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Tag: Discovery Communications

  • Discovery India hires Geetanjali Bhattacharji

    Discovery India hires Geetanjali Bhattacharji

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications India has appointed Geetanjali Bhattacharji, the erstwhile CEO of Spatial Access, as the head of brand partnerships and content integration, based out of Mumbai.

    In her new role, Bhattacharji, working in close association with advertising sales and business head of regional clusters Vikram Tanna, will focus on creating engaging content partnerships with brands by drawing synergies between brand purpose and Discovery’s exciting content line-up across its portfolio of channels, including the upcoming Discovery Jeet.

    Discovery Communications India South Asia senior VP and general manager Karan Bajaj said, “It is an opportune time to have a content and media optimiser like Geetanjali on board. Discovery Jeet’s content is under development, besides we have been working to make the brand proposition of each of our marquee channels more focussed towards specific target audiences. Geetanjali’s skills and understanding of this space will help deliver impactful, purpose-driven partnerships to Discovery’s valued brand partners in their quest to reach diverse and evolving audience communities.”

    A marketing veteran with more than 20 years of work experience, she has advised brands on unbundling creativity, optimising content production, partnerships, media-investments and all marketing spend.

    Speaking, Bhattacharji said, “Given the fragmentation of consumers, Jeet fills a clear gap in the Hindi GEC space: providing relevant content choices to male millennials and Tier II and III families who aspire to be a part of the change around them but are missing out on the action. It’s time for brands to align to the purpose of the content they support and I am looking forward to establishing Jeet as the channel that delivers an elevated purpose for mass storytelling on television.”

  • Google ex-exec among Discovery’s new hires in digital biz

    Google ex-exec among Discovery’s new hires in digital biz

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications has announced a series of senior executive hires and new roles as part of its transforming of international digital media business. 

    Francis Keeling, who is a digital music executive, is joining Discovery as the senior vice president (SVP), international digital.  Jay Trinidad, running Discovery Northern Asia, takes on the additional role of the managing director, digital ventures, and Eugene Huang has been appointed to the role of SVP, product and technology.  All three roles report directly to president international development and digital Michael Lang.

    Keeling, in his role as the SVP – international digital will be charged with creating new partnerships and business opportunities for Discovery to bring its content to consumers across every screen and service.  This includes an active role in Discovery’s OTT initiatives, including the recently announced digital video joint venture in Germany with market leader ProSieben.  Keeling will also help to develop and launch new digital products tailored to meet the demands of Discovery’s superfans across numerous content genres.  He will be based in London.

    Keeling was most recently the global head of licensing at Spotify where he defined and implemented a new licensing strategy for the world’s leading digital music service.  Prior to Spotify, Keeling spent ten years at Universal Music Group as the global head of digital, he managed the transition from physical music sales to new digital formats including digital downloads, streaming and subscriptions.

    Lang said, “Francis is an outstanding digital executive who helped transform the music industry when its business model was disrupted by technological change.  He also comes to us from Spotify, a company we respect tremendously, with a proven track record of serving digital consumer needs.  We’re all excited that Francis is bringing these experiences and strong digital and consumer insights to Discovery.”

    As managing director of Discovery’s new digital ventures group based in Los Angeles, Jay Trinidad will focus on expanding Discovery’s brands and entertainment business into digital growth areas globally.  Trinidad spent a decade at Google as one of their early hires, working across advertising, search, strategy, operations and products including Chrome, rising to head of consumer marketing for Asia Pacific.  Trinidad will report to Lang for his new digital role, while continuing to report to Arthur Bastings, president and managing director, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific with respect to his on-going Northern Asia responsibilities.

    Eugene Huang has joined Discovery as the new SVP product and technology where he will develop Discovery’s international products and services across multiple platforms. Huang comes to Discovery most recently from American Express, where he was VP strategy and planning, developing innovative payment systems and digital commerce opportunities.  Prior to Amex, Huang held several senior government roles, including White House Fellow (president George W. Bush’s administration) and chief technology officer, consumer financial protection bureau for the US department of treasury 

    (president Barack Obama’s administration).  He also served as secretary of technology for the state of Virginia (under governor Mark Warner).  Along with Keeling, he will be based in London.

    Lang said, “Eugene brings exceptional tech leadership to our business which will be incredibly valuable as we develop some significant OTT initiatives across Europe.  Lang continued, “In partnership with the digital, creative and local leaders across our global organization, this senior team will help drive the digital agenda as we accelerate the pace of investment and transformation for Discovery.  Being able to attract world-class digital executives like Francis, Jay and Eugene into our business says a lot about our ambition as well as the opportunity they see for Discovery’s content and brands across the world as digital product offerings.”

    Over the last year Discovery has accelerated its International digital activity significantly from its BAMTech Europe JV, double digit subscriber growth in its Eurosport Player streaming service, to the new OTT JV with ProSieben in Germany and the launch of Discovery and Eurosport channels with Amazon in the UK and most recently announced Eurosport on Amazon Germany.

  • Discovery Communications: Andrew Slabin joins & Jackie Burka promoted

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications Chief Financial Officer Gunnar Wiedenfels has announced a strategic expansion of its global investor relations leadership team. Andrew Slabin will join the company in a newly created role as Executive Vice President, Global Investor Strategy and Jackie Burka has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, effective immediately.

    “As Discovery focuses increasingly on growing its direct-to-consumer and digital businesses and investing in new growth areas and revenue streams, the role of our investor relations team is more important than ever,” said Wiedenfels. “Andrew’s deep understanding of media and technology and strong relationships in the investor community will enhance our position among global investors and help us articulate our ambition to reach viewers on every screen and service around the world.”

    Slabin brings to Discovery more than 20 years of experience as a buy-side and sell-side analyst and portfolio manager specializing in media, entertainment and Internet investments. In his new role, Slabin will focus on developing Discovery’s strategic position and building relationships with the international investor community.

    Slabin joins Discovery from Toms Capital, where he was co-portfolio manager of a public equity portfolio and was responsible for investments in the telecom, media and technology sectors. Prior to Toms Capital, Slabin was an analyst and portfolio manager for Man GLG, covering the media, entertainment and Internet industries, and a director of equity research at Merrill Lynch, covering the media industry. Slabin started his career at John Hancock Mutual Funds and received a BS in finance and business administration from the University of Vermont. Slabin will be based at Discovery’s office in New York.

    Most recently Vice President of Investor Relations, Burka has been promoted to the role of Senior Vice President, Investor Relations reporting to Slabin. Burka will continue to play a key role in driving Discovery’s day-to-day engagement and communication with the investor and analyst community as well as quarterly earnings and other financial communications.

    Burka joined Discovery in 2012, after more than a decade at Sanford Bernstein and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where she was a sector specialist covering the media, cable, Internet and telecom industries. Prior to that, Burka worked in high yield investment banking at Merrill Lynch and in corporate private equity at Harvard Private Capital. Jackie has a BA in economics from Princeton University and an MBA, with Beta Gamma Sigma honors, from Columbia Business School.

    “Jackie has done a fantastic job leading Discovery’s investor relations activities and communicating our global growth story to investors. Under the leadership of Andrew and Jackie, our enhanced investor relations team will be optimally positioned for the future,” added Wiedenfels.

    Discovery Communications was assisted in the search process for Slabin by Howard Fischer Associates, International.

  • Discovery Communications invests in VS Media Group

    Discovery Communications invests in VS Media Group

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications has bought a minority stake in VS Media Group. The media company will tap into content from Discovery Digital Networks (DDN), which produces and distributes digital-native programming appealing to millennial audiences across platforms globally. The DDN content will be locally branded, customised and curated for VS ME.

    Further boosting engagement with the global Chinese-speaking communities, Discovery will lend its expertise in developing strong IPs and content.

    Commenting on the investment Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific president and managing director Arthur Bastings said, “I admire the strong community spirit Ivy has fostered with local creators and their followers. As Discovery looks to build deeper traction in the Chinese-speaking markets, VS Media’s robust following is incredibly valuable to us. Through their advanced analytics, we can get fully plugged in to the Chinese millennial zeitgeist.”

    “This group of digital natives is the most mobile-connected generation in history with a huge thirst for online content. Discovery’s great track record in innovative and immersive storytelling, coupled with VS Media’s cutting-edge community, presents a creative and unique content ecosystem to meet this ever-growing demand,” Bastings added

    Through recent investments, VS Media is setting up a $ 4mn content development fund which will be used to collaborate with creators to produce local formats. The fund allows creators to pitch original content ideas with potential for multi- franchises. This will be produced for its consumer brand, VS ME, which embodies the maverick spirit and tenacity of its creators and followers.

    The venture claims to have more than 55 mn subscribers and 320 mn video views a month focussing on Chinese content creators.

    VS Media founder Ivy Wong said, “This partnership is a significant milestone in our company’s evolution. We believe that everyone can be an influencer as well as a digital entrepreneur. We continue to uncover, nurture and present the next generation of talent, raising the bar and setting industry best practices. Our creators are instilled with a deep sense of professionalism and we help fulfil their dreams by maximising opportunities in and outside of China. VS MEDIA is fortunate to have investors who support our mission. Last month, we received the backing of CMC Holdings and today, Discovery Communications. Leveraging on Discovery’s expertise, we are driven, more than ever, to propel our growth by empowering creators to come up with more high quality and addictive content.”

    To kick off the initiative, the media venture has identified five strong concepts from its creators: an eSports docudrama which will feature Jay Chou, Derek Chung, Forrest Li, MiSTakE and Toyz – movers and shakers of the industry, a VR series with an iconic Chinese fashion figure, to uncover local designers in China, a rockumentary on up-and-coming musician Tien, who will be performing for the President of Cuba, a travelogue shot in VR featuring three prominent viral stars from Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, a dramedy by one of VS MEDIA’s most influential creators, Jin Da Wei, who presents a humorous take on the industry, the misconceptions and the journey to online fame.

    Founded in 2013, VS Media is devoted to young Chinese leading mobile-enabled and socially-driven lives. In just three years, the next generation media company has recruited and mentored a multi-talented cohort of more than 500 creators. It empowers creators by providing production facilities and funding, offering direction and support for cross-marketing, social media and search optimisation to enable monetisation opportunities.

  • Discovery Communications invests in VS Media Group

    Discovery Communications invests in VS Media Group

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications has bought a minority stake in VS Media Group. The media company will tap into content from Discovery Digital Networks (DDN), which produces and distributes digital-native programming appealing to millennial audiences across platforms globally. The DDN content will be locally branded, customised and curated for VS ME.

    Further boosting engagement with the global Chinese-speaking communities, Discovery will lend its expertise in developing strong IPs and content.

    Commenting on the investment Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific president and managing director Arthur Bastings said, “I admire the strong community spirit Ivy has fostered with local creators and their followers. As Discovery looks to build deeper traction in the Chinese-speaking markets, VS Media’s robust following is incredibly valuable to us. Through their advanced analytics, we can get fully plugged in to the Chinese millennial zeitgeist.”

    “This group of digital natives is the most mobile-connected generation in history with a huge thirst for online content. Discovery’s great track record in innovative and immersive storytelling, coupled with VS Media’s cutting-edge community, presents a creative and unique content ecosystem to meet this ever-growing demand,” Bastings added

    Through recent investments, VS Media is setting up a $ 4mn content development fund which will be used to collaborate with creators to produce local formats. The fund allows creators to pitch original content ideas with potential for multi- franchises. This will be produced for its consumer brand, VS ME, which embodies the maverick spirit and tenacity of its creators and followers.

    The venture claims to have more than 55 mn subscribers and 320 mn video views a month focussing on Chinese content creators.

    VS Media founder Ivy Wong said, “This partnership is a significant milestone in our company’s evolution. We believe that everyone can be an influencer as well as a digital entrepreneur. We continue to uncover, nurture and present the next generation of talent, raising the bar and setting industry best practices. Our creators are instilled with a deep sense of professionalism and we help fulfil their dreams by maximising opportunities in and outside of China. VS MEDIA is fortunate to have investors who support our mission. Last month, we received the backing of CMC Holdings and today, Discovery Communications. Leveraging on Discovery’s expertise, we are driven, more than ever, to propel our growth by empowering creators to come up with more high quality and addictive content.”

    To kick off the initiative, the media venture has identified five strong concepts from its creators: an eSports docudrama which will feature Jay Chou, Derek Chung, Forrest Li, MiSTakE and Toyz – movers and shakers of the industry, a VR series with an iconic Chinese fashion figure, to uncover local designers in China, a rockumentary on up-and-coming musician Tien, who will be performing for the President of Cuba, a travelogue shot in VR featuring three prominent viral stars from Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, a dramedy by one of VS MEDIA’s most influential creators, Jin Da Wei, who presents a humorous take on the industry, the misconceptions and the journey to online fame.

    Founded in 2013, VS Media is devoted to young Chinese leading mobile-enabled and socially-driven lives. In just three years, the next generation media company has recruited and mentored a multi-talented cohort of more than 500 creators. It empowers creators by providing production facilities and funding, offering direction and support for cross-marketing, social media and search optimisation to enable monetisation opportunities.

  • Ad cap case put off to 1 August, court to hear plea challenging stay order

    Ad cap case put off to 1 August, court to hear plea challenging stay order

    NEW DELHI: There is clearly no indication to an early resolution to the controversial issue of adcaps on television channels, with yet one more adjournment of the petitions pending before the Delhi High Court, this time to 1 August.

    The matter was put off by chief justice G Rohini and justice Jayant Nath as they did not have time to hear the matter in view of urgent cases.

    When the case comes up next, it is expected to take up an application by intervenor Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd seeking vacation of the order staying action against violating television channels.

    In the hearing on 29 March, a plea was made on behalf of the Information and Broadcasting ministry that a proposal was being contemplated to amend the relevant provision relating to limiting ads to 12 minutes an hour.

    However counsel Vivek Sarin of Home Cable counsel pressed for early hearing of his application for vacation of stay. Thereupon, counsel for Discovery Communications said it wanted to press its application to come in as intervenor. The court had on 11 February agreed to take up the application by Discovery Communications to intervene on the matter.

    Earlier on 27 November last year, the court chaired by the chief justice had said the matter had been pending for some time and therefore it would hear and conclude the case in the next hearing. On that day, the I and B Ministry had informed the Court that it was in talks with the News Broadcasters Association and other stakeholders on the issue of the advertising cap of 12 minutes per hour. This was the first time that the ministry had put in an appearance in the petition filed by the News Broadcasters and others against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and others.

    Home Cable Network Pvt. Ltd had been permitted to intervene on 5 January and the Court had agreed to consider contentions on whether pay channels should be permitted to carry commercials in view of subscription fee charged by them. Home Cable Counsel Vivek Sarin had told the court that the petitioners had not disclosed that broadcasters had given their consent to observe the 10+2 ad cap rule under the Cable Television Network Regulation Rules 1994 and the Act that followed a year later and also under the Uplink and Downlink Guidelines. He also said pay TV broadcasters should not be allowed to take ads as they charged subscription fee.

    The case, filed by News Broadcasters Association and others against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Union Government, has so far been adjourned from time to time on the plea that the government and the broadcasters are in talks on this issue.

    The court has already directed that the order that TRAI would not take any action against any channel pending the petition would continue. In an earlier hearing, the court had, at the regulator’s instance, directed that all channels keep a record of the advertisements run by them.

    The NBA had challenged the ad cap rule, contending that TRAI does not have jurisdiction to regulate commercial airtime on television channels. Apart from the NBA, the petitions have been filed by Sarthak Entertainment, Pioneer Channel Factory, E24 Glamoru, Sun TV Network, TV Vision, B4U Broadband, 9X Media, Kalaignar, Celebrities Management, Eanadu Television and Raj Television.

    Meanwhille, complaints against fifteen broadcasters by TRAI on the ad cap issue are also pending with the chief metropolitan magistrate in Delhi.

  • Ad cap case put off to 1 August, court to hear plea challenging stay order

    Ad cap case put off to 1 August, court to hear plea challenging stay order

    NEW DELHI: There is clearly no indication to an early resolution to the controversial issue of adcaps on television channels, with yet one more adjournment of the petitions pending before the Delhi High Court, this time to 1 August.

    The matter was put off by chief justice G Rohini and justice Jayant Nath as they did not have time to hear the matter in view of urgent cases.

    When the case comes up next, it is expected to take up an application by intervenor Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd seeking vacation of the order staying action against violating television channels.

    In the hearing on 29 March, a plea was made on behalf of the Information and Broadcasting ministry that a proposal was being contemplated to amend the relevant provision relating to limiting ads to 12 minutes an hour.

    However counsel Vivek Sarin of Home Cable counsel pressed for early hearing of his application for vacation of stay. Thereupon, counsel for Discovery Communications said it wanted to press its application to come in as intervenor. The court had on 11 February agreed to take up the application by Discovery Communications to intervene on the matter.

    Earlier on 27 November last year, the court chaired by the chief justice had said the matter had been pending for some time and therefore it would hear and conclude the case in the next hearing. On that day, the I and B Ministry had informed the Court that it was in talks with the News Broadcasters Association and other stakeholders on the issue of the advertising cap of 12 minutes per hour. This was the first time that the ministry had put in an appearance in the petition filed by the News Broadcasters and others against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and others.

    Home Cable Network Pvt. Ltd had been permitted to intervene on 5 January and the Court had agreed to consider contentions on whether pay channels should be permitted to carry commercials in view of subscription fee charged by them. Home Cable Counsel Vivek Sarin had told the court that the petitioners had not disclosed that broadcasters had given their consent to observe the 10+2 ad cap rule under the Cable Television Network Regulation Rules 1994 and the Act that followed a year later and also under the Uplink and Downlink Guidelines. He also said pay TV broadcasters should not be allowed to take ads as they charged subscription fee.

    The case, filed by News Broadcasters Association and others against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Union Government, has so far been adjourned from time to time on the plea that the government and the broadcasters are in talks on this issue.

    The court has already directed that the order that TRAI would not take any action against any channel pending the petition would continue. In an earlier hearing, the court had, at the regulator’s instance, directed that all channels keep a record of the advertisements run by them.

    The NBA had challenged the ad cap rule, contending that TRAI does not have jurisdiction to regulate commercial airtime on television channels. Apart from the NBA, the petitions have been filed by Sarthak Entertainment, Pioneer Channel Factory, E24 Glamoru, Sun TV Network, TV Vision, B4U Broadband, 9X Media, Kalaignar, Celebrities Management, Eanadu Television and Raj Television.

    Meanwhille, complaints against fifteen broadcasters by TRAI on the ad cap issue are also pending with the chief metropolitan magistrate in Delhi.

  • Ad cap case put off to 13 May, court to hear plea challenging stay order

    Ad cap case put off to 13 May, court to hear plea challenging stay order

    NEW DELHI: The ad cap case by television channels continues to linger on, with the Delhi High Court once again putting off the hearing to 13 May when it will hear an application by intervenor Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd seeking vacation of the order staying action against violating television channels.

    The matter was put off by chief justice G Rohini and justice Jayant Nath as they did not have time to hear the matter in view of urgent cases. In the last hearing on 29 March, a plea was made on behalf of the Information and Broadcasting ministry that a proposal was being contemplated to amend the relevant provision relating to limiting ads to 12 minutes an hour.

    However counsel Vivek Sarin of Home Cable counsel pressed for early hearing of his application for vacation of stay. Thereupon, counsel for Discovery Communications said it wanted to press its application to come in as intervenor. The court had on 11 February adjourned the hearing to today when it had agreed to take up the application by Discovery Communications to intervene on the matter.

    Earlier on 27 November last year, the court chaired by the chief justice had said the matter had been pending for some time and therefore it would hear and conclude the case in the next hearing. On that day, the I and B Ministry had informed the Court that it was in talks with the News Broadcasters Association and other stakeholders on the issue of the advertising cap of 12 minutes per hour. This was the first time that the ministry had put in an appearance in the petition filed by the News Broadcasters and others against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and others.

    Home Cable Network Pvt. Ltd had been permitted to intervene on 5 January and the Court had agreed to consider contentions on whether pay channels should be permitted to carry commercials in view of subscription fee charged by them. Home Cable Counsel Vivek Sarin had told the court that the petitioners had not disclosed that broadcasters had given their consent to observe the 10+2 ad cap rule under the Cable Television Network Regulation Rules 1994 and the Act that followed a year later and also under the Uplink and Downlink Guidelines. He also said pay TV broadcasters should not be allowed to take ads as they charged subscription fee.

    The case, filed by News Broadcasters Association and others against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Union Government, has so far been adjourned from time to time on the plea that the government and the broadcasters are in talks on this issue.

    The court has already directed that the order that TRAI would not take any action against any channel pending the petition would continue. In an earlier hearing, the court had, at the regulator’s instance, directed that all channels keep a record of the advertisements run by them.

    The NBA had challenged the ad cap rule, contending that TRAI does not have jurisdiction to regulate commercial airtime on television channels. Apart from the NBA, the petitions have been filed by Sarthak Entertainment, Pioneer Channel Factory, E24 Glamoru, Sun TV Network, TV Vision, B4U Broadband, 9X Media, Kalaignar, Celebrities Management, Eanadu Television and Raj Television.

    Meanwhille, complaints against fifteen broadcasters by TRAI on the ad cap issue are also pending with the chief metropolitan magistrate in Delhi.

  • Ad cap case put off to 13 May, court to hear plea challenging stay order

    Ad cap case put off to 13 May, court to hear plea challenging stay order

    NEW DELHI: The ad cap case by television channels continues to linger on, with the Delhi High Court once again putting off the hearing to 13 May when it will hear an application by intervenor Home Cable Network Pvt Ltd seeking vacation of the order staying action against violating television channels.

    The matter was put off by chief justice G Rohini and justice Jayant Nath as they did not have time to hear the matter in view of urgent cases. In the last hearing on 29 March, a plea was made on behalf of the Information and Broadcasting ministry that a proposal was being contemplated to amend the relevant provision relating to limiting ads to 12 minutes an hour.

    However counsel Vivek Sarin of Home Cable counsel pressed for early hearing of his application for vacation of stay. Thereupon, counsel for Discovery Communications said it wanted to press its application to come in as intervenor. The court had on 11 February adjourned the hearing to today when it had agreed to take up the application by Discovery Communications to intervene on the matter.

    Earlier on 27 November last year, the court chaired by the chief justice had said the matter had been pending for some time and therefore it would hear and conclude the case in the next hearing. On that day, the I and B Ministry had informed the Court that it was in talks with the News Broadcasters Association and other stakeholders on the issue of the advertising cap of 12 minutes per hour. This was the first time that the ministry had put in an appearance in the petition filed by the News Broadcasters and others against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and others.

    Home Cable Network Pvt. Ltd had been permitted to intervene on 5 January and the Court had agreed to consider contentions on whether pay channels should be permitted to carry commercials in view of subscription fee charged by them. Home Cable Counsel Vivek Sarin had told the court that the petitioners had not disclosed that broadcasters had given their consent to observe the 10+2 ad cap rule under the Cable Television Network Regulation Rules 1994 and the Act that followed a year later and also under the Uplink and Downlink Guidelines. He also said pay TV broadcasters should not be allowed to take ads as they charged subscription fee.

    The case, filed by News Broadcasters Association and others against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Union Government, has so far been adjourned from time to time on the plea that the government and the broadcasters are in talks on this issue.

    The court has already directed that the order that TRAI would not take any action against any channel pending the petition would continue. In an earlier hearing, the court had, at the regulator’s instance, directed that all channels keep a record of the advertisements run by them.

    The NBA had challenged the ad cap rule, contending that TRAI does not have jurisdiction to regulate commercial airtime on television channels. Apart from the NBA, the petitions have been filed by Sarthak Entertainment, Pioneer Channel Factory, E24 Glamoru, Sun TV Network, TV Vision, B4U Broadband, 9X Media, Kalaignar, Celebrities Management, Eanadu Television and Raj Television.

    Meanwhille, complaints against fifteen broadcasters by TRAI on the ad cap issue are also pending with the chief metropolitan magistrate in Delhi.

  • Discovery appoints Atsushi Saito as Eurosport VP – ad sales

    Discovery appoints Atsushi Saito as Eurosport VP – ad sales

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications has appointed Atsushi Saito as vice president ad sales for Eurosport

    The announcement was made by Advertiser Partnerships senior vice president and managing director Jonathan Davies, to whom Saito will report.

    In his new capacity, Saito is tasked to maximise Eurosport’s ad sales efforts in Asia Pacific by providing innovative and bespoke solutions for clients and developing meaningful partnerships.

    Last week Discovery Communications announced its first Olympic Games sub-licensing deal with the BBC, to make Eurosport the exclusive home of the Olympic Games on pay-TV in the UK between 2018 and 2020. The news follows an agreement announced by Discovery Communications and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last June, which includes exclusive multimedia rights for 50 countries and territories in Europe for the 2018 through the 2024 Olympic Games. With three of these Games to be hosted in Asia, Saito’s proximity to the action will offer a significant market advantage as Discovery look to establish long term partnerships with clients.

    Saito started his media sales career over 16 years ago with Star TV, a subsidiary of News Corp and was last with Turner Japan where he served as CNN Global Advertising Sales director. Under his leadership, Saito quadrupled CNN’s ad sales revenue.

    Davies said, “It is Discovery’s ambition to make the Olympic Games available to more people across Europe than ever before, through leveraging our portfolio of pay-TV, free-to-air and digital services. This combined with our other strategic investments in sports rights provide brands and advertisers a unique opportunity to target their customers through great sporting moments all day, and every day.”

    “Advertisers and brands are evolving into content producers, thinking beyond the ad break to embed themselves in popular culture. With this shift, a top priority for our sales organisation is to provide unique, creative and strategic solutions with the highest level of service. Atsushi’s rich experience, excellent connections and digital acumen will propel Eurosport’s ad sales growth in Asia Pacific,” Davies added.