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Tag: discovery+

  • Discovery picks Park Avenue address for new global HQ

    Discovery picks Park Avenue address for new global HQ

    MUMBAI: Discovery Inc. has selected a Park Avenue address for its new global headquarters. The company is also expanding facilities and adding jobs in Virginia. The company has signed a long-term lease with TF Cornerstone to occupy the entire space of 230 Park Ave South. According to GlobeSt.com, the lease for the entire space is for approximately 10 years.

    Discovery revealed that it will consolidate its existing New York offices and move its headquarters to 230 Park Avenue South beginning in fall 2019 and continuing through mid-2020.

    The new HQ will feature an open floor plan, ground-floor studio and production space, a rooftop terrace, full-service wellness center and dedicated lobby.

    Discovery CEO David Zaslav said, “We are energized by our fantastic new home in New York – the media capital of the world – where we will write our company’s next chapter.”

    The 13-story, TF Cornerstone-owned building dates to 1895. Union Square and Gramercy Park are just steps away. TF plans a renovation of the building as part of the deal.

    The company is also planning a $16 million investment to expand its global technology and operations hub in Loudoun County, Virginia.

    According to Loudoun Now, the facility upgrade is expected to create 240 jobs.

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    The era of regional music dawns in India

     

  • Discovery joins hands with BYJU’S for quiz show

    Discovery joins hands with BYJU’S for quiz show

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications India and BYJU’S, the Learning App, has joined hands to launch a school quiz show called the Discovery School Super League.

    Layered into three rounds – at school level, city level and state level, the quiz will culminate into a six-episode TV quiz show that will premiere on Discovery Channel, Discovery HD World, Discovery Science and Discovery Kids starting February 2019. The show will reach out to 12000+ schools across 30 states and union territories hosting the initial on-ground round, targeting 25 lakh students in the age-group between eight to 14 years.

    Discovery Communications India VP, head of advertising sales and business head of regional clusters Vikram Tanna said, “There is natural affinity between Discovery – a brand synonymous with satisfying the curiosity of inquisitive minds, and BYJU’S – The Learning App – that makes learning  a fun activity. Together we will be able to engage with school students and create great value for the channel, the partners and the students alike.”

    A true PAN-India initiative, the final round will see representatives of 30 states battling it out on the largest quizzing platform. The winners of the inaugural edition of Discovery School Super League Powered by BYJU’S will get a special prize of an all-expense paid trip to NASA.

    BYJU’S COO Mrinal Mohit said,  “Both the teams have worked closely to create a quiz show which will encourage students to approach learning with a whole new perspective. Celebrating the importance of life-long learning, this quiz show aims at making learning fun, exciting and engaging.”

    He further added, “With 20 million students learning from us today, the unprecedented scale of this nationwide project excites us even further.”

    Also Read:

    Enterr10 to launch two Bengali channels

    Industry optimistic about RPD technology for viewership

    The era of regional music dawns in India

  • DSport reaches 110 mn households in a year

    DSport reaches 110 mn households in a year

    MUMBAI: DSport, the sports TV channel by Discovery Communications, has achieved the milestone of reaching 110 million households in India. The channel was launched on 6 February 2017 and achieved the milestone within one year of operations in India and has expanded its distribution across all DTH and cable platforms.

    It has broadcasting rights for some of the elite sporting events with 4000 hours of live programming.

    The channel claims to have grown consistently across the country and has been ranked among the top channels in motorsports and golf this year. In the car and bike racing genre, DSport has a 72.9 per cent market share. Moreover, in Golf the channel says it enjoys the second spot with a comfortable 32.2 per cent market share. Even in combat sports, the channel has witnessed a growth of close to 200 per cent in viewership. 

    In cricket, DSport brought the live action from the 2018 Nidahas Trophy and Pakistan Super League 2018 to the Indian audiences. In football, it has the exclusive rights to the Brazilian League, Major League Soccer and Chinese Super League. In golf, it telecasts three out of the four major PGA tours around the world including the historic British Open, PGA Championship and Augusta Masters.

    Also Read:

    Star spending up to Rs 2 cr on production per IPL match

    Dsport not in the running for BCCI’s media rights

    DSPORT to Broadcast Augusta Masters 2018 featuring Indian Golf Prodigy Shubhankar Sharma

  • Discovery incurs $8 mn loss in Q1 2018 with Scripps acquisition

    Discovery incurs $8 mn loss in Q1 2018 with Scripps acquisition

    MUMBAI: Discovery’s earnings release for Q1 2018, for the quarter ended 31 March 2018, shows that the company suffered a slight loss of $8 million due to the costs linked with the acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive (Scripps). Q1 revenue of $2307 million was 43 per cent higher year-on-year (yoy) from $1610 million.

    Net income in the previous quarter was $215 million and the $8 million loss was primarily due to lower operating results, higher restructuring charges and other transaction costs associated with the acquisition of Scripps and higher interest expense.

    Excluding the impact of foreign currency transactions and the Scripps, The Enthusiast Network and the Oprah Winfrey Network transactions, revenue increased by 14 per cent as international networks grew by 28 per cent and US networks grew by three per cent.

    US revenue was up by 42 per cent boosted by the three above-mentioned transactions, with a 55 per cent gain in advertising revenue to $627 million and a 26 per cent increase in distribution revenue to $514 million.

    International networks revenue for the first quarter of 2018 increased by 47 per cent to $1098 million. Distribution and advertising revenue was up by 20 per cent to $537 million and 37 per cent to $385 million, respectively.

    Distribution revenue growth was primarily due to increases in digital revenue and higher contractual rates in Europe following further investment in sports content, contributions from content deliveries under licensing agreements in Asia and increases in rates in Latin America, partially offset by decreases in subscribers in Latin America and decreases in contractual rates in Asia. Advertising revenues increased primarily due to increases in pricing and volume across key markets in Europe and increases in ratings from coverage of the Olympics, partially offset by lower pricing and delivery in Latin America and Asia. The significant growth in other revenues is primarily due to sublicensing of Olympics sports rights to broadcast networks throughout Europe.

    First quarter adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortisation (adjusted OIBDA) increased by 16 per cent to $697 million on a reported basis, excluding the impact of the above-mentioned transactions and foreign currency fluctuations, adjusted OIBDA decreased by nine per cent as the three per cent growth at US networks was more than offset by a 37 per cent decline at international networks primarily due to the timing of costs associated with the Olympics.

    Discovery president and CEO David Zaslav said, “The first quarter of 2018 was a historic and pivotal period for Discovery. We closed on our transaction to acquire Scripps Networks Interactive, becoming the global leader in real-life entertainment and home to an enhanced portfolio of quality and trusted enthusiast brands. As our industry continues to evolve, we are uniquely positioned to maximise the value of our traditional pay-TV business while driving new opportunities and growth from our digital and direct to consumer businesses around the world.”

    Speaking in an earnings call, Zaslav said that the company has a good cash flow for the future. He said, “Whether it’s investing in content, IP, platforms, products and services, extending our content onto all bundles and services, whether linear, digital, mobile, or direct-to-consumer, or just buying back our stock, we will have the cash to decide. Our focus on cost efficient, real life entertainment leveraged across all formats, regions and methods of delivery, gives us another distinct advantage over our peers. We’re not caught up in the increasingly competitive and high-cost scripted content game that has captured so much of our industry’s attention and resources over the past several years. We’re also not renters. We own the vast majority of our content across regions, platforms and formats, and have the flexibility to take it wherever we want.”

    He added that the company is truly international with the ability to take content around the world in multiple languages, and the Scripps IP was just the start.

    Also Read :

    Discovery promotes Scripps programming execs

    Discovery Jeet gets good spread at launch

    Discovery boss JB Perrette proud of Jeet bet

  • Discovery to premiere diesel brothers season-2, starting may 10

    Discovery to premiere diesel brothers season-2, starting may 10

    MUMBAI: Discovery channel, India’s leading destination for factual entertainment, is all set to present yet another exciting and electrifying series titled DIESEL BROTHERS from 10th May. In the world of diesel vehicles, no one has more fun or builds bigger, badder trucks than Heavy D, Diesel Dave and their crew at Dieselsellerz. Their mega builds and awesome truck giveaways are the stuff of diesel legend. They work hard and play hard, but this time they’re taking their diesel game to another level with former football running back Marshawn Lynch and actor Chuck Norris as the celebrity guest who are looking for tricked-out extreme diesel trucks this season. This series builds include a beat-up Chevy Duramax turned into a Monster Truck and a chopped Ford Power stroke with roll cage and hydraulics that somersaults forward.

    DIESEL BROTHERS follows the team at DieselSellerz as they trick out trucks, work hard and play harder in the process. Starting off their business by buying used, or broken-down trucks and tricking them out for sales… Heavy D and Diesel Dave use the internet/social media as marketing tool to share their best pranks and stunt driving. Millions of hits later, DieselSellerz has become the destination for diesel lovers looking for tricked out trucks, crazy stunts, pranks and hilarious antics. Follow the team at DieselSellerz as they dream and execute unbelievable builds, pull elaborate and hilarious pranks and push the limits with new stunts.

    Speaking on the occasion, Discovery Communications India, Vice-President & Head, Premium & Digital Networks, Zulfia Waris said, “Our strategy of establishing Discovery channel as the home of Mavericks with focus on domains like Auto, Wildlife, Adventure, Military, Science and Technology et al has paid us huge dividends. We will continue to offer world class programming and nurture super-fan communities in these interest domains.”

  • Intex Technologies appoints Rajiv Bakshi as CMO

    Intex Technologies appoints Rajiv Bakshi as CMO

    MUMBAI: In line with the company’s continued efforts to strengthen and professionalise management to accomplish accelerated growth, mobile and consumer electronics company Intex Technologies (Intex) has appointed Rajiv Bakshi as its chief marketing officer (CMO).

    An alumnus of the Harvard Business School, Bakshi has distinguished reputation of spearheading strategic brand development, business transformation, consumer acquisition and digital strategy to drive long-term growth and profitability. As the CMO, he will envision Intex’s go-to-market strategy for the entire range of its mobile and consumer durables.

    Intex director Keshav Bansal said, “We are delighted to have Mr. Bakshi amidst us and are certain that his diverse experience will go a long way in contributing to the growth of the company in India and international markets. His immense expertise in strategic marketing and brand management will augment Intex’s growth and profitability.”

    Bakshi will lead the generation of consumer insights for incisive product development and planning, augment the sales and distribution network across the general trade, e-commerce portals, large-format stores and the company-branded retail network. Additionally, he will pioneer the digital strategy and boost international operations.

    Commenting on the appointment, Bakshi said, “Serving millions of customers, Intex is recognised amongst the distinguished group of national brands that have demonstrated continuous growth over the last two decades. Its unstinted commitment to provide access to technology and best-in-class experience to consumers has propelled its nationwide recognition.”

    Prior to Intex, Bakshi had a 13-year stint at Discovery Networks India & South Asia region as the VP and head of marketing and products. He expanded the company’s portfolio from a single TV channel to 11 channels. He also pioneered India’s first lifestyle channel TLC and created a differentiated kids’ network with Discovery Kids.

  • DSPORT to telecast Badminton Asia Championships 2018

    DSPORT to telecast Badminton Asia Championships 2018

    New Delhi:  DSPORT, the premium sports TV channel by Discovery Communications India will telecast the 38th edition of Badminton Asia Championships being played in Wuhan, China.   DSPORT will telecast all the action from quarter final onwards starting April 27th for the benefit of Indian badminton fans.

    Date

    Matches

    Time

    April 27, 2018

    Quarter Finals –

    Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles

    2:30 pm onwards

    April 28, 2018

    Semi  Finals –

    Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles

    11:30 am onwards

    April 29, 2018

    Finals –

    Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles

    11:30 am onwards
  • Discovery boss JB Perrette proud of Jeet bet

    Discovery boss JB Perrette proud of Jeet bet

    BALI: The management at Discovery is pretty sanguine despite  the low continued ratings of its new India channel Jeet.  Speaking at APOS in Bali, Discovery Networks International president and CEO Jean-Briac Perrette said: “We are very ambitious and big believers in India as a market. We want to figure out ways to scale up there. We believe in the opportunities in that market and Jeet in the space of real-life entertainment seemed like a really interesting concept and a swing for us. We are very  proud of that swing, “

    He added, “We will continue too see what makes sense to do there. The more important thing is that not everything that we do is going to work, but we are not afraid of that  because experimentation and the trials and swings are needed to succeed in the world that is changing as fast as it is.”

    He was very optimistic of the fact that Discovery would continue to invest in India and in innovation. Perrette revealed: “Discovery as a company is not afraid of swings. We spent half a billion dollars investing in the Oprah Winfrey Network. For the first three years, it went nowhere. Now, it is a leading Afro-American Network for women in the US and hugely profitable. We  knew nothing about sports and now we are a leader in sports across Europe. We knew nothing about doing a massive big event  and we had the biggest and most successful winter Olympic games ever. We are not a company that’s about shying away. With this disruption, one thing we know for sure is that we need to keep moving and keep investing, and probably taking bigger bets and more risks. Because the world is changing so fast.”

    He, however, revealed that the shape and morph of the routes that Discovery would take to attain the size and scale in India could change. “The ways we do that in India, whether we do it through Jeet or more digital investments or other things we look to do in that space. Those are going to change several times over the next few months and years as we look to grow.”

    That sure should give team Karan Bajaj and Discovery India enough to  plod on and make a success of what they have set out to do.

  • Discovery promotes Scripps programming execs

    Discovery promotes Scripps programming execs

    MUMBAI: Discovery’s recent acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive (SNI) has brought about two top-level executive bump-ups for the broadcast behemoth. 

    In the US, Discovery has promoted two programming executives to top roles across lifestyle networks HGTV and Food Network, which it acquired as part of its purchase of SNI.

    Allison Page, a 17-year veteran of SNI, where she was general manager of US programming and development, has been named president of HGTV and Food Network.

    Courtney White, meanwhile, has been promoted to executive VP of HGTV and Food Network, reporting to Page, having previously been senior VP of programming for Travel Channel, Food Network and Cooking Channel.

    The Knoxville-based execs will work under chief lifestyle brands officer Kathleen Finch, who was upped to her role earlier this year when Discovery unveiled its new management structure following the purchase of SNI.

    Page joined Food Network in 2001 and spent many years developing primetime series. She oversees all programming and development for HGTV and Food Network, as well as their related brands DIY Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country.

    White is responsible for facilitating original programming ideas, identifying new on-air talent and general programme development for the networks. Before joining SNI in 2005, she was director of development and senior producer at Working Dog Productions.

    Also Read:

    A+E Networks makes top-level APAC appointments

    Discovery buys Scripps for $14.6 bn, to net 20% of US ad-pay-TV subs

  • TLC to target Tamil, Telugu markets

    TLC to target Tamil, Telugu markets

    MUMBAI: The groundswell of serving Indian audiences with regional content has now proved to be a battlefield. Broadcasters are realising the potential in the southern areas of India. Days after Living Foodz decided to add southern language feeds, Discovery Networks-owned TLC is all set to target the Tamil and Telugu markets.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Discovery Networks Asia Pacific VP premium and digital networks Zulfia Waris said, “We are particularly keen on the Tamil and Telugu languages.” She adds that the languages are in the pipeline and no specific launch date has yet been decided.

    She says that TLC has a strong line-up of international shows and other franchises that will be launching one by one. “We have kept our focus on what we are good at and we ensure that we telecast the best programming that our audience may like,” she added.

    Highlighting on today’s marketing strategies, she says that they have taken a very different form and the traditional marketing roots are not completely relevant in the case of TLC.

    The channel has lately been inclusive of Indian faces and local content. Last year, it launched a comedy series titled Queens of Comedy, dedicating it entirely to the female comedians who will compete and be judged. At the time of launch, Waris had said that this was one of the several shows the company has in mind to reach out to Indian female millennials.

    Broadcast Audience Research Council’s historical data shows that lifestyle channels have equal male and female viewership. The top six cities witness highest numbers coming from the age group of 41 to 50 followed by 2-14 years.

    Giving an update on Discovery’s recently launched digital channels that focus on categories like military, girlist, automotive and food, Waris said that the first two genres on the channel Veer had done well. For now, all of Discovery’s digital channels focus on Hindi language unlike the TV channels.

    Waris claimed that when they kick-started the first digital channel—Veer, it had crossed 10 million views within a month. Marketing and promotion were entirely dependent on digital.

    Veer will now be available on Jio, Airtel Wynk and YouTube along with its four-episodic new show named Breaking Point: The Indian Submariners that will premiere on Discovery Channel starting 19 March at 9 pm.  The series has attracted marquee advertisers including Byju’s The Learning App, Skybags, Too Yumm, BigBasket, Woodland, Toyota Kirloskar Motors and Abu Dhabi Tourism to its fold.

    Also Read :

    Living Foodz to add Tamil feed in FY 18-19

    GST fails to spoil Food Food’s party