Michael Cascio
SVP, Production, National Geographic Channel
Reality TV on Trial
Strengthening the Producer - Network EP Relationship

As Senior Vice President, Production for the National Geographic Channel (NGC), Michael Cascio oversees all programming production for the network. His distinguished career includes serving as Executive Producer and Vice President of Documentary Programming at A&E, and Vice President, Cable Programming for NBC News.

Appointed in July 2004, Cascio joined NGC just as the network began rolling out an aggressive fall schedule intended to build on the unprecedented success the network has experienced throughout the year. With a highly successful track record of developing break-out cable programming, including A&E's signature series Biography and Animal Planet's hit series Animal Precinct and King of the Jungle, Cascio's expertise in documentary production continues to fuel the Channel's momentum within the cable landscape.

From 2001 - 2004, Cascio served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Animal Planet, responsible for overseeing all programming, production, development, and operations for the network. Under his leadership, Animal Planet received record ratings and revenues as well as national brand recognition with such programming successes as Crocodile Hunter, King of the Jungle and Animal Precinct.

From 1999 - 2001, Cascio was Vice President, Cable Programming Development for NBC News, where he spearheaded a major primetime programming initiative at MSNBC that resulted in increased ratings and demographics with series such as MSNBC Investigates, a revamped Headliners & Legends, and the introduction of new original documentary specials.

In 1990, Cascio joined A&E Networks as Executive Producer and Vice President of Documentary Programming, where he launched the network's long running signature series Biography as well as other series (Investigative Reports, City Confidential). At A&E, he advanced to Senior Vice President of Programming, and was responsible for the network's overall programming strategy, including development, production, and scheduling.

Cascio worked from 1979-1990 at Philadelphia's long dominant ABC station WPVI-TV as Executive Producer and Director of Public Affairs, responsible for overseeing their news magazines and documentaries, and producing their top-rated newscasts. Prior to that, Cascio was a producer and reporter for WNET-TV/New Jersey Public Television, and a news director, specials producer and reporter for WHYY-TV in Wilmington, DE/Philadelphia, PA.

Cascio serves on the advisory board of the Humane Society of the United States and on the advisory board of the School of Communications at American University. In 1998, Cascio was cited in Entertainment Weekly's "It List," highlighting the most creative people in the entertainment industry. Cascio is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and was a trustee of the International Documentary Association. A native of the Washington metropolitan area, Cascio received a Masters degree in Communication from American University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies from the University of Virginia.