Phil Craig

Head of Factual

Discovery Networks International

Phil Craig is Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer for Discovery Networks International, a division of Discovery Communications, the #1 pay-TV programmer in the world, and began his post in February 2015.

An award-winning international producer and network executive, Craig leads the Discovery Networks Production and Development (P&D) team that is the driving force behind many of Discovery’s global hit series, and supplies a content pipeline that spans nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. The Discovery Networks International Production and Development group was established in 2011 and charged with creating content specifically for Discovery’s international networks. It has grown to work with more than 100 international independent producers – developing and producing more than 160 hours of original content each year.

Based in London, Craig develops and oversees factual and lifestyle content primarily for flagship global networks Discovery Channel and TLC, and works collaboratively with U.S. counterparts on content sharing and development. In addition, Craig guides the development, production and sharing of regionally and locally produced content and formats across Discovery’s five international operating regions. 

In March, Craig announced his first five series and specials, ranging across genres like natural history, engineering, survival, science and aviation, with commissions includingTERROR IN THE SKIES: AIRASIA AND BEYOND;ENGINE ADDICT WITH JIMMY DE VILLE;KINGS OF THE WILD,MEET THE SUPER BRAINS (wt)andLIFE OF DOGS (wt).

Prior to joining Discovery in February 2015, Craig held the post of Head of Factual at ABC TV in Australia, where he led a team that was responsible for over 100 hours of original content per year. Craig drove a number of high-profile initiatives, includingRedesign My Brain, which now airs on Science channel asHack My Brain; andStop At Nothing, the highly acclaimed Lance Armstrong documentary which aired as part of the BBC Storyville documentary strand and in numerous other territories, and was the broadcaster’s first digital-only documentary commission. Craig took charge of a major season of WW1 centenary documentaries and helped target new demographics across multiple platforms. His commission about mental illness,Changing Minds, was described by theSydney Morning Heraldas ‘surely one of the most important programmes in Australian television history.’

Prior to his role at ABC TV, Craig worked for UK independent producer Nutopia, where he took charge of the Discovery landmark seriesHOW WE INVENTED THE WORLDand was originating producer on hit seriesThe 80s,The Decade That Made UsandHow We Got To Now With Stephen Johnson.

Earlier in his career Craig enjoyed tenures with the BBC, where he was senior producer on heavyweight current affairs seriesPanorama, and with Granada TV, where he worked on iconic seriesWorld In Action. He also made numerous hit programmes and series for leading UK production companies including Diverse and Brook Lapping. Past credits include major series such asHostage,Finest Hour,Live Aid RememberedandGeldof In Africa, science documentaries and hard-hitting reports on contemporary subjects such as Discovery’sTHE FLIGHT THAT FOUGHT BACKand 2011'sBin Laden: Shoot To Kill(calledTargeting Bin Ladenin the USA) which contained President Obama's only documentary interview on the Bin Laden raid; high-rating shows for Discovery Channel's Shark Week, including the record-breakingOcean Of Fear, thought-provoking films for the BBC's Storyville strand and Sky Atlantic'sThe British.

A Cambridge University graduate, Craig has also co-written five books, including the best-sellingFinest Hour,The End of the Beginning,Diana: Story of a Princess, andTrafalgar: The Men, the Battle, the Storm, several of which were made into television series. Prior to his career in television, Craig was a pilot in the Royal Air Force.

Speaking at: Controlling Stakes, Creativity & Commissions