Nina L. Diaz, VH1‘s SVP East Coast Production and Development, has been promoted to EVP and Head of Reality Programming. She will oversee all reality development and production for the network, reporting to VH1 president Chris McCarthy.
VH1 had been without one central head of programming since last November when EVP Susan Levison exited, with East Coast development head Diaz and her West Coast counterpart Jill Holmes reporting directly to McCarthy. Holmes last week stepped down from her post, segueing to a multi-year first-look deal with the network.
Since joining VH1 in 2014, Diaz has developed/overseen some of the network’s biggest hits, including Love And Hip Hop, Black Ink Crew and Mob Wives — as well as the high-profile upcoming entries Amber Rose Show and the revival of America’s Next Top Model.
“Nina has an exceptional ability to translate pop culture through stories and characters that attract massive, passionate audiences,” said McCarthy. “Very few people have Nina’s talent and instincts to consistently develop shows that not only reflect culture but also define it.”
Diaz is a MTV-VH1 veteran. She started her career at MTV where she developed and launched such signature shows as Cribs and My Super Sixteen. She also is credited with the initial idea for The Osbournes after meeting the family on the set of Cribs and suggesting that they should get their own series.
Diaz went on to be an independent producer, developing hits The Real Housewives Of New Jersey and Mob Wives. The latter series brought her to VH1.
VH1 has been on a ratings upswing and has nine of the top 20 cable reality shows for adults 18-34 and 18-49, more than any other network.
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