Christian Drobnyk
Director of Entertainment, TLC, Discovery Networks, US
30 Minutes with Christian Drobnyk, TLC

Christian Drobnyk is vice president of programming for TLC, developing strategy for and implementing programming initiatives for all of the network's dayparts. This master of the grid had been the network's director of programming since Fall 2002, overseeing scheduling and developing, researching and designing programming strategies. Drobnyk also oversaw program acquisitions; reviewed treatments and programs; and tracked ratings performance and programming needs.

Drobnyk began his career with Discovery Communications Inc. in 1997, using his fluency in written and spoken Spanish as a research analyst for Discovery Channel Mexico and Argentina. He then joined TLC as manager of programming. In that position, he managed programming inventory, identified programming for acquisition and development, and developed wizard-level skill at scheduling. Thus, he was able to renew his well-traveled outlook as director of scheduling for The Travel Channel.

Prior to joining Discovery, Drobnyk's career included aspects of media and education, both in Washington, D.C. For two years, he taught junior-high Spanish with Teach For America and developed the school's first Spanish-language curriculum. While there, he served as faculty coordinator for the academic competition, Odyssey of The Mind. He also spent a summer as assistant correspondent with Univision Network News, the Spanish-language network.

Noted as much for his wit as his red hair, Drobnyk earned a bachelor's degree with honors from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. There, he studied Comparative Literature and Spanish. He also spent a semester in Madrid and studied at the University of Chile, Santiago. Academic honors include Phi Beta Kappa. Drobnyk spent his high school years residing in London, England where he attended the American School in London.

Drobnyk resides in Washington, DC and is a big fan of everything Ali G and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, but spends most of his time on home renovation projects or looking for the next big idea.