Thom Beers was named CEO of FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) on September 1, 2012. As CEO, Beers is responsible for the company's overall management and business performance and oversees the development, production and business operations of over 600 hours of network, cable and syndicated programming. These programs includeAmerican Idol(FOX),The X Factor(FOX),America's Got Talent(NBC),Family Feud(SYN),The Price is Right(CBS),Let's Make a Deal(CBS)Total Blackout(Syfy) andWedding Band.(TBS).

Prior to joining FMNA, Beers was Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer of Original Productions, a FremantleMedia Company. He was the driving force behind the Primetime Emmy® and Producer's Guild of America Award-winningDeadliest Catch.His top rated signature series includedIce Road Truckers, Ax Men, Monster Garage, Black Gold, Storage WarsandCoal.Since founding Original Productions in 1997, Beers' catalogue of more than 40 series is firmly entrenched across cable powerhouses History, Discovery, Spike TV, The National Geographic Channel, truTV and A&E.

Beers' signature show was the mega hit seriesDeadliest Catch,now in its eighth season.Deadliest Catchis Discovery's highest-rated series and has been honored with eight Primetime Emmy® Awards including Outstanding Reality Program in 2011.

Beers' passion for honoring every day heroes and his gift for telling their stories firmly established his non-fiction brand, Original Productions, as television’s number one creator of unscripted reality programming.

Thom Beers believes viewers are tired of customary reality programming fare. "Audiences are asking for something that's real. They want to watch real people, having actual life experiences, facing true challenges," says Beers. "And that's what we give them. Real heroes from real life."

Speaking on: Props Shop