Angela Shapiro-Mathes will take a bicoastal approach to running TLC.
The industry veteran, who had been running Fox Television Studios, was tapped as president and general manager of TLC by new Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav, to whom she will report.
Zaslav made the announcement at a Discovery upfront presentation to advertisers in Los Angeles Tuesday.
At TLC, Shapiro-Mathes succeeds David Abraham, who has taken the programming-head position at UKTV. She will lead development, programming, production, new media, marketing, research and communications and work with the ad and affiliate-sales teams to generate revenue and enhance brand value.
When she takes the top spot for the network July 1, Shapiro-Mathes will run Discovery’s first bicoastal network, with a presence both in Los Angeles and at the company’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Md. She will be charged with deepening extant relationships and establishing new ones within the L.A. creative community as TLC looks to buttress its position in the nonfiction realm.
Shapiro-Mathes’ arrival comes as TLC in enjoying improved Nielsen Media Research ratings. Riding the strength of such series as Little People, Big World, American Chopper, Miami Ink and What Not to Wear, TLC has rung up 13 consecutive months of gains, according to network officials.
Working as president of Fox Television since 2004, Shapiro-Mathes has been responsible for the company’s scripted, alternative, digital-media and international divisions.
During her tenure, she was instrumental in the production of such series as FX’s The Shield and The Riches. Currently in production: Crowned for The CW; Burn Notice for USA; and Saving Grace, starring Academy Award-winner Holly Hunter, for TNT.
Prior to joining Fox, she was president of Disney’s ABC Family. In 2000, she was named president of Buena Vista Productions, serving simultaneously as president of ABC Daytime.
“With an enormous depth of experience running Fox Television Studios, ABC Family and ABC Daytime, Angela has a record of achievement that few can match. Key to all of these positions is her unique ability to create content and brands and broker advertising, new-media and marketing partnerships,” Zaslav said in a prepared statement.
“Discovery's ability to attract top talent demonstrates the incredible strength of our brands,” he added. “We are the No. 1 nonfiction entertainment company in the world and, with Angela at the helm, TLC is positioned to truly break out as a category leader.”
