• by Fern Siegel , January 13, 2011

The creative force behind "Battlestar Galactica" and "Stargate: Atlantis" has been named president, original programming, Syfy. Mark Stern, currently EVP at the network, also serves as co-head, original content, Universal Cable Productions. Stern will add creative oversight for Syfy Films, a joint venture with Universal Pictures, to his roster.

Stern, who joined Syfy in 2002, has championed many shows, including "Ghost Hunters, Destination Truth" and the mini-series "Sanctuary." Promoted to his UCP role in 2008 alongside Jeff Wachtel, he produces content for both SyFy and USA. Their first two projects, "Warehouse 13" and "Royal Pains" on USA, were hits.

Expanding its lineup, this season Syfy launched a Thursday night reality block, featuring "Fact or Faked," in addition to a new scripted series "Being Human" and the upcoming "Hollywood Treasure." Beginning in 2012, Syfy Films plans to release two pictures annually.

Stern joined Syfy after a 15-year tenure at Trilogy Entertainment Group. Among the 300 hours of television production he has been involved in, Stern executive produced the award-winning series "The Outer Limits," two seasons of "The Magnificent Seven" for CBS and the ABC miniseries Peter Benchley's "Creature."