Sylvia Bugg

Chief Programming Executive & General Manager
PBS

As Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, Sylvia Bugg oversees all non-children’s content and leads PBS’s programming strategy across its broadcast and digital platforms. She is also responsible for the acquisition and development of world-class programming for PBS and its member stations, with a particular focus on sharing important stories that reflect the diversity of our country. Sylvia previously served as Vice President of Programming for PBS, where she managed the General Audience Programming editorial team and led PBS strategy across all genres— including news, public affairs, documentaries, history, science, natural history and arts programs. Prior to PBS, Sylvia served as Vice President of Diversity and TV Content at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). In this role, she provided strategic leadership and was responsible for CPB’s efforts to advance diversity across public media through the collaboration and support of content creators, distributors and partnering organizations. Sylvia’s role as Vice President of Programming marked a return to PBS. Earlier in her career, she served as Director of General Audience Programming for the broadcaster. She also held several programming roles in history and public affairs at PBS from 1993-1999. Sylvia spent 12 years in programming, operations and production for several Discovery Communications networks. 

Sylvia holds an MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, an MA in Journalism from American University in Washington, D.C. and a BA in Communications from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA.

Speaking at: What it means to run a public broadcaster in 2021 (and beyond),Meet the BANFF Board of Directors and Content Advisory Board