Ellen, Warner Bros JV taps Freeform alum

Ellen Digital Ventures (EDV), the joint venture between Warner Bros Digital Networks and broadcaster Ellen DeGeneres in the US, has appointed a former Turner and Disney exec as general manager.

Michael Riley

Michael Riley, who has previously held senior roles at Turner Broadcasting and The Walt Disney Company, will guide the overall strategic vision and management of DeGeneres’ digital business and will work closely with The Ellen DeGeneres Show exec producers Mary Connelly, Ed Glavin, Andy Lassner and Kevin A Leman II.

Riley will have full financial responsibility for the digital business, including all owned and operated sites, social media output from The Ellen DeGeneres Show, EDV’s digital content studio and digital games business.

Riley was most recently CEO and president of KCETLink Media Group, where he oversaw the company’s transition from public media organisation into a digital content hub for the southern California region.

Before that, Riley was president of Disney network Freeform (fka ABC Family), to which he moved from his role as senior VP and general manager for Radio Disney.

He started his career with Turner Broadcasting in Europe, initially in business development and corporate strategy, before serving as senior VP and general manager for Turner brands in the region.

Craig Hunegs, president of Warner Bros Digital Networks and president of business and strategy at Warner Bros Television Group, said Riley’s strong track record of evolving businesses and digital expertise would make him “an invaluable part of Ellen and Warner Bros Digital Networks.”