Discovery hires Disney+ alum Kevin Mayer to consult on streaming

Kevin Mayer

Discovery has added one of the key architects of Disney+ to its streaming team, ahead of the merger with WarnerMedia.

Kevin Mayer has joined the factual entertainment giant in a consultancy role, working across the company’s streaming strategy.

Mayer’s arrival was confirmed by Discovery CEO David Zaslav during the company’s Q3 earnings call, when the company said it had added three million DTC subscribers to reach a total of 20 million for Discovery+ and the to-be-discontinued Eurosport Player.

Zaslav said Mayer’s “big brain” would be engaged on Discovery’s direct-to-consumer plans, which are set to be supercharged following the merger with WarnerMedia and its OTT service, HBO Max.

Mayer is currently chairman of sports streamer DAZN, having left Disney in May 2020. He then had a three-month stint art social media giant TikTok, departing in August, and has since set up an investment firm that has acquired Reece Witherspoon’s prodco Hello Sunshine and has been linked with Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios.

On the Discovery financial front, total Q3 revenues increased by 23% year-over-year to $3.15bn. International advertising revenues increased 28%, or 26% ex-FX, and distribution revenues increased 7%, or 6% ex-FX.

The company’s US advertising revenues increased 5% and distribution revenues increased 21%. Total Adjusted OIBDA was $726m.