Who is Channing Dungey? All about the executive tapped to run Warner Bros. Discovery’s TV Networks

Channing Dungey has been a senior executive at Warner Bros. since late 2020 and is currently the Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group. Soon she will be taking charge of Warner Bros. Discovery TV Networks after the current Chairman and CEO Kathleen Finch, announced her retirement.

Channing is a celebrated industry veteran with over three decades of experience. She has served as the president of ABC Entertainment and as the vice-president of original content at Netflix, overseeing the development of various landmark shows like Bridgerton, Scandal, and Ted Lasso.

As the chairman and CEO, Kathleen Finch, who joined Discovery in 2018, oversaw HGTV, Discovery, CNN, TBS, Food Network, TNT, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Animal Planet and Cooking Channel, among other networks.

“It has been an honor to spend the past 25 years at Scripps, Discovery and now Warner Bros. Discovery,” said Finch, announcing her retirement.

Channing Dungey will take on Kathleen's role by the end of the year.

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Channing Dungey is currently the CEO of Warner Bros. TV Group

Channing Dungey was announced the Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Studios in 2020 and took charge in January 2021. She was the first female and Black executive to run WBTVG. Four years later, she has been announced as the new leader of Warner Bros. Discovery’s TV Networks.

Channing started her professional career as a development assistant for producers J. Todd Harris and Joseph M. Singer after graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Soon she landed her first job at Warner Bros. as a production assistant, working on major projects like Heat, The Matrix and The Devil's Advocate. As the head of WBTVG, she's responsible for all television production activities, including the production of scripted, unscripted and animated series.

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Channing Dungey was the first black president of ABC Entertainment

Dungey became the first Black President of ABC Entertainment in 2016. She overlooked hit projects like Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, Nashville, The Good Doctor and Once Upon a Time. She was the first Black executive to run a major network like ABC.

However, her relationship with the network started in 2004, when she was roped in as the new head of the drama development department. She developed and launched shows like Quantico and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. among others. She was also involved in the development, acquisition and reinvigoration of content, like Grey's Anatomy and Criminal Minds.

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Channing Dungey was a senior executive at Netflix before joining Warner Bros

The industry veteran also spent some time at Netflix as the vice-president of Original Series.

She joined the streaming service in late 2018 after leaving her role as president of the ABC Entertainment Group. It was reported that her decision was a response to the management changes that happened due to Disney's takeover of 21st Century Fox.

While at Netflix, she focused on bringing new production deals and talents to the company. She shepherded massive hits like Bridgerton and Inventing Anna and was involved in the acquisition of the series Emily in Paris.

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Channing Dungey has been honored with the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award in 2022.

She's a member of the Los Angeles BAFTA, serving on the Board of Governors of the Motion Picture & Television Fund, while also being involved with The Paley Center for Media. She was named the Television Executive of the Year by Adweek in March 2024.