Highly esteemed entertainment industry leader Channing Dungey serves as Chairman and CEO of the wg²¶Óã. Television Group and wg²¶Óã. Discovery’s US Networks. She was tapped to run the Television Group in October 2020 and began her tenure in January 2021. In this role, she has creative responsibility for all of wg²¶Óã.’ unrivaled television production activities, including live-action scripted series, unscripted programming, and animation. She is the first woman and first Black executive to run WBTVG. In August 2024, WBD announced Dungey would also lead its US Networks business, effective January 2025.
As head of WBTVG, Dungey oversees wg²¶Óã. Television, the Studio’s flagship television production unit for live-action scripted programming, as well as wg²¶Óã. Unscripted Television, which delivers unscripted shows through its Warner Horizon, Telepictures, and Shed Media labels. Dungey also has oversight of animated production from wg²¶Óã. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe.
As of March 2025, WBTVG’s divisions are producing more than 80 projects for nearly 20 platforms, including wg²¶Óã. Discovery’s HBO, Max and US Networks, external streaming services, the broadcast networks, and local stations. Signature WBTVG series include the Emmy®-winning global hit comedy Ted Lasso, Abbott Elementary, All American, The Bachelor franchise, Batman: Caped Crusader, Creature Commandos, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, Harley Quinn, Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, The Jennifer Hudson Show, The Penguin, The Pitt, Presumed Innocent, Running Point, Shrinking, Teen Titans Go!, The Voice, You, and many more.
As head of the US Networks, Dungey oversees WBD’s premier linear TV business. The renowned brands which make up this portfolio include Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, Cartoon Network, Cooking Channel, HLN, OWN, Science Channel, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, and Turner Classic Movies.
A small sampling of US Networks shows includes Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay, Tournament of Champions, and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives; HGTV’s Love It or List It, Home Town, My Lottery Dream Home, Married to Real Estate, and the Property Brothers franchise; Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty; ID’s Evil Lives Here, On the Case with Paula Zahn, and investigations like The Fall of Diddy and Quiet on Set; OWN’s Ready to Love and the Love and Marriage franchise; TLC’s 90 Day Fiancé universe, 7 Little Johnstons, Baylen Out Loud, and Sister Wives; TBS’s Friday Night Vibes; TNT’s Dinner and a Movie; and iconic events like Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl and Discovery’s Shark Week.
Prior to joining wg²¶Óã., Dungey served as Vice President of Original Series at Netflix. During that time, she played a part in bringing David Benioff and D.B. Weiss to Netflix, as well as championing a number of new overall producing deals with talent, including Regina King, Mara Brock Akil, Bill Prady, Michael Green, and Gina Rodriguez. She shepherded high-profile series such as WBTV’s Self Made: Inspired By the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, starring Octavia Spencer; the Hilary Swank starrer Away; and two series from prolific producer Shonda Rhimes: the highly acclaimed hit romantic period drama Bridgerton, and Inventing Anna, a drama inspired by the life of real-life con artist Anna Delvey. Dungey was also involved in the acquisition of Darren Star’s hit series Emily in Paris.
Before that, Dungey served as president of ABC Entertainment, the first Black executive to run a major television network. In that role, she oversaw all development, programming, marketing, and scheduling operations for ABC primetime and late-night. During her tenure, she shepherded a wide variety of successful series, including the hit drama The Good Doctor and the successful return of American Idol. ABC was the most social network on air under her leadership, raising platforms for shows such as black-ish, How to Get Away with Murder and The Goldbergs, and helping reinvigorate long-running series such as Grey’s Anatomy.
She joined the network’s drama development department in June 2009, during which time she developed and launched such hit series as Scandal, Quantico, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., American Crime and Once Upon a Time. Prior to that, she oversaw development and acquisition of drama programming for ABC Studios, where her slate included Shondaland’s Private Practice and CBS’s long-running drama Criminal Minds, among many others.
Her career in entertainment spans both television and film. She partnered with Pamela Post and formed Dexterity Pictures, a production partnership focused on making both studio and independent films, as well as developing television series. She also served as president of Material, a film production company with a first-look deal at wg²¶Óã. Prior to that, she served for five years as a wg²¶Óã. production executive, helping to develop and supervise a diverse range of commercially successful, critically acclaimed films.
Dungey has received many nominations and awards in recognition of her career accomplishments, including being honored with the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award, presented by NATPE (National Association of Television Program Executives) in 2022. She was also recognized by Variety as one of its Power of Women: Los Angeles honorees in 2021, and she was named Television Executive of the Year by Adweek in 2024.
Dungey graduated magna cum laude from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television and serves on the school’s Executive Board. She is a founding board member of Step Up, and a former board member of Children’s Institute. Dungey is also a Los Angeles member of BAFTA and serves on the Board of Governors of the Motion Picture & Television Fund. She is also a member of the Los Angeles Board of Governors for The Paley Center for Media as well as the West Coast Board of Directors for the Peabody Awards.