Howard Lee

Named President of TLC in 2018, Howard Lee oversees all aspects of the network’s creative and business operations, including programming, production, development, digital, research, communications and marketing for the linear network as well as love and relationship, family and lifestyle content for discovery+. TLC has broken multiple performance records under Lee’s stewardship and his leadership is the driving force behind the network’s ongoing evolution to become the leading destination for female audiences. In 2020 & 2021, TLC was the #1 primetime ad-supported cable network in key demos for women and today, TLC continues to be the #1 non-sports primetime ad-supported cable network for women.

Lee’s natural creative instinct has built the network’s pop culture brand and relevance. Among numerous hit series to his credit, he developed and greenlit the ratings juggernaut 90 DAY FIANCÉ franchise, which propelled TLC to rank #1 for women in all television on Sunday nights over the past 4 years and has boomed with over 4.3 billion hours of consumed content; the breakout top-rated series DR. PIMPLE POPPER; the bold reality tv series that turned the country’s head HERE COMES HONEY BOO BOO; the explosive social media phenomenon 1000-LB SISTERS, and has launched a myriad of brand-defining programs including CAKE BOSS, TODDLERS AND TIARAS, SISTER WIVES, LONG ISLAND MEDIUM, I AM JAZZ and MY BIG FAT FABULOUS LIFE. Lee and his team also oversee hundreds of hours of other top-rated original series including LITTLE PEOPLE BIG WORLD, SAY YES TO THE DRESS, MY 600-LB LIFE and OUTDAUGHTERED.

Lee was honored as Adweek’s Executive of the Year in 2020, recognized in The Hollywood Reporter’s 50 Most Powerful LGBTQ Players for the past two years, and has consistently been named to Cablefax’s Top 100 Power Players list. He proudly leads the network’s pro-social initiatives focused on diversity, acceptance and inclusion. Most notable among them is TLC’s annual “Give a Little” awards and campaign dedicated to empowering the TLC audience and America to take a stand against bullying.

In addition to TLC streaming and network originals, Lee also oversees Discovery’s Travel Channel network. A 20-year veteran of TLC parent company Discovery, Inc., Lee’s previous positions prior to TLC have included Vice President of Development and Production for the 2007 launch of Planet Green. Prior to Planet Green, he was Vice President of Development for the Travel Channel.

Lee received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts for Film and Television. He supervises teams based in New York, Los Angeles and the Washington, D.C. area.