Denise Contis is Executive Vice President Development and Production West for Discovery Channel. In this capacity she oversees all aspects of Discovery Channel development and programming that originate from the network’s west coast offices. Contis is based in Los Angeles and reports to Eileen O’Neill, Group President Discovery and TLC Networks. 

Contis earlier served as Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Discovery Channel, overseeing all execution for the channel’s programming.  While in this role, Contis oversaw Skywire Live With Nik Wallenda which delivered 13 million total viewers for the walk and dominating cable as the #1 live event in 2013. She also spearheaded Discovery’s recent summer ratings hit Naked And Afraid.  Also during her tenure she helped launch top Discovery programs that included Fast N’ Loud, Alaska: The Last Frontier and Yukon Men, in addition to nurturing the hugely popular Deadliest Catch.

Contis joined Discovery Communications in 2008 as Vice President, Production and Development –West Coast, TLC.  While at TLC, she served as Executive Producer on TLC’s Sarah Palin’s Alaska and oversaw the refresh of the TLC staple Say Yes To The Dress franchise, as well as LA Ink and Police Women.

Prior to Discovery Communications, Contis served as Senior Vice President, Programming at A. Smith and Company, whose clients included FOX, ABC, CBS and FX.  Contis also launched her own agency TUK Media, where she worked with NBC, CBS, A&E, E! and TruTV. Prior to launching TUK, she worked as an executive consultant for Lifetime. 

Contis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Loyola Marymount University and has been nominated for three Emmy Awards.

Speaking on: Risky Reality