AMC Networks CEO Kristin Dolan Shares What Makes New Original ‘The Audacity’ Stand Out

All CEOs possess a touch of the showman, and AMC Networks CEO Kristin Dolan is no exception. While she is known for a more understated approach compared to other executives, Dolan took the opportunity on Thursday at NATPE Global to highlight the upcoming AMC series *The Audacity*.

Created by Jonathan Glatzer—whose notable works include *Succession* and *Better Call Saul*—the series intertwines drama with humor in a contemporary Silicon Valley setting. AMC produced the show, featuring a cast led by Billy Magnussen. It will be available on AMC and streamed on AMC+.

“The show hits on so many levels,” Dolan remarked just before unveiling a new trailer. “I read the first scripts a year ago, and it seemed really timely, but we shot over last summer.” As rough cuts came together, she noted that five interconnected storylines emerged throughout the season. “Each one of them, shockingly, was also happening in the news at the same time, things like AI bots as psychological partners… or teenagers struggling with social media.”

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*The Audacity* has been a key project for AMC, prominently featured during the company’s 2025 upfront presentation and showcased at CES in Las Vegas last month. When asked if the original series posed a risk, given that it is not based on existing material, Dolan affirmed its alignment with the company’s core mission.

“No. I mean, that’s what we do,” she stated. “That’s what our DNA is comprised of—these scripted original dramas that touch on characters and situations that feel really relevant.”

Before introducing the trailer, which is set for official release in the coming weeks following last month’s teaser, Dolan invited audience feedback. “I’d love to hear people’s thoughts after the panel,” she said, expressing enthusiasm for the series. She then engaged with attendees for an additional 10 minutes, demonstrating her commitment to audience connection.

Dolan attended the conference as one of the executives recognized with NATPE Honors, presented later that evening. Her 30-minute discussion, moderated by Elaine Low of The Ankler, touched on various industry topics, particularly the balance AMC Networks strikes between creating content for external partners and producing for its own platforms.

As the parent company of linear networks such as AMC, BBC America, and IFC, AMC Networks also operates a collection of niche streaming services, including AMC+, Acorn, and Shudder. Dolan described the challenge of navigating what content to license and what to retain in-house.

“Do you pull something back and keep it domestically but license it to someone else internationally? But then, the UK people get upset because they’re like, ‘Ah, you licensed *The Walking Dead* to Sky, and maybe we wanted to use it here,’” she explained. “So it’s this insane sort of mash-up of thousands of titles and things that we own, and looking across the whole world and saying, ‘What’s the best way not only to monetize but also to make sure that you’re preserving the connection back to the mother ship of who created the content, in AMC.’”