Channel and TLC. The executive’s new role was one of several changes announced yesterday amid a restructuring of the company’s US networks. Other changes included a new overall boss for Animal Planet and Science Channel and for Discovery’s emerging networks.

O’Neill takes the newly-created role of group president, Discovery and TLC Networks. A long-serving Discovery exec, she has been running TLC since 2008 and shows including Jon & Kate Plus 8 and Sarah Palin’s Alaska have been developed during her tenure. She also launched eco-channel Planet Green and ran Discovery Health. The new structure sees Discovery Channel general manager Clark Bunting and TLC COO Edward Sabin report into O’Neill.

Marjorie Kaplan has been promoted to president, Animal Planet and Science Networks. She has been running Animal Planet since 2007 and overseen programming slates that have included River Monsters and other hits. Science Channel general manager Debbie Myers will now report to Kaplan.

Discovery has added emerging networks to Investigation Discovery and Military Networks general manager Henry Schleiff’s responsibilities. Planet Green and FitTV general manager Laura Michalchyshyn will report to him.