Mike Darnell is exiting Warner Bros. Television Group after a decade with the studio, a move he decided to make after a restructuring would have altered his role at the company. Darnell, who had served as president of unscripted television for Warner Bros., and Warner Bros. Television Group chairman-CEO Channing Dungey were set to announce the change on Thursday. As part of the new structure, Darnell won’t be replaced; instead, the alternative and unscripted divisions that reported to Darnell will now report directly to Dungey.
Mere weeks after exiting Fox, the veteran reality TV executive is heading to Warner Bros. Television, where he will be president of unscripted and alternative programming. The move puts Darnell in charge of the reality genre for the studio’s Telepictures division as well as Warner Horizon, which produces American Idol rival The Voice. When Darnell begins his new job Aug. 12, he will report to Warner Bros. TV President Peter Roth.
The reality TV landscape will never be the same. After 18 years at Fox, the dean of unscripted TV executives, Fox’s president of alternative programming Mike Darnell, is stepping down. He will stay on though the end of June, when his current contract is up, and help with the transition.
