A&E Network Hires Three Programming Executives

A&E is bulking up its reality ranks.

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The cable network, which is coming off of its best year on record, has tapped Drew Tappon, Brad Holcman and Nicole Reed to join its unscripted ranks. All three executives will be based in the network's east coast headquarters and tasked with developing new and overseeing current fare. They will report to senior vp Elaine Frontain Bryant.

"The new team members are well-respected and gifted producers who bring an enormous energy and experience to the job,” said Bryant in a statement Thursday.

Tappon, who comes by way of Warner Horizon, will serve as vp, non-fiction and alternative programming. In his previous role, he developed series for both broadcast and cable, including The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, The Voice and America's Best Dance Crew. Prior to joining Warner, Tappon spent more than a decade at MTV, which he finished his stint as senior vp, original programming and series development.

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For his part, Holcman will play the part of senior director, non-fiction and alternative programming. The exec joins the cable network from News Corp studio Fox21, where he oversaw development for shows including Beauty and the Geek, Game Show in my Head and Countdown. He was also involved on the scripted side, where the studio produced Homeland, Sons of Anarchy and Breakout Kings.

Finally, Reed joins as director, non-fiction and alternative programming. Previously, she worked in the unscripted realm at rival Discovery, where she developed such programs as American Guns, Ragin' Gajuns and Machines of Glory. Prior to that, Reed worked in independent film.

The trio joins at a time of growth for A&E, which capped off 2011 as the No. 5 and 6 network among adults 25 to 54 and 18 to 49, respectively. The network, best known for shows like Storage Wars, The Glades and Hoarders, averaged 1.5 million total primetime viewers last year, up 7 percent  from a year earlier.

Email: Lacey.Rose@thr.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose