True, Original add development execs

Endemol Shine-owned US prodcos True Entertainment and Original Media have added a senior development executive each while True has inked an overall production deal with Jo Honig.

Tony Biancosino has been appointed senior VP of development at Original Media while Hazel Steward has arrived as senior VP of east coast development at True Entertainment.

The appointments were made by Glenda Hersh and Steven Weinstock, co-presidents and CEOs of True Entertainment and Original Media.

Biancosino is an experienced producer and director of reality television with credits including It’s All Relative for TLC, Trashformers for FYI and Town of the Living Dead for Syfy.

Steward began her career with UK satcaster Sky and has since worked with various firms including The Gurin Company as VP of development and Merv Griffin Entertainment as senior VP of development. She will work alongside Bryan Hale, who joined True as senior VP of west coast development a year ago.

True, meanwhile, has signed an overall deal with Honig and her production outfit Omelette Bar Productions.

Honig, previously executive VP of development at True, is linking up with the firm once more, having previously developed series including Vanity Fair Confidential and Lust or Run for the company. She will now focus on creating unscripted comedy and offbeat documentary series.

True Entertainment is best known for its Real Housewives series while Original Media is behind Swamp People and Ink Master.