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Tag: JB Perrette

  • HBO Max and Discovery+ to merge into single streaming platform by 2023

    HBO Max and Discovery+ to merge into single streaming platform by 2023

    Mumbai: On a second-quarter earnings call on Thursday, Warner Bros. Discovery announced the merger of HBO Max and Discovery+. The media conglomerate set a timeline for integrating the two services.

    According to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO and president of global streaming and interactive JB Perrette, who spoke on the company’s Q2 earnings call, HBO Max and Discovery+ will launch in the United States as a single service in the summer of 2023. “At the end of the day, putting all the content together was the only way we saw to make this a viable business,” he said.

    Bringing HBO Max and Discovery+ together is aimed at cutting churn, so “there’s something for everyone in the household,” he added. WBD did not reveal the new brand name for the combined service, nor did executives discuss pricing for the unified stream.

    According to Perrette, Warner Bros. Discovery is initially focused on the ad-supported and ad-free versions of the combined HBO Max-Discovery+ but is also “exploring how to reach customers in the free, ad-supported space” with content that is distinct from what is available on premium VOD services.

    He added that HBO may or may not be included in the name of the unified direct-to-consumer WBD platform; Perrette stated that the company is conducting consumer research on the HBO Max name. “HBO will always be the beacon and the ultimate brand that stands for television quality.”

    The combined HBO Max-Discovery+ service, according to Perrette, will combine the best features of both services. According to him, HBO Max has performance and customer issues but offers a rich set of features, whereas Discovery+ has fewer features but a more robust underlying delivery capability.

    Following the launch of the unified HBO Max-Discovery+ platform in the United States in summer 2023, WBD plans to bring the platform to Latin America in the fall of 2023, Europe in early 2024, Asia-Pacific in mid-2024, and other markets in the fall of 2024.

    WBD’s HBO Max, HBO, and Discovery+ subscribers reached 92.1 million in the second quarter, up 1.7 million from the previous quarter’s 90.4 million. On a pro-forma basis, this is a 22 per cent increase of $75.8 million over the previous year.

    WBD expects to have 130 million global streaming subscribers by 2025 and to generate one billion dollars in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation from its direct-to-consumer businesses (Ebitda). He shared that the company’s Ebidta losses in the streaming division are expected to peak in 2022, with a long-term margin potential of 20 per cent or higher.

    Currently, HBO Max costs $14.99 per month without ads and $9.99 per month with ads in the United States. Discovery+ costs $6.99 per month without ads and $4.99 per month with ads.

    The company, on 17 May 2021, announced its plans to merge its two flagship streaming platforms, HBO Max from the legacy WarnerMedia (spun off from AT&T) and Discovery+. CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels broadly sketched out a strategy to combine the streamers in March 2022, ahead of the close of the deal forming Warner Bros. Discovery, saying that it would initially sell the pair as a bundle before fully integrating them.

    The merged HBO Max-Discovery+ streaming platform will combine thousands of hours of programming spanning scripted, reality, and documentary content and will resemble a mini-cable TV bundle.

  • Anil Jhingan elevated to Discovery APAC president & MD

    Anil Jhingan elevated to Discovery APAC president & MD

    Mumbai: Discovery has named Anil Jhingan as president and MD for the Asia Pacific region. He will be based in London and report directly to Discovery president and CEO of streaming and international activities JB Perrette, said the media company in a statement.

    Jhingan joined Discovery in 2019 as executive VP of corporate development, EMEA and APAC. He was earlier associated with Sky as group director of mergers and acquisitions. His previous stints include companies like 21st Century Fox and News Corp.

    “APAC remains a key growth driver for Discovery, and Anil’s deep industry experience, impressive international track record, and strong leadership qualities, working with our expert local teams, will be central in building continued scale and differentiation in this critical region,” said Perette, as quoted by Variety.

    Discovery currently has twelve office hubs in Asia covering 52 markets, 25 channel brands in 18 languages, and streaming service Discovery+.

    “Asia Pacific offers immense opportunity for Discovery, with our focus on great local storytelling and ever-broadening distribution of our content to audiences across the region,” said Jhingan on his new role.

  • Discovery, BAMTech partnership to deliver world-class tech to content owners

    Discovery, BAMTech partnership to deliver world-class tech to content owners

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications and BAMTech have announced a long-term partnership, including the formation of BAMTech Europe, a new digital technology provider, dedicated to working with content owners, broadcasters and OTT platforms to enhance their digital capabilities, reach and performance across Europe. As part of the partnership, Eurosport Digital will become the new entity’s first client, and gain access to select European sports rights from worldwide sports properties, including current and future rights acquired by BAMTech and jointly by Eurosport and BAMTech.

    BAMTech Europe will be formed through a joint venture between Discovery Communications and BAMTech LLC, a subsidiary of Major League Baseball’s digital business, MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM). This new venture will represent BAMTech’s expansion in Europe and will provide world-class digital technology services to a broad set of sports, news and entertainment clients in Europe. BAMTech has successfully designed, developed and delivered direct-to-consumer streaming services over the past 14 years, currently serving 7.5 million total global paid subscribers with its U.S.-based clients’ OTT products. With hundreds of millions of mobile data subscribers and growing OTT momentum via connected TVs and other devices, Europe provides a significant strategic opportunity to bring together BAMTech’s world-class technology and Discovery’s deep presence and relationships across the continent.

    Eurosport Digital is the first partner for BAMTech Europe through a long-term digital services agreement. BAMTech’s state-of-the-art back-end video platform and services will be implemented in 2017 across all of Eurosport Digital’s products, which today include Eurosport.com – the continent’s number one sports news website, and Eurosport Player – the leading subscription-based OTT sports platform across Europe giving fans an all-access pass anytime and on any device in 52 countries.

    In addition, Eurosport and BAMTech will work together to make premium sports events more widely available across multiple screens. This will include current and future rights acquired by BAMTech as well as joint acquisitions for other compelling European sports rights, from across the globe, for Eurosport’s digital platform.

    “Discovery has been investing internationally in new business models and brands for decades, resulting in the most extensive global footprint in media,” said Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav. “The formation of this world-class technology provider, BAMTech Europe, with our partners at BAMTech, accelerates Discovery’s long-term strategy to bring our premium content to more viewers across more screens than ever before.”

    “The collaboration of Discovery’s breadth of live sports content, including the Olympic Games, and BAMTech will bring European fans access to these valuable events like never before,” said MLB president, business & media Bob Bowman. “Discovery has been a global leader in media and will be a great partner in expanding BAMTech to Europe, with an eye to developing new models for delivering content in the best interests of customers. We can’t wait to get started.”

    “Across Europe, Discovery has led the way in pay-TV and free-to-air services, and expanded into new content genres such as general entertainment and sports,” said Discovery Networks International president and CEO JB Perrette. “This partnership with BAMTech is an important next step in our evolution to develop more consumer centric capabilities and services – focused initially on Eurosport.”

    Discovery’s partnership with BAMTech follows the recent appointment of Ralph Rivera as the managing director of Eurosport Digital. Rivera previously spent six years at the BBC as Director of Future Media, where he was responsible for all of the BBC’s digital media services, leading the implementation and operation of BBC iPlayer as it grew by over 300% and delivering the first truly digital Olympic Games for London 2012, which set a new standard for live sports coverage online.

    Additionally, the announcement comes less than two weeks after Discovery announced its groundbreaking digital content partnership to form Group Nine Media, which immediately became one of the largest digital content and social video companies in the world.

  • Discovery, BAMTech partnership to deliver world-class tech to content owners

    Discovery, BAMTech partnership to deliver world-class tech to content owners

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications and BAMTech have announced a long-term partnership, including the formation of BAMTech Europe, a new digital technology provider, dedicated to working with content owners, broadcasters and OTT platforms to enhance their digital capabilities, reach and performance across Europe. As part of the partnership, Eurosport Digital will become the new entity’s first client, and gain access to select European sports rights from worldwide sports properties, including current and future rights acquired by BAMTech and jointly by Eurosport and BAMTech.

    BAMTech Europe will be formed through a joint venture between Discovery Communications and BAMTech LLC, a subsidiary of Major League Baseball’s digital business, MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM). This new venture will represent BAMTech’s expansion in Europe and will provide world-class digital technology services to a broad set of sports, news and entertainment clients in Europe. BAMTech has successfully designed, developed and delivered direct-to-consumer streaming services over the past 14 years, currently serving 7.5 million total global paid subscribers with its U.S.-based clients’ OTT products. With hundreds of millions of mobile data subscribers and growing OTT momentum via connected TVs and other devices, Europe provides a significant strategic opportunity to bring together BAMTech’s world-class technology and Discovery’s deep presence and relationships across the continent.

    Eurosport Digital is the first partner for BAMTech Europe through a long-term digital services agreement. BAMTech’s state-of-the-art back-end video platform and services will be implemented in 2017 across all of Eurosport Digital’s products, which today include Eurosport.com – the continent’s number one sports news website, and Eurosport Player – the leading subscription-based OTT sports platform across Europe giving fans an all-access pass anytime and on any device in 52 countries.

    In addition, Eurosport and BAMTech will work together to make premium sports events more widely available across multiple screens. This will include current and future rights acquired by BAMTech as well as joint acquisitions for other compelling European sports rights, from across the globe, for Eurosport’s digital platform.

    “Discovery has been investing internationally in new business models and brands for decades, resulting in the most extensive global footprint in media,” said Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav. “The formation of this world-class technology provider, BAMTech Europe, with our partners at BAMTech, accelerates Discovery’s long-term strategy to bring our premium content to more viewers across more screens than ever before.”

    “The collaboration of Discovery’s breadth of live sports content, including the Olympic Games, and BAMTech will bring European fans access to these valuable events like never before,” said MLB president, business & media Bob Bowman. “Discovery has been a global leader in media and will be a great partner in expanding BAMTech to Europe, with an eye to developing new models for delivering content in the best interests of customers. We can’t wait to get started.”

    “Across Europe, Discovery has led the way in pay-TV and free-to-air services, and expanded into new content genres such as general entertainment and sports,” said Discovery Networks International president and CEO JB Perrette. “This partnership with BAMTech is an important next step in our evolution to develop more consumer centric capabilities and services – focused initially on Eurosport.”

    Discovery’s partnership with BAMTech follows the recent appointment of Ralph Rivera as the managing director of Eurosport Digital. Rivera previously spent six years at the BBC as Director of Future Media, where he was responsible for all of the BBC’s digital media services, leading the implementation and operation of BBC iPlayer as it grew by over 300% and delivering the first truly digital Olympic Games for London 2012, which set a new standard for live sports coverage online.

    Additionally, the announcement comes less than two weeks after Discovery announced its groundbreaking digital content partnership to form Group Nine Media, which immediately became one of the largest digital content and social video companies in the world.

  • BBC & Discovery ink long-term Olympic partnership

    BBC & Discovery ink long-term Olympic partnership

    MUMBAI: The BBC and Discovery Communications have inked a long-term Olympic Games agreement in the UK, building on a 30-year partnership between the two global media organisations.

    The deal means that the BBC will sub-license (from Discovery) exclusive free-to-air audio-visual and non-exclusive radio rights to the 2022 and 2024 Olympic Games. In turn, Discovery will sub-license (from the BBC) exclusive pay-TV rights in the UK to the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games.

    The London 2012 Olympic Games was watched on the BBC by more than 50 million people in the UK, seven million people in the UK accessed the BBC website every day, with 111 million requests for video throughout the Games, and over two million people downloaded the app. It was truly the first digital Olympic Games and the BBC raised the bar in its coverage.

    This announcement ensures that the BBC will continue to be the free-to-air home of the best action from the Olympic Games until 2024, bringing the moments that unite the nation on TV and radio. Additionally, the BBC’s package of rights is supplemented by digital rights to the content it broadcasts on TV.

    This agreement marks the first Olympic Games sub-licensing deal by Discovery and reinforces Eurosport as the home of the Olympic Games across Europe, ensuring that every event is available to fans across all screens. 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. The rights for the UK were included for only 2022 and 2024, as these rights had already been secured by the BBC in the UK.

    BBC director-general Tony Hall said, “The BBC prides itself on bringing the biggest sporting moments to the public. For many, the BBC has been their stadium for Olympic coverage. It is an event that unites the nation like no other. I’m delighted that through our new partnership with Discovery, the BBC will continue to carry the torch for great sporting coverage right through to the 2024 Games. While the BBC has had to take some tough financial decisions, this partnership underlines our commitment to making world-class sport available to all.”

    Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav added, “Discovery is a passionate and committed partner of the Olympic Movement. Today’s agreement is a win for UK sports fans and marks an exciting new chapter in Discovery and the BBC’s partnership on major sporting events. For 30 years, our two organisations have chartered new frontiers with co-production partnerships in factual and natural history programming. Now we join together once again to bring the most compelling stories of human ambition, sacrifice and achievement to people across the UK.”

    IOC Television and Marketing Services MD Timo Lumme said, “We are delighted our partners Discovery / Eurosport and the BBC are collaborating on this long term agreement which is great news for viewers in the UK. By sharing the rights, viewers will benefit from the BBC’s rich Olympic heritage and Discovery’s innovative approach to storytelling. Together, they will make the Olympic Games as accessible and engaging as possible.”

    BBC Sport director Barbara Slater said, “We are very pleased that the BBC will continue to bring free-to-air Olympic Games coverage to audiences through to 2024, extending our relationship with the event which began in 1928 and reinforcing the BBC’s long-term commitment to major sporting events. The Olympic Games is one of the nation’s most treasured sporting events and this is an extensive package of rights that ensures we can offer ‘the best of the Games’, across TV, radio, online and digital, maximising the reach and impact of the BBC. This ground-breaking partnership also shows how the BBC can collaborate and work with others to continue to bring the very best in sport to licence fee payers.”

    Discovery Networks International president JB Perrette said, “Since the announcement of our partnership with the IOC, it has been Discovery’s goal to engage and entertain local audiences in Europe with the ultimate Olympic Games experience across all screens. To realise this ambition, we will leverage our portfolio of pay-TV, free-to-air and digital services, and collaborate with the very best partners who share this vision – the BBC partnership embodies this perfectly.”

  • BBC & Discovery ink long-term Olympic partnership

    BBC & Discovery ink long-term Olympic partnership

    MUMBAI: The BBC and Discovery Communications have inked a long-term Olympic Games agreement in the UK, building on a 30-year partnership between the two global media organisations.

    The deal means that the BBC will sub-license (from Discovery) exclusive free-to-air audio-visual and non-exclusive radio rights to the 2022 and 2024 Olympic Games. In turn, Discovery will sub-license (from the BBC) exclusive pay-TV rights in the UK to the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games.

    The London 2012 Olympic Games was watched on the BBC by more than 50 million people in the UK, seven million people in the UK accessed the BBC website every day, with 111 million requests for video throughout the Games, and over two million people downloaded the app. It was truly the first digital Olympic Games and the BBC raised the bar in its coverage.

    This announcement ensures that the BBC will continue to be the free-to-air home of the best action from the Olympic Games until 2024, bringing the moments that unite the nation on TV and radio. Additionally, the BBC’s package of rights is supplemented by digital rights to the content it broadcasts on TV.

    This agreement marks the first Olympic Games sub-licensing deal by Discovery and reinforces Eurosport as the home of the Olympic Games across Europe, ensuring that every event is available to fans across all screens. 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. The rights for the UK were included for only 2022 and 2024, as these rights had already been secured by the BBC in the UK.

    BBC director-general Tony Hall said, “The BBC prides itself on bringing the biggest sporting moments to the public. For many, the BBC has been their stadium for Olympic coverage. It is an event that unites the nation like no other. I’m delighted that through our new partnership with Discovery, the BBC will continue to carry the torch for great sporting coverage right through to the 2024 Games. While the BBC has had to take some tough financial decisions, this partnership underlines our commitment to making world-class sport available to all.”

    Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav added, “Discovery is a passionate and committed partner of the Olympic Movement. Today’s agreement is a win for UK sports fans and marks an exciting new chapter in Discovery and the BBC’s partnership on major sporting events. For 30 years, our two organisations have chartered new frontiers with co-production partnerships in factual and natural history programming. Now we join together once again to bring the most compelling stories of human ambition, sacrifice and achievement to people across the UK.”

    IOC Television and Marketing Services MD Timo Lumme said, “We are delighted our partners Discovery / Eurosport and the BBC are collaborating on this long term agreement which is great news for viewers in the UK. By sharing the rights, viewers will benefit from the BBC’s rich Olympic heritage and Discovery’s innovative approach to storytelling. Together, they will make the Olympic Games as accessible and engaging as possible.”

    BBC Sport director Barbara Slater said, “We are very pleased that the BBC will continue to bring free-to-air Olympic Games coverage to audiences through to 2024, extending our relationship with the event which began in 1928 and reinforcing the BBC’s long-term commitment to major sporting events. The Olympic Games is one of the nation’s most treasured sporting events and this is an extensive package of rights that ensures we can offer ‘the best of the Games’, across TV, radio, online and digital, maximising the reach and impact of the BBC. This ground-breaking partnership also shows how the BBC can collaborate and work with others to continue to bring the very best in sport to licence fee payers.”

    Discovery Networks International president JB Perrette said, “Since the announcement of our partnership with the IOC, it has been Discovery’s goal to engage and entertain local audiences in Europe with the ultimate Olympic Games experience across all screens. To realise this ambition, we will leverage our portfolio of pay-TV, free-to-air and digital services, and collaborate with the very best partners who share this vision – the BBC partnership embodies this perfectly.”

  • IBC2015 Conference to examine ‘The Future of Media in an Age of Disruption’

    IBC2015 Conference to examine ‘The Future of Media in an Age of Disruption’

    MUMBAI: The IBC Conference is an unrivalled global destination for networking, discussion and debate, presenting a mix of visionary keynotes, panel discussions and master classes with the most influential thought-leaders and innovators in their fields. With the rapid convergence of broadcast, IT and telecoms, this year’s conference theme ‘The Future of Media in an Age of Disruption’ provides the forum to explore new strategies, gain insight into business disruptors, chart future technological progress and examine how the industry can seize the new opportunities being created by the explosive growth in the consumption of TV and video content on smartphones, tablets and laptops.

    Each day of the conference will address the myriad issues facing the industry, prefaced by a keynote address that will set the stage.  Attracting top-level executives, technical experts and visionaries from over 170 countries, with business interests spanning the full spectrum of content creation, management and delivery, as well as emerging markets and key industry disruptors, the conference ensures valuable access to insights and contacts.

    The opening IBC Forum session, ‘Broadcasting in an Age of Challenge’, will reveal how four top media power houses are solving the challenges they face. Fran Unsworth, the first woman to run the BBC World Service, will explain how she plans to use technology to expand despite squeezed budgets and well-funded opponents such as Russia Today and China Central Television. David Butorac, who runs 146 pay TV channels in the Middle East and North Africa will show how quality content always wins in the end. Philip Luff, Managing Director UK and EMEA for Scripps Networks Interactive will explain how the Knoxville, Tennessee company is expanding around Europe – the latest deal winning control of Poland’s TVN. The big online players such as Google and Amazon are increasingly expanding into internet television with Amazon’s deal with Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame simply the latest. In the shock of the new the three “traditional” broadcasters in the opening conference session with be joined by Thomas Riedl to explain Google’s latest forays into TV. Riedl is head of Android TV Global Partnerships at Google in California.

    In Thursday afternoon’s keynote ‘Is TV facing up to the Internet Era?’ Andrew Neil will be posing the big questions to industry leaders most affected by the connected era. How will the TV industry transform itself to ensure it delivers on this internet era of television? Will new entrants with no legacy but an internet background take over? How fickle is the TV consumer and just what are the positions of leverage to combat the players with nothing to lose and everything to gain?  With the future of all video delivery shifting towards IP, is the internet a distribution system capable of delivering to everyone, in high quality, the TV experiences they demand? And who ultimately pays for that infrastructure, given the recent moves in the Net Neutrality debate. In the meantime, how well are broadcasters, platforms and content owners embracing the big issues of content rights as the EU looks towards a Digital Single Market?

    As media companies face an increasingly fragmented viewing environment, the keynote ‘Programming With Global Ambition’ promises to offer valuable insights into how one of the biggest players, Discovery Communications, is tackling the future and redefining its business models. Discovery’s extensive digital portfolio includes leveraging its global channels and content to live broadcast and stream to consumers on all manner of platforms. The international business run by JB Perrette, President of Discovery Networks International, is key to the company’s future. Today, Discovery reaches 3bn subscribers around the globe with an average of 10 channels in each of its 220 countries and while it operates predominantly pay TV channels it has branched out into advertiser-funded channels both through the acquisition of the SBS channels in the Nordic region and FTA launches of some of its pay brands in markets like Italy and Spain. In 2014 it purchased sports channel Eurosport, with a reach across both Europe and Asia and in a deal with John Malone’s Liberty Global, purchased TV production company All3Media. 

    Sling TV’s CEO Roger Lynch will speak in Saturday’s keynote ‘Over the Top Comes of Age’ to discuss how Sling TV (part of DISH) is pioneering the next-generation TV service.  Consumers’ appetite for online-delivered video is growing and some iconoclastic broadcasters, pay TV platforms and content providers like HBO, the UK’s Sky TV and DISH in the US are following (and trying to better) the Netflix model by creating streaming services to satisfy the demand for multiple-device TV. 

    Sunday will see BT TV Managing Director Delia Bushell discussing how BT sees the future, how the broadcasting model is changing and how communications technology will evolve in the session ‘Telcos Tune Into Broadcasting’.  BT Sport and BT TV products are shaking up the competitive landscape for TV and communications services in Europe. Having agreed to pay ?7.6m for each of the 12 Premier League games it will air exclusively from 2016, BT is taking its TV business seriously and through integrated broadband, TV and phone packages it’s trail blazing how a 21st Century Telco looks. The ?12.5bn agreement to purchase mobile operator EE in February this year adds another platform to BT’s ambition to offer content and services across devices. 

    IBC’s key streams are structured to allow delegates to navigate the conference with ease and maximise time at the show. The key themes discussed each day are seen through the lens of the different streams, each providing a unique angle and focus – be it technical, strategic or operational. Streams for 2015 include: Advances in Technology, Business Operations, Content Innovation, New Disruptors, Strategic Insights as well as the free to attend streams: Industry Insights and the IBC Big Screen Experience.

    The IBC Rising Stars Programme offers a new generation of students and young professionals who want to join the content and media industry the chance to experience the realities of these sectors. A free-to-attend event, students, graduates and new entrants to the industry will have tailored and exclusive conference sessions tackling topics that really matter to young professionals. Delegates will get to see the latest technology and learn about how the industry is developing.  They will meet established, successful and highly influential industry figures, as well as some of the brightest and most ambitious young entrepreneurs working in the industry today. They will have exclusive opportunities to interact with a huge and varied number of people: all experienced, knowledgeable and keen to communicate with a new generation.

  • Discovery Networks APAC acquires Setanta Sports Asia

    Discovery Networks APAC acquires Setanta Sports Asia

    MUMBAI: Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific (DNAP), a division of the pay-TV programmer Discovery Communications, has acquired Setanta Sports Asia Limited, a premium sports channel specialising in rugby.

     

    Discovery Networks International president JB Perrette said, “The acquisition of Setanta Sports Asia is an important investment for Discovery as we further build scale and expand our business in Asia. Just over a year ago, Discovery gained a controlling interest in Eurosport – a bold play that took our company into the exciting arena of sports, Similar to the strategy we have adopted for Eurosport, we will look to build on the strengths of Setanta and fortify its leadership as a must-have sports channel across Asia.”

     

    Perrette further added, “We will continue our steady investment in premium sports for Asia. The recent investments in the exclusive media rights for Champions League in Singapore on Eurosport, and now Setanta Sports Asia, demonstrate our commitment to building our portfolio and presence in the region. We are also very pleased to have Peter Hutton, who joined us a few months ago as CEO of Eurosport, leading the strategy of our newest global brand. Peter has excelled in the sports media business and his extensive international experience in multiple markets, including Asia, will boost our momentum.”

     

    Reaching more than 42 million homes across 16 countries, Setanta Sports Asia is one of the fastest-growing sports channels in Asia. It super serves passionate fans with some of the best rugby league and union events from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The acquisition is bolstered by Setanta’s five-year renewal of SANZAR (South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby) rights, including all home international matches, plus Super Rugby – both of which represent some of the most sought-after rugby union properties. In addition to the SANZAR rights, key programming includes European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, National Rugby League, Aviva Premiership and Guinness Pro 12.

     

    In total, Setanta Sports Asia airs more than 500 rugby matches per season on HD and SD feeds across the region. The channel’s multi-device player, Setanta Sports Plus, is accessible through online, tablets and smartphones.=

  • Discovery Communications strengthens global sports strategy with two new appointments

    Discovery Communications strengthens global sports strategy with two new appointments

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications has made two new executive appointments that will further strengthen the company’s global sports expertise and strategy. While Jean-Thierry Augustin has been named president, sports strategy & development in a newly created position at Discovery Networks International, Peter Hutton has been appointed Eurosport chief executive officer.

     

    Augustin, who previously held the position of CEO at Eurosport, will report directly to Discovery Networks International president JB Perrette and continue to be based in Paris. Augustin will work closely with Discovery’s international leadership team and Peter Hutton will create a compelling sports business development strategy that utilises sports as a game-changing asset and drives new growth globally.

     

    Hutton joins Eurosport from MP & Silva Group, where he held the post of co-chief executive officer. As CEO of Eurosport, Hutton will oversee the negotiation of sports rights and lead Eurosport’s content strategy to bring renewed focus to programming, production, promotion and platforms. Hutton will take advantage of Discovery’s local infrastructure and global platforms to maximise Eurosport’s value across more than 70 countries and in 20 languages. He will also report to Perrette and will be based in Paris, with a start date of 1 March, 2015.

     

    Perrette said, “As we approach the one year anniversary of Discovery’s acquisition of Eurosport in May, our focus is now on unlocking the full value of our must-have sports content for the entire Discovery Communications portfolio to benefit our advertisers, affiliates, audiences and shareholders around the world.”

     

    “Jean-Thierry has been at the helm of Eurosport for a number of years during, which he has proved to be a tremendous commercial leader and this new role will harness his expertise to build Discovery’s global sports strategy and expertise. Similarly, Peter has excelled in the sports media business. With extensive experience in Europe, Asia and Middle East, and strong relationships with broadcasters and rights holders, he is the perfect executive to strengthen Eurosport’s position as a global leader in sports. I am excited to work with both Jean-Thierry and Peter as we take our business to an exciting new level,” he added.

     

    Augustin joined Eurosport in 2001 as regional distribution director and following various promotions was named chief executive officer, Eurosport Group in June 2013. During this period, Augustin played a key role in the launch of Eurosport 2, which is available in 74 million homes in 51 countries and broadcasts 2,300 hours of live action every year. He also oversaw development of Europe’s number-one online sports destination, Eurosport.com which comprises 15 websites in 11 languages, and Eurosport Player, which provides live streaming of Eurosport and Eurosport 2 channels as well as catch-up TV around selected events in 35 markets.

     

    “It has been a privilege to lead Eurosport over the past several years. I look forward to applying my experience and working with JB and Peter to help utilise sports content to drive growth, and create long-term relationships with key partners throughout Discovery’s global business,” said Augustin.

     

    Hutton on the other hand, during his time at MP & Silva Group, oversaw a portfolio of rights that included the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championships, Formula 1, Grand Slam tennis and Series A football. He helped launch joint venture channels with Be In Sports in Asia, and took the business into the sponsorship market and key local rights, such as Belgian and Polish football. Before joining MP & Silva Group, Hutton’s previous roles included managing director ESPN Star Sports, senior vice president Fox International Channels Sport, as well as COO and one of the founders of Middle East and Asian broadcaster Ten Sports.

     

    “After over 30 years in sports media, I can’t think of a better brand to lead than Eurosport,” said Hutton. “I look forward to building on the great work of Jean-Thierry Augustin and his team to ensure that we further improve our line-up of world class sports relevant to our audiences throughout Europe and Asia. With the support of the Discovery teams around the world, we will deliver the best possible global and local events to our viewers and to our commercial partners.”

     

    In May 2014, Discovery increased its interest in Eurosport International to 51 per cent from 20 per cent as part of a larger strategic partnership with TF1 Group that began in December 2012. TF1 Group continues to be the majority shareholder of Eurosport France, in which Discovery holds a 20 per cent equity stake.

     

  • JB Perrette to step into Hollinger’s shoes at Discovery Networks International

    JB Perrette to step into Hollinger’s shoes at Discovery Networks International

    Mumbai: Discovery Communications today announced that JB Perrette will become the next President of Discovery Networks International. Perrette takes over for 23-year Discovery veteran Mark Hollinger, who announced his resignation in September.

     

    “JB is one of the smartest and most versatile executives I have worked with in the media business.  Since his time at NBC as a leader in business development, distribution and digital to all the success and value he has built at Discovery, JB has it all — strong strategic vision, operational expertise and exceptional team-building skills.  This is a demanding role like no other, which I believe requires a corporate executive with a broad background to oversee all aspects of the business across 220 countries.  Having spent half his career internationally, and with a unique mix of distribution, digital, strategy and business development experience, JB is the perfect fit to lead Discovery’s international operations,” said David Zaslav, President and CEO of Discovery Communications. 

     

    Perrette will oversee the company’s international business with current regional and functional leaders Dee Forbes, President and Managing Director, Discovery Networks Western Europe; Kasia Kieli, President and Managing Director, Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa; Henrik Ravn, President and CEO, SBS Discovery Media Nordics; Henry Martinez, President and Managing Director, Discovery Networks Latin America/U.S. Hispanic; Arjan Hoekstra, President and Managing Director, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific; Doug Baker, EVP and Chief Financial Officer, Discovery Networks International; Luis Silberwasser, EVP and Chief Content Officer, Discovery Networks International; Tom Keaveny, President, International Affiliate Sales; and John Honeycutt, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Discovery Networks International, reporting to him.

     

    “Discovery’s regional leaders are simply the best global operating team in all of media,” said Perrette. “Through strong organic growth as well as selective strategic acquisitions and partnerships, Mark and the team have built Discovery Networks International’s unrivaled footprint with powerful brands that are valued by viewers, advertisers and distribution partners around the world. I look forward to working closely with the world-class DNI team and fantastic collaborators as we capitalize on that momentum and chart the next phase of growth for Discovery.”

     

    Discovery’s international business has been growing rapidly for the past several years. In 2013, Discovery completed the acquisition and integration of SBS Nordics; acquired a 20 percent stake in Eurosport, the largest pan-European sports platform; launched TLC in the UK; and grew international ratings by 25 percent – all solidifying the company’s position as the No 1 pay-TV programmer in the world. Today, profits from the DNI business have grown to a level that matches Discovery’s overall profits just seven years ago.

     

    Since joining Discovery in October 2011, Perrette has built best-in-class digital and technology organizations helping to establish Discovery’s industry-leading presence in the digital media field. With Perrette at the helm, Discovery has become a leading provider of high-quality nonfiction media across all screens. Perrette and his team led the successful acquisitions of Revision3 and DeFranco Creative, strategic investments in Lumosity and Learnist, the launches of digital/online networks Animalist and TestTube, and the implementation of innovative live online experiences such as SKYWIRE LIVE and Animal Planet L!VE. Sean Atkins will serve as the acting head of Discovery’s Digital business as the company performs an internal and external search for its next Chief Digital Officer. In addition, the IT/EOS teams, led by Kevin Loftis and Larry Laque, will now report to Andrew Warren, Chief Financial Officer of Discovery Communications.

     

    Prior to joining Discovery, Perrette spent 11 years with NBCUniversal, where he most recently served as President, Digital and Affiliate Distribution, and Content Distribution Strategy, leading North American distribution of television and film content across platforms. He also helped launch new digital channels Sleuth (now Cloo), Chiller and Universal HD and played a leadership role in developing the industry-leading digital venture, Hulu. Perrette’s previous roles at NBC Universal included CFO of NBC Universal Cable, CFO of Bravo Media, and VP of NBC Business Development. Before joining NBC in 2000, Perrette was a member of General Electric’s top leadership development program based in London, and at CS First Boston in London and Toky