A+E poaches Viacom programming exec

A+E Networks has brought over veteran programming executive Katie Buchanan from Viacom’s US cable channel CMT.

Buchanan (pictured) has been named senior VP programming strategy and scheduling for the Lifetime and LMN cable networks.

She will report to Lifetime’s SVP, strategy, scheduling and acquisitions, Christian Drobnyk, who said: “Katie brings a breadth of experience and a track record of success to Lifetime and LMN. She is a hybrid executive with both a creative vision and a passion for strategic insight.”

While at CMT, Buchanan oversaw programming; strategy; linear, multiplatform and digital scheduling; research analysis; and acquisitions; and oversaw acquisitions coordination for other Viacom networks such as Nickelodeon, TeenNick and TV Land.

Before Viacom, she worked for ten years at NBCUniversal, rising to senior VP of Style Network. There she oversaw programming and acquisitions strategy.

While at NBCU, she developed and produced Too Fat for 15: Fighting Back, which was based on a UK special.

Internationally, A+E has hired execs such as Dan Korn and Jessica Haagmans to senior posts in recent months, with Paul Buccieri replacing Bob DeBitteto as president of production wing A+E Studios in the US.