Discovery Communications


Discovery hires Twitter TV chief

Discovery Communications has hired the global head of TV at social media service Twitter, Fred Graver. The industry veteran will become senior VP of digital content and social for Discovery Digital, the division that Karen Leever oversees. Graver will oversee Discovery’s digital networks teams across the US, and report to Discovery’s executive VP and general […]

Discovery, Scripps ‘in merger talks’ – again

Shares in Discovery Communications and Scripps Networks Interactive have spiked on a report claiming they are once again exploring a merger. Discovery’s share price grew 9.4% and Scripps’ 10.4% after the Wall Street Journal cited sources saying talks had resumed three years after the last attempt at bringing the companies together. In January 2014, talks […]

Betty joint MDs exiting

Matthew Littleford and Neil Smith are leaving their posts as joint managing directors of All3Media-owned factual prodco Betty, TBI can reveal. The pair has been in the roles at the Bear Grylls: Mission Survive producer since June 2015, but will leave in July. A new chief creative officer will be appointed to lead the business. […]

Raw targets US docs with Norman promotion

UK-based prodco Raw has promoted executive producer Louise Norman in a bid to secure more US documentary commissions. Norman has been named head of US documentaries and senior VP of special projects, reporting to company founder Dimitri Doganis and CEO Joely Fether. The All3Media-owned firm is targeting growth in high-end documentaries following the commission of […]

Discovery poaches Viacom exec for data push

Discovery Communications has appointed Viacom executive Christopher McGrath as senior vice president of data and analytics. Reporting to chief technology officer John Honeycutt, McGrath will be responsible for the vision and execution of Discovery’s global data strategy, with a focus on driving innovation and growth across its brands. According to the company, he will oversee […]

Discovery invests in second screen app WinView

Discovery Communications has contributed to a US$12 million funding round raised by second-screen live sports prediction platform WinView. Former TiVo chairman, president and CEO Tom Rogers, who is currently executive chairman of WinView, was responsible for driving the Series B funding round. Graham Holdings Company, Ted Leonsis’ Monumental Sports and Entertainment and boutique investment bank […]

Discovery lines up Hindi ents network

Discovery Communications is to debut a Hindi-language general entertainment network in India. Discovery JEET will be “the flagship for the network’s ambitious investment into original local productions in India”. It will debut late this year, offering programming on true crime, ‘small-town heroes’ and ‘gritty survival’. More than 200 hours of original, local content will premiere […]

Welling exits Discovery for Scripps

Discovery Communications veteran Paul Welling has joined Scripps Networks Interactive to lead content efforts in the UK and EMEA. Welling has been with Discovery for nearly two decades, most recently as senior VP, international brand and franchise development for Discovery Networks International. He has also run channel portfolios in the UK, and Central and Eastern […]

Betty and Raw join All3Media stable

All3Media has acquired Betty and Raw in a double deal with one of its parent companies, Discovery Communications. Betty is the prodco behind Bear Grylls: Mission Survive, while Raw produces Gold Rush. All3Media International will distribute all upcoming programming from the pair going forwards. All3Media is owned by Discovery and Liberty Global after they teamed to buy […]

Sony buys Italy FTA nets as Sky Italia drops AXN channels

Sony Pictures Television Networks is moving into the Italian free-to-air TV market for the first time, as a two-channel carriage agreement with Sky draws to a close. SPTN has reached a deal with Television Broadcasting System (TBS) to buy the channels NekoTV and Capri Gourmet, which have been broadcasting on the Italian digital terrestrial TV […]