JB Perrette


Discovery leans into DTC with “specialty stores” strategy

Discovery is “assertively leaning in” to build new direct-to-consumer businesses with a “specialty stores” strategy that differentiates it from larger global competitors in the space, according to the company’s senior managers. Speaking on Discovery’s latest quarterly earnings call, CEO David Zaslav said that the company had made “a differentiated bet” based on ownership of intellectual […]

Darren Childs to step down as UKTV CEO

UKTV boss Darren Childs is to step down from his role as CEO of the British multichannel broadcaster.  The exec will remain until 1 July while the board explores new leadership options. He is believed to be a top contender for the role of Premier League CEO – a role recently turned down by BBC Studios […]

Rich Ross exiting post-Scripps deal Discovery

Discovery Communications has named the new management team that will lead the enlarged company after the Scripps Networks Interactive acquisition, with Discovery Channel boss Rich Ross out and Scripps programming chief Kathleen Finch put in charge of all lifestyle channels. Discovery said that Ross, currently group president of Discovery Channel and Science Channel, is to […]

ProSieben, Discovery pact for OTT drive

ProSiebenSat.1 (P7S1) and Discovery Communications have joined forces to push OTT in the German market with a combined streaming service. The pair are also looking to add third party channels to a new joint venture streaming service. German TV and media giant P7S1 and global channel operator Discovery will stream a raft of their channels […]

Discovery teams with Major League Baseball’s BAMTech

Discovery has teamed up with Major League Baseball-backed media and technology unit BAMTech to create a new European technology joint venture that will provide content owners, broadcasters and OTT platforms with platform capabilities to extend the reach of their services. BAMTech Europe’s first client will be Discovery’s Eurosport, which will gain access to European sports […]

Kaplan exiting as Discovery rejigs int’l programming

Marjorie Kaplan is leaving Discovery Networks in a rejig that sees Susanna Dinnage take over running the international content division alongside her existing role in charge of the UK and Ireland Discovery channels. The change means Discovery no longer has a dedicated international content chief, with an increasing amount of original content coming out of […]

Dee Forbes leaving Discovery to run RTÉ

Discovery Communication’s Northern Europe chief, Dee Forbes, is leaving the company to become the first female director general of Irish pubcaster RTÉ. Forbes was president and managing director of Discovery Networks Northern Europe, having previously been president and MD of Discovery Networks Western Europe at Discovery. Prior to joining Discovery in 2009, she was a […]

Kaplan’s international vision: creator-led content

Days into her new job as Discovery’s international content supremo, Marjorie Kaplan tells Stewart Clarke about the challenge ahead and her vision for creator-led content. Marjorie Kaplan was announced as Discovery Networks International’s president of content last month. Her entry comes as Phil Craig exits. Craig, Discovery Networks International’s chief content officer, decided to leave […]

Discovery “would love” to be on Apple platform

Discovery Communications is increasingly open to all forms of distribution including direct-to-consumer and would be keen to join Apple’s OTT TV service, according to its international president, Delivering a ‘fireside chat’ keynote at the IBC conference in Amsterdam, JB Perrette, president, Discovery Networks International (pictured), said that Discovery would “love to be” an app on […]

Discovery names Kaplan int’l content president

Discovery Communications veteran Marjorie Kaplan has been named president of content Discovery Networks International. The newly created role will see Kaplan relocate from New York to London, starting this October. She has been with Discovery for more than 20 years, and is noted as for having launched Discovery Kids, running Animal Planet and, more recently, […]

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