ITV

Tag: Dave Sirulnick

  • MTV US News & Docs to launch 3 new series

    MTV US News & Docs to launch 3 new series

    MUMBAI: This summer, MTV US will launch three new series out of its News & Docs division. This follows the success of the True Life series.

    The first new series to launch from the News & Docs division will be Tiara Girls, slated for a 19 April premiere. The 8×30-minute show is about beauty pageant contestants.

    MTV Multiplatform Production, News and Music executive VP Dave Sirulnick says, “Our audience has responded strongly to programs that cover the social issues, lifestyle trends, and everything in between that affect young people’s lives. In the same spirit of True Life, the new line-up uniquely tells the stories of young people from their personal points of view.”

    Among the new series slated to launch this summer is the 8×1-hour MTV Juvies, which will document the stories of 16 juvenile delinquents, from northwestern Indiana’s Lake County Juvenile Center, who wind their way through the justice system.

    Each hour-long episode will follow two teenagers from the time they’re taken into polic cuestody through their court hearings. Charges range from underage drinking and drug use to burglary and battery. Producers continued to tape the teenagers and their families even after they left the system.

    Although MTV is better known for more lighthearted programming such as Laguna Beach and My Super Sweet 16, the producers said they hope the juvenile docudrama will resonate with viewers who already tune into gritty shows.

    Another new series, the 8×30-minute Two-A-Days follows the Hoover High School Bucaneers of Hoover, Alabama, through their high school football season.

    MTV News & Docs productions True Life, My Super Sweet 16 and Cribs are returning to the channel.

  • MTV US undergoes restructuring

    MUMBAI: MTV US has announced a re-organisation of its programming department. The aim is to concentrate on developing online content for the Overdrive site and other Web initiatives.
    There will be two divisions. One group will focus on normal TV programming and the other on short-form content that will be available to various platforms. No jobs have been cut in the restructuring.
    MTV president Christina Norman said, “When I returned to MTV last year, we had entered the broadband era with MTV Overdrive to great critical and user acclaim and were developing unique new wireless entertainment while our linear channel was performing better than ever. In order to continue strengthening our connection to young people in today’s digital age, it became clear that we needed to adapt our organisational structure in the same way we have always adapted our programming to meet our audiences’ ever-changing tastes.”
    One group, led by former MTV executive VP news and production Dave Sirulnick, will be charged with creating short-form content for the various platforms under the MTV brand, including the broadband property MTV Overdrive. Reporting to Sirulnick in his new role as executive VP, MTV multiplatform production, news and music are: former VP of music programming Amy Doyle, who will lead MTVN’s music strategy as senior VP of music and talent; Tony DiBari, who was bumped up to executive VP of production; and MTV News VP Ocean MacAdams.
    Sirulnick’s group will concentrate on developing short-form video, music and news content for the linear networks, as well as exclusive, platform-specific fare tailored for so-called ‘third screen’ outlets, including broadband and wireless.
    The second group will concentrate on developing long-form franchises for MTVN’s linear networks. Lois Curren heads that effort in her new role as MTV series entertainment and programming executive VP. Sje will work closely with MTV executive VP, series development and animation Tony DiSanto, who will also lead programming at MTV2.
    Straddling both worlds is MTV executive VP, multiplatform programming, content strategy and scheduling Paul DeBenedittis. He will program both short- and long-form content on the appropriate platform. Executive VP of marketing and multiplatform creative Tina Exarhos will continue to manage all marketing and branding efforts for long-form programming, as well as marketing music and series to multiplatform environments.