Warner Bros. Discovery U.S. Networks Chairman Kathleen Finch to Retire, Channing Dungey Tapped as Successor

Warner Bros. Discovery‘s head of U.S. networks Kathleen Finch will retire at the end of the year, with Warner Bros. Television group chairman and CEO Channing Dungey set as her replacement.

“There is no one better at developing captivating content, compelling talent, and meaningful lifestyle brands than Kathleen, who has been my partner as we built our premier entertainment networks at Discovery and created Warner Bros. Discovery as an unscripted powerhouse,” Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said Friday. “While I understand her long-standing decision to retire, I will certainly miss her, as will the entire company, which has benefitted from her unmatched collaboration and unique understanding of what our audiences crave. Channing is an unparalleled creative executive who has shepherded countless award-winning hit shows. She has the ideal expertise and experience – as a content developer, platform programmer, and network executive – to lead the US Networks.”

Finch came over to Discovery in 2018 as part of the acquisition of Scripps Networks (the original home of the now 30-year-old Food Network), where she was top programming exec, to become one of Zaslav’s key lieutenants in the pre-WarnerMedia merger days, tasked with leading Discovery’s 12 lifestyle brands, including HGTV, TLC and Food Network.

Following the birth of Warner Bros. Discovery in April 2022, Finch was given oversight of almost all U.S. networks, including the so-called “T-Nets,” TBS, TNT and truTV, and Cartoon Network/Adult Swim.

Those added channels that traditionally deal in largely scripted fare have seen several cancellations and slate shuffles in the post-merger era, and a new focus on sports, acquisitions and airing existing Warner Bros. films and series.

“It has been an honor to spend the past 25 years at Scripps, Discovery, and now Warner Bros. Discovery,” Finch said Friday. “I began my journey at the fledgling Food Network and am so proud to have helped turn it into a cable powerhouse, and then to lead the team developing some of the most addictive unscripted franchises across HGTV and TLC, creating household names out of chefs and house flippers, and capturing the cultural conversation with real-life stories. The greatest joy, and the part I will miss the most, is the incredible people with whom I get to work every day. Starting with David and throughout the organization and of course all the amazing on-air talent, this is one of the smartest and most creative groups imaginable. I am so proud of what the US Networks group has accomplished together, and I know under Channing’s leadership there are many successes to come.”