Rick Holzman
SVP Programming, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel
30 Minutes with Rick Holzman, Discovery Channel

As vice president, program planning and scheduling for Discovery Channel, Rich Holzman oversees scheduling and acquisitions for the network and plans long-term programming strategies.

Holzman joined Discovery from Universal Television Group where he most recently served as senior vice president of the Universal Television Group's strategic research division, functioning as key strategic advisor on programming trends, helping to launch successful dramas, Monk and The Dead Zone. Previously, Holzman served as vice president of research and planning for USA network. In this capacity, he developed research plans for USA, evaluated potential acquisitions from a financial, brand and strategic standpoint and led the network to its highest ratings in recent history.

Prior to that post, Holzman was chief operating officer at 360 HipHop.com where he created and launched a hiphop lifestyles website for Def Jam founder Russell Simmons. Holzman started his cable career at Viacom, Inc., reaching the level of vice president and general manager of MTV online/MTV Interactive. In this role, he lead the interactive division's integration into all aspects of the MTV brand and worked with internal groups to maximize integration of an online presence into the MTV brand. Holzman started his career with Leo Burnett as a media planner and buyer in Chicago, Ill.

Holzman received his bachelor of arts degree from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt. and is based at Discovery's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Md.