Steve Burns is Chief Programming Officer for CuriosityStream, the award-winning streaming and on-demand destination for world-class documentary features and series exploring science, space, technology, history, nature, health and more. 

CuriosityStream, founded by John Hendricks, founder of Discovery Communications, premiered in March 2015, and Burns has been in this role since launch.  He is responsible for CuriosityStream’s entire library of original productions and acquisitions including award-winning titles and series such as Stephen Hawking’s Favorite Places and David Attenborough’s Light On Earth.

Burns’ career in documentary and non-fiction filmmaking spans more than 25 years from National Geographic cinematographer/producer to senior executive positions at Discovery Communications, including Executive Vice President and Chief Science Editor at Discovery Networks, as well as General Manager of Science Channel.  In 2007, he returned to National Geographic as Executive Vice President of Global Content for NGC Worldwide.

Burns was also recently a freelance Executive Producer for 5 seasons of WNET/ NY's long-running series Secrets of the Dead for PBS in the U.S.

Burns has won multiple industry awards, including two Emmys® for 5 Years on Mars and Spirit of the Rainforest. His teams have been nominated for two Academy Awards, over 250 Emmy® nominations, including dozens of wins, and two Peabody Awards.