ITV poaches Turner’s Eilenberg for key US role

Turner Broadcasting System veteran David Eilenberg has been tapped to run ITV Entertainment, the newly named reality production division of ITV America.

As president, Eilenberg (pictured) will run the unit, which was known as ITV Studios America until Brent Montgomery was named CEO of a consolidated ITV America in December.

In part, Eilenberg replaces Orly Adelson, who left her role as president of the American production arm of UK broadcaster ITV last year.

He will have responsibility for all content creation across unscripted genres and platforms, meaning he will oversee all development, programming and production.

The hire comes soon after Maria Kyriakou was upped to president, international of ITV Studios, the production arm of ITV. This put her in charge of US scripted programming, which Adelson had previously focused on.

Eilenberg comes across from Turner, where since 2012 he has been senior VP, unscripted development, late night and specials for cable channels TNT and TBS. There he oversaw programmes such as true crime shows Cold Justice and Boston’s Finest, Howie Mandel hidden cam format Deal With It and talk show Conan.

According to Deadline, TNT and TBS president Kevin Reilly issued an internal memo noting that Eilenberg’s team would “remain intact” under executive VP, original programming Brett Weitz.

Eilenberg also spent five years as head of development and current programming for Mark Burnett Productions (now part of United Artists Media Group), where he played a key role in the US development of The Voice.

He is also known as co-creator of the Dismissed format, head writer on the US version of Weakest Link, a writer on Da Ali G Show and co-director of documentary On Common Ground.

“This is a time when the ability to adeptly and sensitively navigate a complex and changing TV landscape has never been more critical,” said Montgomery, the founder of ITV-owned Leftfield Entertainment and now ITV America chief executive. “In this regard, David Eilenberg is simply a home run for all of us at ITV.”