Craig Erwich is President, Disney Television Group. The alignment of Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals into his purview leverages his expertise in streaming, bolstering Disney Branded Television’s content strategy for fueling Disney+ with broad, family-appealing original programming.
Erwich has been at the helm of Hulu Originals, leading development and strategy for Hulu’s original series since April 2014. He has overseen the diverse slate of Hulu’s premium content including the Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning The Handmaid’s Tale, the first-ever series on a streaming service to take home both awards in the drama series category; Only Murders in the Building, which recently garnered 17 Emmy nominations and remains Hulu’s most-watched comedy series; Dopesick, which recently garnered 13 Emmy nominations and spurred multiple culture-shifting moments; and Victoria’s Secret: Angels and Demons, which recently became the most-watched documentary in the history of the platform. He has also been responsible for hit series including Nine Perfect Strangers, which is the most-watched drama on the platform, and The Kardashians, the most-watched premiere in Hulu history and the most-watched unscripted series. Under his leadership, the streamer garnered 58 nominations total in 2022, more than double the prior record.
For the past three consecutive seasons, ABC Entertainment has ranked No. 1 in entertainment among Adults 18-49, fueled by breakout hits like Abbott Elementary, the network’s highest-rated comedy in two years. With Erwich’s oversight, the critically acclaimed show has become a cultural phenomenon, earning seven Emmy nominations, including the only broadcast entry in the Outstanding Comedy Series category. In total, ABC received 23 Emmy nominations in 2022, including a third consecutive nod for Live in Front of a Studio Audience, which has been a pillar of the network’s expanded live event and unscripted programming strategy. ABC is also home to television’s longest-running primetime medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy, which recently celebrated its historic 400th episode and remains the network’s No. 1 drama and No. 1 entertainment series; and The Bachelor franchise, its No. 1 unscripted series. Additionally, ABC Entertainment continues to be at the forefront of the industry’s Diversity & Inclusion movement, having implemented standards to ensure that there are multidimensional voices in positions of influence across the entire creative and production process.
Erwich added Disney Branded Television streaming strategy and content oversight in September 2022, just as the division is expanding upon its dominance in the kids content space to create premium family programming for Disney+. Recently, DBT has announced banner projects including Percy Jackson and the Olympians, National Treasure: Edge of History, and American Born Chinese, among many others.
Also in September 2022, Erwich assumed oversight of Walt Disney Television Alternative, the newly formed unscripted production unit led by Rob Mills. To date, WDTA has launched Claim to Fame, Judge Steve Harvey and The Final Straw for ABC, as well as the upcoming animated and live-action blended special, Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration.
Erwich previously served as the EVP of Warner Horizon Television (WHTV), a division of Warner Bros. Television Group, where he oversaw development, production and business operations. Before joining WHTV, he served as EVP of Programming at FOX Broadcasting Company for 12 years where he was instrumental in the development of hit series such as 24, House, Prison Break, and The O.C.
updated 3.8.23
