Michael Riley, a former head of ABC Family, is the new president of Los Angeles-based KCETLink, the independent public media station and satellite TV channel.
Riley
Riley succeeds Al Jerome, the KCET executive who led what had been PBS’s flagship station in Los Angeles through its acrimonious 2011 split from PBS. He spearheaded the station’s subsequent merger with noncommercial satellite broadcaster Link TV in October 2012.
Dick Cook, board chair for KCETLink Media Group, cited Riley’s “strong track record in brand-defining content creation, strategic partnerships, acquisitions and digital leadership — both domestically and across international markets” in Monday’s announcement. Riley began in the job immediately.
Riley served as president of ABC Family from August 2010 to September 2013. According to KCETLink, during Riley’s tenure, ABC Family became cable television’s top network in primetime among young women, and launched its first international channel in Canada.
Previously, Riley worked as s.v.p. and g.m. of Radio Disney. He began his media career with Turner Broadcasting in the United Kingdom, starting in business development and rising to s.v.p. and g.m., TBS Europe Ltd., which operates channels such as CNN International, TCM and Cartoon Network.
Jerome, who helmed the station for nearly two decades, announced his retirement last March.