MUMBAI: FremantleMedia North America (FMNA), a division of global format creator, FremantleMedia, has announced that industry veteran, Steve Tao has been named senior VP, scripted programming.

Tao will be responsible for continuing to develop FremantleMedia North Americas dramatic programming slate.

Tao brings a wealth of development and production experience to FremantleMedia, having served as head of dramatic series for ABC Television, where he oversaw the show The Practice, NYPD Blue and Once And Again. Tao also served as senior VP of New Line Television. In the past, he was also VH1 senior VP for programming.

Globally, FremantleMedia produces over 1800 hours of drama each year through its regional divisions around the world. Weekly dramas include the long-running police serial, The Bill, broadcast in the UK on ITV1 and also internationally, and the German production, Hinter Gittern (Behind Bars) on RTL, as well the German police dramas, Balko on RTL and Soko 5113 on ZDF, and Italy's, La Squadra on RAI 3.