John Hoffman


BBC Studios reaches “new dawn” after Discovery wildlife commission

Discovery Channel has commissioned natural history series The Red List from BBC Studios, marking a “a new dawn” for the UK’s pubcaster. The order is first BBC Studios, the production arm of the BBC, has ever received outside of the BBC channels. BBC Studios has been a commercial entity with the greenlight to produce for […]

Discovery Channel fishes for Sacred Cod

Discovery Channel has acquired global rights to new documentary film Sacred Cod. The deal continues Discovery along the path president Rich Ross set it on after joining at the start of 2015 – re-establishing the flagship Discovery Communications network has a key distributor of environmentally-focused docs. Sacred Cod chronicles the collapse of an historic cod fishery […]

Discovery goes on global Huntwatch

Discovery Channel has acquired US and international rights to theatrical documentary Huntwatch. The movie will air on September 22 as part of the Discovery Impact doc banner in the US after a limited theatrical release by Discovery and Lionsgate, before debuting internationally later this year. Huntwatch, produced by the International Fund for Animal Welfare and […]

Discovery buys Spurlock’s Rats

US cable net Discovery Channel has acquired rights to Morgan Spurlock’s new film, Rats. Discovery Communications’ flagship channel is now a partner on the documentary, which Spurlock’s Warrior Poets is producing in association with Dakota Group and film distributor Submarine, which has international sales rights and is shopping it at the Cannes Film Festival this […]

Discovery Channel plans on Racing Extinction

Discovery Channel has acquired domestic and international rights to Louie Psihoyos’ documentary Racing Extinction. Following the acquisition, Discovery Channel will launch the doc in the US and Discovery Networks International will premiere it in 220 territories elsewhere. After the broadcast debut, it will be made available on-demand. Furthermore, the Vulcan Productions-created doc has secured a […]

Discovery Channel create NY production unit

Rich Ross’s latest major move since becoming Discovery Channel president is to set up a production and development unit in New York. Discovery Channel VPs of development and production Matthew Kelly and Michael Sorenson will relocate from Discovery Communications’ Silver Springs, Maryland base as part of the move. Kelly developed series such as Gold Rush […]

Ross plots new path for Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel is taking a new direction in its programming strategy, moving away from sensationalised shows such Eaten Alive and towards documentaries and scripted series, according to its new president. Rich Ross (left) told journalists at Discovery’s TCA session that this week’s hire of former HBO exec John Hoffman as executive VP, documentaries and specials […]