Realscreen has revealed the opening keynote conversation for the 26th edition of the Realscreen Summit in New Orleans will be Rob Mills, Executive Vice President, Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment, Walt Disney Television. The keynote conversation is scheduled to take place Monday, 29 January at 9:45am CT. "This year's Summit theme is navigating change," Realscreen EVP Mary Maddever said. "So we're thrilled to have Rob Mills share his wisdom and market POV. He's an innovator who creates culturally-defining unscripted hits; his career is essentially a roadmap to successfully connecting with shifting audience preferences to build enduring franchises."
The 2024 Realscreen Summit is scheduled to take place at the Sheraton New Orleans from 29 January - 1 February. During the interview, Mills will offer insights related to Disney Entertainment Television’s multiplatform approach to alternative programming, and harness the power of unscripted television to cut through an increasingly crowded content landscape.
Mills leads Walt Disney Television Alternative, a production unit for unscripted programming; and oversees development and production for alternative programming, specials and late-night for ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals. He also has oversight of ABC daytime programming. Having joined ABC’s Alternative department in 2003, Mills has been responsible for development, current production and specials for series including star-making sensation American Idol; reality phenomenon "Shark Tank;" "The Bachelor" franchise; long-running hits Dancing with the Stars and America’s Funniest Home Videos; late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live; and syndicated daytime talk show Live with Kelly and Mark.
He also has oversight of network special events, including "The Oscars," "The CMA Awards"and Dick Clark’s "New Year’s Rockin’ Eve" with Ryan Seacrest. In 2021, Mills added unscripted programming for Hulu Originals to his purview, overseeing reality juggernaut The Kardashians and the highly-anticipated upcoming Vanderpump Villas. Also that year he launched Walt Disney Television Alternative, which delivered the dazzling Emmy-nominated special Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration.