Zev Shalev Named Executive Producer of The Nate Berkus Show

CULVER CITY, Calif. and CHICAGO, April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Zev Shalev has been named executive producer of the new syndicated series THE NATE BERKUS SHOW (working title) from Harpo Studios and Sony Pictures Television, starring Nate Berkus, which will premiere in the fall.  Terry Murphy has also been brought on as the show's co-executive producer.  It was also announced today that the show will be launched in New York, in high definition (HD).  The announcement was made jointly today by Valerie Schaer, executive vice president, creative development, Harpo Studios and Holly Jacobs, executive vice president, U.S. reality and syndicated programming, Sony Pictures Television.

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"We're delighted about the appointment of these creative and well-respected executives to lead 'The Nate Berkus Show' team," said Valerie Schaer, executive vice president, creative development, Harpo Studios.  "Zev and Terry's ideas, energy and enthusiasm will make 'The Nate Berkus Show' must-see television for viewers who want to transform their lives."

"Zev's dynamic approach and vision, together with Terry's wealth of daytime experience will bring 'The Nate Berkus Show' to life," said Holly Jacobs, executive vice president, U.S. reality and syndicated programming, Sony Pictures Television.

"I'm incredibly excited about the opportunity to lead the launch of 'The Nate Berkus Show'," said Shalev.  "Viewers trust Nate to bring positive change to their lives, and they feel a deep connection to him through everything he has shared in his appearances on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' over the years.  I can't wait to work with Nate and the teams at Harpo and Sony to share his next chapter," said Shalev.

Emmy-award nominee Zev Shalev most recently founded NewsTsar, the content project company that marries news with social media tools.  Previously he was the executive producer of CBS's The Early Show where he led the series to its first Emmy nomination for outstanding morning show, and was the only morning broadcast to show ratings growth for the 2008-2009 season.  

Prior to his tenure with CBS, Shalev worked in Canada as vice president for strategic programming, as well as senior executive producer of information and entertainment programming for CanWest Global.  Over the span of his career, Shalev launched "Entertainment Tonight Canada," where he served as a senior executive producer.  He co-founded, was the CEO and executive produced U8TV, Canada's first Internet television channel, and also executive produced CTV's "Canada AM;" Toronto 1's news and current affairs programming; and produced "CTV News Specials."

Terry Murphy's passion for turning ideas into reality, and her history as an effective team-builder with several successful show start-ups under her belt, led Daily Variety to brand her as "The Queen of Launch."  Most recently Murphy has served as a Team Leader for CNBC's "the Business of Innovation" and "Collaboration Now."  Prior to that, she served as an executive producer on CNBC's "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch."  Murphy's executive producer experience with daytime programming includes "Queen Latifah" and "The Gordon Elliott Show," among others; she also served as a producer for "Sally Jesse Raphael."  Also an author, Murphy's book "Life in Rewind" was published in 2009 by William Morrow.

Nate Berkus, decorator and design expert, is a New York Times best-selling author and product developer with a complete line of branded products for the home.   Berkus, who has appeared regularly on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," will debut his first-run syndicated series this fall.  The daily, multi-topic show will present a broad range of subjects and guests based on lifestyle, entertainment and personal transformation.

"The Nate Berkus Show" is the second series partnership between Harpo Studios and Sony Pictures Television.  Their first, "The Dr. Oz Show," launched in September 2009 as the highest-rated first-run syndication premiere in the last seven years.  SPT will handle worldwide distribution efforts for the show and co-produces the series with Harpo Studios.

About Harpo Studios

Harpo Studios is the home of Harpo Productions, Inc. the most successful production company in daytime talk, producing the number one, award-winning "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and syndication's latest success, "The Dr. Oz Show," as well as having developed "Dr. Phil" and "Rachael Ray." Harpo Productions creates and develops original TV programming for primetime, syndication and cable television and operates Oprah.com, a premier lifestyle website.  ZoCo Productions, LLC, an affiliate of Harpo Productions, Inc., and Sony Pictures Television co-produce "The Dr. Oz Show."  Harpo Print, LLC and Hearst Magazines publish the monthly O, The Oprah Magazine publication.  Harpo Films produces feature films and, through an exclusive deal with HBO, scripted television programming.  Harpo Radio, Inc. produces Oprah Radio (XM channel 156, Sirius channel 195 as part of its "Best of XM" package) on Sirius XM Radio.  A joint venture between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a multi-platform company, will debut in January 2011 in approximately 80 million homes, on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel.

About Sony Pictures Television

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers.  It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform:  broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution.  In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms.  Internationally, SPT is a leader in local language productions around the world, some of which are co-produced with local partners and sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries.  To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 114 channel feeds, which are available in more than 130 countries reaching almost 400 million households worldwide.  SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle.  Additionally, SPT is a part owner of cable channel GSN, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc.  SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States, for Sony Music Entertainment and for the Tennis Channel.  SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

SOURCE Sony Pictures Television