Project Description
Orly Adelson is one of the few executives that has the breadth of experience of working across a range of programming including event programming, live shows, reality, scripted and syndicated series. For her work, she has received and been nominated for more than 60 awards, including Primetime Emmy Awards, SAG Awards, Independent Spirit Awards and the AFI Awards.
For the last two decades, Adelson has been a force in the entertainment industry and, because of her success in every major day part and television genre, she is a constant fixture on prestigious industry lists, most recently The Hollywood Reporter’s “Reality Power List” and Variety’s “Women of Impact.” Additional placements have included the Hollywood Reporter’s “Women in Entertainment: Power 100,” Sports Business Journal’s “100 Most Powerful People In Sports In America,” Billboard’s “Women in Music, ” and Business Journal’s “Women Making A Difference.” Adelson is the only female executive to appear on “Top 100” lists across entertainment, music and sports.
Currently, Adelson is overseeing a diverse slate of feature films, live-event programming, and reality and scripted television. Earlier this year, she produced both the Miss Universe and Miss USA specials for FOX, is now in production on Showtime at The Apollo, the Steve Harvey hosted variety series, and will shortly begin filming the fourth season of the scripted series, Good Witch. On the development front, Adelson is working with Studio8 to bring the successful Spanish format, El Principe, to US audiences, and also has film projects set-up with top tier talent such as Blake Shelton, Al Roker, and Serena Williams.
Adelson served as the President of ITV Studios America, the US flagship of ITV. In this role, Adelson launched the company’s US Scripted Division with the Emmy nominated miniseries Texas Rising, and oversaw all aspects of ITV Studios America’s operations on both the East and West Coasts, including programming like Hell’s Kitchen, Car Chasers, The Bill Cunningham Show, The Chase, and #RichKids of Beverly Hills. Over her tenure, she shepherded a 35% increase in the company’s sales to network and cable channels, and an overall 50% increase in its total profits.
Prior to ITV Studios America, Adelson was President of dick clark productions (dcp). Adelson’s leadership at dick clark productions resulted in the company’s record growth in ratings, revenue and profit. In addition to key success and growth in the awards and live event programming space, Adelson initiated an expansion into syndicated television. She oversaw and/or executive produced all of the company’s high profile properties including So You Think You Can Dance, The American Music Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, The Academy of Country Music Awards and more. It is through this hands-on experience that Adelson developed her unique ability to see every property through a 360˚ lens, finding creative ways to enhance the viewer experience and fan engagement from every angle for all their iconic shows. Adelson also saw dcp through its high profile sale and was instrumental in engineering the Keshet-dcp joint venture for developing and financing unscripted television programming in English and Spanish.
Prior to her tenure at dcp, Adelson was recognized as one of the most prominent and distinguished producers in independent entertainment development, production and financing, creating a dynamic and diverse slate of high profile properties including scripted television series, movies and reality shows.
Adelson’s remarkable eye and deep industry relationships span the globe reaching Israel, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mexico, Canada and more. She has long been a liaison between the emerging Israeli creative force and the United States and throughout her career has created and held oversight on programs that fast became global pop culture phenomena, having a remarkable cultural impact in both the U.S. and abroad.
Adelson is on the board of Women in Film, where she shares her commitment to helping young women advance in entertainment, communications and media. Adelson earned degrees in sociology, musicology and dance at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance respectively. She resides in Los Angeles and is the mother of two children.