MTV Promotes TV Vets Janollari, Linn to Build on 12-34 Demo

“Six Feet Under,” “Jersey Shore” vets working on new scripted shows

MTV has promoted executive vice president of scripted development David Janollari and executive vice president of MTV production Chris Linn to replace outgoing president of programming Tony DiSanto, the network announced Tuesday.

The network hopes to build on its success with the 12-34 year-old demo — the audience it focuses on (and highlights its success with) over the typically prized 18-34 demo. MTV enjoyed a 27 percent ratings increase for its third quarter this year over last year's, and in October had its best year-to-year growth the best for any month in MTV history, the network said.

Janollari will oversee MTV's scripted, comedy, animation and West Coast reality teams and work with Linn — who managed "Jersey Shore," MTV's biggest hit — on East Coast reality development and on TV movies that could become back-door pilots, the network said. Linn will also manage made-for-TV movies, news and specials, studio productions, music development and production management.

Janollari joined MTV in January as head of scripted development, and has worked closely on the upcoming series “Skins,” an adaptation of a U.K. hit, and the dark film reinvention “Teen Wolf,” both of which are to debut next year. Janollari previously served as president of entertainment for The WB Network and co-founded the Greenblatt Janollari Studio, which produced “Six Feet Under.” 

Besides "Jersey Shore," Linn's successes include “World of Jenks,” which debuted earlier this fall as MTV’s highest-rated new series ever. He also spearheaded “My Super Psycho Sweet 16 Part 2” and “Made the Movie.

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