Schaer To Head NBCU’s Original Syndies

Valerie Schaer today was named executive vice president, creative affairs at NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution.

She will be responsible for development of original programming for NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution and will also oversee the division’s current first-run programming including two new daytime shows, Steve Harvey and Trisha Goddard, both which debut this fall.  Schaer, who will report to Barry Wallach, president, NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution, will join NBCU in next month and will be based in New York.

Schaer is joining NBCU from Harpo Productions Inc. where she has been EVP of creative development since August 2009.  While at Harpo, Schaer supervised syndicated programming including Dr. Oz and developed and launched The Nate Berkus Show as well as several other highly-rated shows such as the follow-doc series on OWN Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes.  She also was supervising producer of the documentary feature film following the first graduating class of Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls, premiering in September 2012.

From 2003 to 2009, Schaer was EVP of Worldwide Pants Inc. (The Late Show with David Letterman and The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson), where she oversaw production and development.

Schaer supervised all comedy development and programming at Worldwide Pants and was producer of the cult comedy feature film, Strangers With Candy starring Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert.

Previously, Schaer was the EVP of programming and development at Universal Domestic Television from May 1999 to May 2003.

Prior to Universal, Schaer was a senior executive at ABC from 1995 to 1999. As SVP of production and reality programming for ABC Daytime, Schaer supervised production of The View, All My Children, One Life To Live, Port Charles and General Hospital. In 1996, Schaer developed and launched the Emmy-award winning show, The View with Barbara Walters’ production company. Schaer was also a lead creative executive overseeing The Daytime Emmy Awards on ABC.

Schaer held various roles throughout the television industry before joining ABC. She was president, creative of Whittle Communications, Special Report Network.  She also was VP of current programming and production at Lifetime Television from 1989 to 1993 and served as executive in charge of production on all original movies, comedy specials and drama series. In 1993, Schaer held the position of VP of production and development for Viacom New Media. Before Lifetime, Schaer held numerous producing positions in reality, drama and movies.

Schaer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Boston University.