Kary McHoul Gatens Expands Role at Freeform as SVP, Unscripted & Current Series Programming

Respected television executive, Kary McHoul Gatens, has been named senior vice president of Unscripted and Current Series Programming, Freeform, it was announced today by Karey Burke, executive vice president, Programming and Development. Having expanded its scripted original programming footprint in 2018 to four nights of originals per week and adding 20 more hours of originals to the current slate, McHoul will help spearhead the network's biggest, boldest and most diverse current scripted programming slate ever. McHoul will continue to report to Karey Burke.

"Kary is one of the most facile, experienced, and fearless executives I've ever worked with, and I have no DOUBT that she will continue to be a game-changing leader for us as we grow our original programming slate," said Karey Burke, executive vice president, Programming and Development, Freeform.

"I'm honored to be joining an already extraordinary team of executives including Jennifer Gerstenblatt, who has been integral to the growth and success of our original series. I look forward to championing them to continue to deliver bold, 'Forward' looking programming that is the hallmark of Freeform," said McHoul.

Previously McHoul was senior vice president, Programming and Development Unscripted at FreeForm where she successfully led the effort to expand the networks unscripted slate. McHoul created a "Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings" franchise for the network in addition to several holiday specials including "Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic." Breakout series "Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings," will premiere this Summer. McHoul is also responsible for Freeform's first short-form talk show, "Movie Night with Karlie Kloss," currently airing on the network. Prior to joining Freeform, McHoul helped form Nigel Lythgoe Productions (NLP) with uber-producer Nigel Lythgoe where she worked on "Opening Act" and "CMT's Next Superstar." Before her time at NLP, she built a non-scripted programming department at United Talent Agency and served as Head of Development for the E! and Style networks.

McHoul spent a substantial amount of her career at FOX Broadcasting Company rising through the ranks to senior vice president of Specials, Alternative, and Late Night Programming, and was instrumental in helping launch numerous groundbreaking non-scripted shows including: "American Idol," "Hell's Kitchen," "Family Guy," and "So You Think You Can Dance."

McHoul lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two sons.

About FreeForm Part of Disney|ABC Television, FreeForm connects to audiences and goes BEYOND entertainment with bold, original programming and immersive social engagement. As Disney's young adult television and streaming network, it delivers a unique mix of quality original and acquired series, plus fan-favorite movies and the holiday events "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas." The FreeForm app is a service that allows viewers with participating TV subscription services access to 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as continued on-demand access via a wide array of devices.

Photo credit: Freeform/Craig Sjodin

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