In 2018, Matthew Butler took the role of VP/Programming and Development for a cable channel he spent a decade at before being selected to help launch the Discovery Fit and Health network.
Now, this veteran of Discovery Inc. has been promoted.
Butler will now hold the GM role at Travel Channel. He replaces Jane Latman, who was recently named president of HGTV.
Discovery veteran, Matthew Butler, has been named general manager of Travel Channel, effective immediately. Butler will oversee the development, production, scheduling and overall operations for Travel Channel, and will be charged with leading the strategic growth of the audience and the brand.
“I’m thrilled to lead this incredibly talented team and continue the strategy we began together a year ago,” Butler said. “I’m excited about the future of our brand and to launch a new wave of shows for our superfans.”
“Given the terrific success of Travel’s recent repositioning, coupled with Matt’s long-term impact on the brand, we didn’t have far to go in search of our new GM,” said Kathleen Finch, Chief Lifestyle Brands Officer at Discovery. “I’m delighted to have Matt continue the vision he and Jane Latman created together for Travel, opening the brand to explore more mystery and adventure, while remaining keenly focused on creating content that our loyal viewers will love.”
Henry Schleiff, who serves as Group President for networks Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Destination America and American Heroes Channel, added that Butler is taking over Travel Channel “at a time of great momentum and strength. Indeed, with more than a decade of experience and expertise with Travel, no one is more knowledgeable about its viewers and their passion for this popular genre. We are fortunate to have such a creative and dedicated team at Travel and I look forward to seeing Matt lead it to even greater heights.”
Butler began his career at QVC following his 1995 graduation from Dickinson College, starting there in 1996 as a backstage coordinator. He later became a Commercial Operations Coordinator at ESPN, and from 1998-2000 was a Sr. Associate of Broadcast Operations at PBS.
