2017 STARS Hall of Fame

Channing Dungey

Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group & U.S. Networks
Rio Americano High School

Channing Dungey is a powerhouse in television leadership—an Emmy-winning executive and the first Black woman to lead a major broadcast network (ABC). A Rio Americano grad and UCLA School of TFT alumna, her career spans roles at ABC Studios (launching Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds), Netflix (commissioning Bridgerton, Inventing Anna), and leadership at ABC Entertainment (The Good Doctor, American Idol).

Today, Channing serves as Chairman & CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group, overseeing over 80 scripted, unscripted, and animated series—including Ted Lasso, Abbott Elementary, and Batman: Caped Crusader. As of January 2025, she also leads Warner Bros. Discovery’s U.S. Networks, including Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, and Cartoon Network.

Her leadership earned her the 2022 Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award, 2021 Variety Power of Women honoree, and 2024 Adweek Television Executive of the Year. She’s also an Executive Board member at UCLA TFT, co-founder of Step Up Women’s Network, and Board of Governors member at the Motion Picture & Television Fund and Paley Center .

Channing’s influence and advocacy continue to transform television and elevate underrepresented voices in entertainment.