Jon Sechrist

Production & Development Consultant

TLC International

Jon Sechrist is Vice President of Production and Development, TLC, for Discovery Networks International (DNI), a division of Discovery Communications, the #1 pay-TV programmer in the world. TLC is the company’s global female flagship brand and the most-distributed lifestyle channel for women, reaching over 300 million households in more than 180 markets outside of the US across Western Europe; the Nordics; Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa; Latin America and Asia-Pacific.

Based in New York, Sechrist works with the international production community to develop and produce lifestyle and entertainment content for TLC, and manages the content partnership between DNI and Discovery’s U.S. female-targeted networks—TLC, OWN, Discovery Fit and Health, ID: Investigation Discovery and Destination America. His productions include global hits like MY NAKED SECRET, BODY BIZARRE as well as NY INK; WORLD’S WORST MOM, TASTE OFF, BIZARRE ER, MISSION MENU, HAPPILY EVER LAUGHTER and SWINGER WIVES – plus the brand new original series, SECRET ESKIMO ESCAPE – which recently had its global premiere on TLC U.S.

Sechrist joined DNI from TLC, where he developed and produced successful network shows such as SISTER WIVES, CAKE BOSS and NEXT GREAT BAKER. He is credited with executive producing notable specials including the 650-LB VIRGIN, CONJOINED TWINS and CHILD FROZEN IN TIME. Sechrist is also responsible for BBQ PITMASTERS and MAKING OVER AMERICA WITH TRINNY & SUSANNAH.

Prior to joining Discovery, Sechrist was an ABC programming executive, and also worked at MTV Networks, where he was a key player launching MTV.com, MTV2 and the network, Logo, across scripted and live productions. Sechrist’s early days in the business were working in development at Nederlander TV & Film and the talent agency, APA. His first paying job was as a production assistant on NBC's Unsolved Mysteries where he refused to play a dead body and lie in the morgue.

Sechrist studied at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Speaking at: Speed Pitching 1