Karen Bailey is a renowned Entertainment Professional based in Los Angeles, with a multifaceted career spanning film and television production, studio and network executive roles, and current senior leadership at Starz Entertainment.
Her professional journey began with the release of her first indie feature, BACHELORMAN, in 2003, which garnered numerous audience and critic awards within the independent film circuit. This success was followed by her second film, SANDS OF OBLIVION, which was acquired by IDT Entertainment and sold to NBC/Universal, leading to a multi-picture development deal with the SyFy channel and Anchor Bay Entertainment.
During this period, IDT launched a studio division, and Bailey was invited to join the company as an in-house Executive Producer, overseeing a slate of small-budget films for domestic and international distribution. In 2007, Starz Media acquired IDT Entertainment, and Bailey was appointed Vice President of Production, overseeing a range of MOWs and television series for outside networks, including Lifetime and IFC, while growing Starz's Original Programming division.
Under Bailey's guidance, the studio produced its first one-hour drama, CRASH, in collaboration with Lionsgate, and its first international production, SPARTACUS, filmed in New Zealand. The company also expanded into the half-hour space with PARTY DOWN and HEADCASE. In 2010, the company restructured, terminating contracts with outside networks and focusing on developing its own branded content.
As Head of Production, Bailey worked to expand the company's international presence by setting up productions in Canada, the UK, China, Eastern Europe, and South Africa. She began working closely with creative teams and was asked to transition to the Development department as VP of Original Programming, overseeing creative development on various domestic and international productions, including MAGIC CITY and THE WHITE QUEEN.
In 2012, Bailey was promoted to Senior Vice President of Original Programming, and currently oversees OUTLANDER, THE MISSING, a co-production with BBC, and Starz's first docu-series, THE CHAIR.
