Tony DiSanto
Encyclopedia
Tony DiSanto is a founding partner and co-owner, along with Liz Gateley
, of DiGa
,a studio and production company hybrid staked by IAC mogul Barry Diller
and Electus founder Ben Silverman
.
From June 2009 through January 2010, DiSanto served as the President of Programming at MTV
, supervising the development and production of all series, specials, and feature films for television. During his tenure as President, the network’s ratings rose 30 percent with reality hits such as Teen Mom
, 16 and Pregnant and Jersey Shore
, three of the highest rated shows in cable television in 2010. DiSanto also ushered in a return to scripted programming at the channel with The Hard Times of RJ Berger
, Teen Wolf and Skins, the latter two of which will launch in 2011.
DiSanto began his career as an intern at MTV. He graduated to directing commercial spots, music videos, and electronic press kits for bands. By 2003, as Head of Production, DiSanto was supervising special events as well as creating and executive producing shows. DiSanto's early efforts include creating Say What? Karaoke
and Global Groove, and co-creating Total Request Live
with Carson Daly
.
DiSanto is a graduate of the Kanbar Institute of Film, Television and New Media of the Tisch School of the Arts
at New York University
.
Liz Gateley
Liz Gateley currently serves as Senior Vice President, Series Development, for . Liz is also a founding partner and co-owner, along with Tony DiSanto, of DiGa, a studio and production company hybrid...
, of DiGa
DiGa
DiGa is an independent production studio co-founded by former MTV executives Tony DiSanto and Liz Gateley on January 1, 2011. DiGa creates, develops and produces prime-time cable and network reality and scripted television programming, feature films and digital content across all platforms in...
,a studio and production company hybrid staked by IAC mogul Barry Diller
Barry Diller
Barry Charles Diller is the Chairman and Senior Executive of IAC/InterActiveCorp and the media executive responsible for the creation of Fox Broadcasting Company and USA Broadcasting.-Early life:...
and Electus founder Ben Silverman
Ben Silverman
Benjamin Noah "Ben" Silverman is the founder and CEO of Electus, a next generation entertainment studio staked by IAC's Barry Diller....
.
From June 2009 through January 2010, DiSanto served as the President of Programming at MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, supervising the development and production of all series, specials, and feature films for television. During his tenure as President, the network’s ratings rose 30 percent with reality hits such as Teen Mom
Teen Mom
Teen Mom is an American reality television series that premiered on MTV on December 8, 2009. A spin-off of 16 and Pregnant, the series chronicles the lives of four of the teenagers from the original series as they navigate their first few years of motherhood...
, 16 and Pregnant and Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore (TV series)
Jersey Shore is an American reality television series that premiered on MTV on December 3, 2009 in the United States. The series follows the lives of eight housemates spending their summer at the Jersey Shore in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Season 2 followed the cast escaping the cold northeast...
, three of the highest rated shows in cable television in 2010. DiSanto also ushered in a return to scripted programming at the channel with The Hard Times of RJ Berger
The Hard Times of RJ Berger
The Hard Times of RJ Berger is a United States television comedy series created by David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith for MTV. The show's central character is RJ Berger an unpopular sophomore at the fictional Pinkerton High School in Ohio who has an exceptionally large penis...
, Teen Wolf and Skins, the latter two of which will launch in 2011.
DiSanto began his career as an intern at MTV. He graduated to directing commercial spots, music videos, and electronic press kits for bands. By 2003, as Head of Production, DiSanto was supervising special events as well as creating and executive producing shows. DiSanto's early efforts include creating Say What? Karaoke
Say What? Karaoke
Say What? Karaoke is a game show that aired on the American cable television network MTV. The show evolved from the former MTV show: Say What?.-Synopsis:...
and Global Groove, and co-creating Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
with Carson Daly
Carson Daly
Carson Jones Daly is an American television host. He is the host of NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly, a late-night talk show that began airing on January 7, 2002. Before his role as host of that program, Daly was a VJ on MTV's TRL, and a DJ for the Southern California based radio station KROQ-FM...
.
DiSanto is a graduate of the Kanbar Institute of Film, Television and New Media of the Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts is one of the 15 schools that make up New York University ....
at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
Other works
- MadeMade (TV series)MTV's MADE is a self-improvement reality television series broadcast on MTV. The series follows teens who have a goal and want to be "made" into things like singers, athletes, dancers, skateboarders, etc. The teens are joined by a "Made Coach", an expert in their chosen field, who tries to help...
(2003) - Executive producer - Nick CannonNick CannonNicholas Scott "Nick" Cannon is an American actor, comedian, rapper, entrepreneur, record producer, radio, and television personality. On television, Cannon began as a teenage sketch comedian on All That before going on to host The Nick Cannon Show, Wild 'N Out, and America's Got Talent...
Presents Wild 'N OutWild 'N OutNick Cannon Presents Wild 'n Out is a game show on MTV starring Nick Cannon.-Premise:Similar in premise to game-type shows such as Whose Line Is It Anyway?, the show puts two teams of comedians: the "Red Squad", captained by Cannon and contained Katt Williams for the first 3 seasons, and the "Black...
(2005) - Executive producer - The ShopThe ShopThis article is about the reality show. For the fictional government agency, see The Shop .The Shop is a reality show on MTV about a barbershop located in the heart of Jamaica, Queens. The shop is owned by music producer Cory Rooney, who has produced for some of the big names out there like hits...
(2006) - Executive producer - StankervisionStankervisionStankervision is a sketch-comedy program, created by Waco O'Guin and Roger Black, that aired on MTV2. It premiered July 8, 2005 as part of the channel's "Sic 'Em Friday" programming block. Stankervision is a repackaged version of "The DAMN! Show", a sketch comedy show that was created in Athens,...
(2005) - Executive producer - PoweR GirlsPoweR GirlsPoweR Girls was a 2005 MTV reality TV series about press maven Lizzie Grubman mentoring a team of young hopeful publicists as they work their way in the world of celebrities, glamour and public relations to ultimately earn a permanent spot on Grubman's team .- Plot :The show took its name from a...
(2005) - Executive producer - Maui FeverMaui FeverMaui Fever is a reality series, created by haole Morgan J. Freeman for MTV. Filmed on location in Maui over a three month period, the show explored the real lives of several young haole friends living in the Kaanapali area....
(2007) - Executive producer - Human GiantHuman GiantHuman Giant is a sketch comedy show on MTV, starring writer/performers Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer and directed primarily by Jason Woliner.The show has completed two seasons. The status of a third season is unknown...
(2007) - Executive producer - Nick Cannon Presents Short CircuitzShort CircuitzShort Circutz was a series of short computer animated videos that were played on YTV.Most videos were 30 to 120 seconds long, often played between other computer animated shows, such as ReBoot and Beasties. The videos were all sampled from three film collections: The Mind's Eye, its sequel Beyond...
(2007) - Executive producer - Run's HouseRun's HouseRun's House was an MTV reality series. It showed the family life of rapper and hip-hop music pioneer Joseph Simmons, also known as Rev Run....
- 8th & Ocean8th & Ocean8th & Ocean is an American reality series about a group of models living in Miami, Florida that premiered on MTV on March 7, 2006. The series aired for ten episodes, ending its run on May 9, 2006. The creators of 8th & Ocean are also responsible for Laguna Beach, a show also airing on MTV...
- Taking the StageTaking the StageTaking the Stage is a musical reality show set at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is produced by Nick Lachey, a SCPA alumnnus, for MTV. The first season chronicled the lives of five high school students and their friends as they train for careers in the arts...
- The Andy Milonakis ShowThe Andy Milonakis ShowThe Andy Milonakis Show is an American sketch comedy television show starring Andy Milonakis, which aired on MTV2, the first season having aired on MTV...
- Laguna Beach: The Real Orange CountyLaguna Beach: The Real Orange CountyLaguna Beach: The Real Orange County, often referred to simply as Laguna Beach, is a reality television series which originally aired on MTV from September 28, 2004 until November 16, 2006. It documents the lives of several teenagers living in Laguna Beach, an affluent seaside community located in...
- The HillsThe HillsThe Hills is a reality television series which originally aired on MTV from May 31, 2006 until July 13, 2010. The show uses a reality television format, following the personal lives of several young adults living in Los Angeles, California, but tends towards a narrative format more commonly found...
- The City (MTV Series)The City (MTV series)The City is an MTV reality television series. The first spin-off of MTV's, The Hills, it follows one of the show's former cast members, Whitney Port, as she moves to New York City to work for fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg. The program premiered on December 29, 2008 and concluded its first...
- Warren the ApeWarren the ApeWarren the Ape is an MTV reality show parody which premiered on June 14, 2010 at 10:30 p.m. The series is a spin-off of the IFC and Fox TV show Greg the Bunny, and follows the titular character's life as he tries to get his life back together following the cancellation of Greg the Bunny.Warren has...
- America's Best Dance CrewAmerica's Best Dance CrewAmerica's Best Dance Crew, often abbreviated as ABDC, is an American competitive dance reality television series that features street dance crews from the United States and around the world. It is produced by American Idol judge Randy Jackson and airs on MTV...