Velocity


Discovery names global Animal Planet chief

Discovery Communications has named Susanna Dinnage as global president for pay TV channel Animal Planet, with general manager Patrice Andrews exiting. Discovery Networks UK and Ireland president Susanna Dinnage (pictured) has landed the post, which will see her jointly reporting to Discovery CEO and president David Zaslav and international chief executive J.B. Perrette. Discovery said […]

‘Netflix of comedy’ NextUp secures funds of £230k

NextUp, a stand up comedy VOD platform that launched in 2016, has completed its latest investment round, securing £230,000 (US$297,000) while also striking a distribution deal with Virgin Atlantic. The latest funding round brings the platform to a valuation of £1.5 million, up from £750,000. In addition to the company’s current investors, Technologies SAS and […]

Discovery preps channel, focuses on UK, German growth

Discovery Communications will launch a new free-to-air channel in the UK alongside other new services in Britain and Germany. CEO David Zaslav said yesterday that a new carriage deal with Sky in the UK and Germany, which came about after a bitter standoff between the channel operator and pay TV platform, gave it greater flexibility […]

Discovery eyes D2C Velocity, Science apps

Discovery Communications could soon launch direct-to-consumer apps for its Velocity and Discover Science channels as it seeks to super-serve what president and CEO David Zaslav calls “passionate tribes”. Discovery has already launched over-the-top, on-demand players Dplay and Eurosport, and may now move on to similar launches for its American channel brands. Zaslav said networks that […]

Motoring up

With petrolhead show Top Gear making headlines, TBI gets to grips with the new show and takes a look under the bonnet at what is driving viewing in the motoring genre. Top Gear’s success is such that is has spawned a host of companion shows. More broadly, motoring formats are in fashion, as the car becomes […]

Discovery launches US streaming service

Discovery Communications has launched its first US TV everywhere streaming service, Discovery Go, with a content offering spanning nine US channels. The networks are Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, Science Channel, Velocity, Destination America, American Heroes Channel and Discovery Life. The launch of the service was timed to coincide with today’s worldwide premier […]

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 […]

O’Neill gets global Discovery role, All3 board seat

Eileen O’Neill has been promoted to global group president of Discovery Studios, and is set join All3Media’s board as a reult. This hands her control of Discovery Communications’ worldwide production arm, its international producers Raw TV and Betty, and in-house production divisions. O’Neill was previously group president of Discovery Channel, Science Channel and Velocity. To […]

Eurosport to launch in US on Discovery cable channel

Discovery Communications-owned network Eurosport is to launch in the US for the first time through a branded block on cable stablemate net Velocity. As of Saturday 28, the channel will be launched in an afternoon slot from 1-3pm ET/PT on the upscale male-skewed net, with encore presentations on Sunday mornings. Eurosport on Velocity will include […]

Discovery appoints Foley original content boss

Factual channel operator Discovery has appointed Charlie Foley executive VP of its freshly-minted Original Content Group. Discovery has pushed heavily into original content and the new group will sit alongside the international programming division run by Luis Silberwasser and Julian Bellamy. Discovery told TBI that the new division will develop select projects and Silberwasser’s unit […]