Jonathan Murray
Founder and Executive Consultant
Widely credited with inventing the modern reality television genre, Jon started out in local TV news, spending six years in news, documentaries, station management and programming at various network affiliates around the US. In 1991, he and his colleague Mary-Ellis Bunim pitched their unprecedented idea for an unscripted drama series to MTV over breakfast; MTV bought the show before lunchtime, and The Real World was born. The innovative series merged Bunim’s experience in scripted daytime dramas with Murray’s documentary and news expertise, and quickly became part of the cultural DNA of young people all over the world. Murray and Bunim grew their operation into an industry leader, producing such seminal shows as The Simple Life, Emmy®-winner Starting Over, Making the Band and Love Cruise.
Serving as Chairman of BMP until April 2015, Murray was responsible for guiding the creative process that has distinguished the company’s shows since the early 1990s.