Vivian Schiller

In June 2002, Discovery Communications, Inc. (DCI) and The New York Times Company hired Vivian Schiller to develop and launch their joint venture television network. In March 2003, the Discovery Times Channel launched as the only U.S. network dedicated to in-depth documentary series and specials about the events and ideas shaping our times. Schiller splits her time between her base at Discovery’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, and The New York Times management team in New York City.

Under Schiller’s leadership, the Discovery Times Channel has received significant critical acclaim and has won multiple industry honors for its breakthrough programming. These awards include an Emmy, an Overseas Press Club Award, three National Headliner Awards, a BANFF Rockie Award, an International Documentary Association honor and two AWRT Gracie Awards. The network has also had a film in competition at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, and another film selected for a special screening at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival.

Prior to her position with Discovery Times Channel, Schiller spent 14 years at Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., most recently serving as head of CNN’s long-form programming worldwide. Among her key accomplishments are the development and launch of two weekly series – People in the News (with People magazine) and CNN Presents – the latter of which received numerous awards, including Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, two Alfred I. duPont Awards, an Overseas Press Club Award and a Polk Award, among others. During her tenure at CNN, Schiller won five Emmy Awards.

Previously, Schiller served as vice president and general manager for Turner Original Productions where she managed the documentary division of the Turner Entertainment Networks. In this role, Schiller oversaw series for TBS Superstation such as Wild!Life Adventures, Destination Sunday and TBS Superstation’s Sunday night documentary block. In addition, she was senior producer of Turner’s first-ever Oscar nominated program, Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream. Schiller began her career at Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. in 1988, using her proficiency in Russian to oversee documentaries and television movies co-produced with Soviet State Television (Gosteleradio).

Schiller is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Television Academy’s Executive Peer Group and serves on the Screening Jury for the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Journalism Awards. She is also a member of the Banff Television Festival’s Board of Governors and is a past president of the Cine Golden Eagle Awards. In 2003, Schiller was named to Broadcasting & Cable’s “Next Wave” list – an exclusive list of 10 women who have what it takes to go all the way to the top. In 1997, Women In Cable & Telecommunications also named her a “Woman to Watch.” Schiller earned her master’s degree in Russian from Middlebury College and her bachelor’s degree in Russian and Soviet Studies from Cornell University.