Susanne Daniels

MTV has tapped Susanne Daniels, a former top executive at Lifetime and the now-defunct WB Network, as its new president of programming. Daniels succeeds David Janollari, who had held the top programming position at MTV for the last two years. MTV said Janollari left on his own accord. In Daniels, MTV gets a programmer who has a strong track record in finding shows aimed at teens and young adults. Among the shows Daniels championed in her WB days were the dramas "Dawson's Creek," "Gilmore Girls," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Charmed.

When Susanne Daniels was head of programming for the WB Network, she had a knack for championing both wholesome shows such as "Seventh Heaven" that families could watch together and edgier fare like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Dawson's Creek" that would appeal to teens while making parents nervous. In her new gig as president of programming for MTV, she will again try to strike that kind of balance. "I have to take my job as a programmer for teens seriously," Daniels said in a Monday afternoon interview.

When Susanne Daniels was head of programming for the WB Network, she had a knack for championing both wholesome shows such as "Seventh Heaven" that families could watch together and edgier fare like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Dawson's Creek" that would appeal to teens while making parents nervous. In her new gig as president of programming for MTV, she will again try to strike that kind of balance. "I have to take my job as a programmer for teens seriously," Daniels said in a Monday afternoon interview.

MTV has tapped Susanne Daniels, a former top executive at Lifetime and the now-defunct WB Network, as its new president of programming. Daniels succeeds David Janollari, who had held the top programming position at MTV for the last two years. MTV said Janollari left on his own accord. In Daniels, MTV gets a programmer who has a strong track record in finding shows aimed at teens and young adults. Among the shows Daniels championed in her WB days were the dramas "Dawson's Creek," "Gilmore Girls," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Charmed.

Lifetime Entertainment Services named former WB network programming chief Susanne Daniels as its entertainment president responsible for developing shows and movies for the company's three cable channels. Daniels is the first major hire by Betty Cohen, who joined Lifetime in April as chief executive. The company, a joint venture of Hearst Corp. and Walt Disney Co., is trying to draw younger viewers.

Thursday morning marked the media tour debut of recently appointed Lifetime Chief Executive Andrea Wong. She introduced a panel for the channel's new series "Side Order of Life," which led into one for "State of Mind," both of which premiere Sunday. And both are looking to repeat the success of Lifetime's "Army Wives" -- all three were picked by the channel's entertainment president, Susanne Daniels.

The story of Lifetime Networks took a surprise twist of its own Wednesday when Entertainment President Susanne Daniels announced that she was leaving her post. Daniels, who has overseen programming for Lifetime Television and Lifetime Movie Network for the last three years, developed the hit show "Army Wives" for the resurgent network. The veteran entertainment executive said that, after working in the industry for the last two decades, she wanted to spend more time with her family.

Hoping to bootstrap on the success of "Army Wives," Lifetime Entertainment has enlisted a veteran TV executive as its new programming chief. JoAnn Alfano, a former NBC development executive who helped guide such shows as "Will & Grace," "Scrubs" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," on Wednesday reported to work as Lifetime's executive vice president of entertainment. She will be in charge of programming and scheduling for Lifetime Television and its sister channel, Lifetime Movie Network.

Susanne Daniels Entertainment president, WB Television Network, 33 What she's done: In December, Daniels took over the entertainment programming reins at the 5-year-old network, replacing Garth Ancier, who is expected to take the same post at NBC once his WB contract expires in June. Thanks to such teen-oriented hit shows as "Dawson's Creek" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," the WB demonstrated audience growth while the other broadcast networks saw their numbers continue to decline.

Susanne Daniels had a singular goal in mind as she was developing a slate of original programs to debut on Lifetime Television this summer. "I was looking for hit shows," Daniels, president of entertainment for Lifetime Entertainment Services, said wryly. It may be an obvious aim, but it's an achievement that has recently eluded the women-oriented channel.

Hoping to bootstrap on the success of "Army Wives," Lifetime Entertainment has enlisted a veteran TV executive as its new programming chief. JoAnn Alfano, a former NBC development executive who helped guide such shows as "Will & Grace," "Scrubs" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," on Wednesday reported to work as Lifetime's executive vice president of entertainment. She will be in charge of programming and scheduling for Lifetime Television and its sister channel, Lifetime Movie Network.

The story of Lifetime Networks took a surprise twist of its own Wednesday when Entertainment President Susanne Daniels announced that she was leaving her post. Daniels, who has overseen programming for Lifetime Television and Lifetime Movie Network for the last three years, developed the hit show "Army Wives" for the resurgent network. The veteran entertainment executive said that, after working in the industry for the last two decades, she wanted to spend more time with her family.

SUSANNE DANIELS became Lifetime network's president for entertainment in 2005, after which she brought in the drama "Army Wives," which has gone on to be the highest-rated series in the history of the network. Also on her watch, the reality show "How to Look Good Naked" has been the network's most successful unscripted series. -- In programming specifically for women, Lifetime was in some ways a precursor to the new hyper-focused niche marketing. In general, I would say that . . .

Thursday morning marked the media tour debut of recently appointed Lifetime Chief Executive Andrea Wong. She introduced a panel for the channel's new series "Side Order of Life," which led into one for "State of Mind," both of which premiere Sunday. And both are looking to repeat the success of Lifetime's "Army Wives" -- all three were picked by the channel's entertainment president, Susanne Daniels.

Susanne Daniels had a singular goal in mind as she was developing a slate of original programs to debut on Lifetime Television this summer. "I was looking for hit shows," Daniels, president of entertainment for Lifetime Entertainment Services, said wryly. It may be an obvious aim, but it's an achievement that has recently eluded the women-oriented channel.

Lifetime Entertainment Services named former WB network programming chief Susanne Daniels as its entertainment president responsible for developing shows and movies for the company's three cable channels. Daniels is the first major hire by Betty Cohen, who joined Lifetime in April as chief executive. The company, a joint venture of Hearst Corp. and Walt Disney Co., is trying to draw younger viewers.

SUSANNE DANIELS became Lifetime network's president for entertainment in 2005, after which she brought in the drama "Army Wives," which has gone on to be the highest-rated series in the history of the network. Also on her watch, the reality show "How to Look Good Naked" has been the network's most successful unscripted series. -- In programming specifically for women, Lifetime was in some ways a precursor to the new hyper-focused niche marketing. In general, I would say that . . .

After five years of stable management, WB Television Network faces its first shake-up, with Susanne Daniels named Monday to replace Garth Ancier as the president of entertainment at the network. Daniels, 33, will assume her new post immediately, even though Ancier will remain at WB until his contract expires in May. Ancier is expected to join NBC as president of entertainment, replacing Scott Sassa, who will succeed Don Ohlmeyer as president of NBC West Coast.

Susanne Daniels Entertainment president, WB Television Network, 33 What she's done: In December, Daniels took over the entertainment programming reins at the 5-year-old network, replacing Garth Ancier, who is expected to take the same post at NBC once his WB contract expires in June. Thanks to such teen-oriented hit shows as "Dawson's Creek" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," the WB demonstrated audience growth while the other broadcast networks saw their numbers continue to decline.

After five years of stable management, WB Television Network faces its first shake-up, with Susanne Daniels named Monday to replace Garth Ancier as the president of entertainment at the network. Daniels, 33, will assume her new post immediately, even though Ancier will remain at WB until his contract expires in May. Ancier is expected to join NBC as president of entertainment, replacing Scott Sassa, who will succeed Don Ohlmeyer as president of NBC West Coast.