Reality Programming

Jonathan Murray

Widely credited with inventing the modern reality television genre, Jonathan Murray inspires, influences and entertains television audiences worldwide. Since the 1992 launch of The Real World (MTV), he has created and executive produced some of the industry’s most innovative, unscripted television programs. Under Murray’s leadership, Bunim/Murray Productions created the first reality game show, Road Rules (MTV), in 1995; the first reality sitcom, The Simple Life (E!), in 2003; and the first reality soap opera, Starting Over, in 2003. Bunim/Murray’s current programming includes The Bad Girls Club, Love Games and Best Ink (Oxygen), Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, Kourtney and Kim Take New York and Khloé and Lamar (E!), The Real World and The Challenge (MTV), as well as Project Runway and Project Runway All Stars (Lifetime). Murray received a Primetime Emmy for Autism: The Musical (HBO) and a Daytime Emmy for Starting Over (Syndication). He was recently inducted into the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame.

David McKillop

David McKillop is executive vice president, programming for A&E and BIO Channel, where he oversees the development, creation and execution of all programming. McKillop oversaw the development of A&E’s most successful scripted series to-date,Longmire, and played an integral part in developing Storage Wars, now A&E’s highest-rated original series in network history. Previously, McKillop was senior vice president, development and programming at History. Under his tutelage, History experienced its best ratings performances ever as he launched the network’s top 10 series and top six specials of all time. McKillop served as the executive producer of History’s top series including, Pawn Stars, Ice Road Truckers, American Pickers, Ax Men and Top Gear. He was also an executive producer of numerous acclaimed and top-rated History specials, including the Primetime Emmy Award winners Gettysburg and 102 Minutes that Changed America. Prior to History, McKillop served as the vice president, factual programming, Discovery Networks U.S. Production. Under his leadership, Discovery’s flagship network, Discovery Channel, earned critical and ratings success for the original series Futureweapons, Man vs. Wild and Stunt Junkies. During his tenure at Discovery Channel, McKillop served as senior executive producer, working with the programming and development groups to create many of Discovery Channel’s groundbreaking programming projects, including Deadliest Catch and Monster Garage. Earlier in his career, McKillop ran his own production company, Big Rock Productions, based in Washington, D.C.