Jump to content

Discovery, Inc.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Animal Planet Asia)

Discovery, Inc.
FormerlyCable Educational Network Inc. (1982–1994)
Discovery Communications, LLC (1994–2018)
Company typePublic
IndustryMass media
PredecessorsDiscovery Holding Company
Scripps Networks Interactive
Founded
  • 1982; 42 years ago (1982) (Cable Educational Network)
  • 1994; 30 years ago (1994) (Discovery Communications)
FounderJohn Hendricks[1][citation needed]
DefunctApril 8, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-04-08)
FateMerged with WarnerMedia to form Warner Bros. Discovery.
SuccessorWarner Bros. Discovery
Headquarters230 Park Avenue South,
New York City, New York
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
ProductsFactual television
RevenueDecrease US$10.671 billion (2020)
Increase US$2.515 billion (2020)
Decrease US$1.355 billion (2020)
Total assetsIncrease US$34.087 billion (2020)
Total equityIncrease US$12.000 billion (2020)
Number of employees
9,800 (2020)
Divisions
Subsidiaries
Websitecorporate.discovery.com
(archived November 26, 2018)
Footnotes / references
Financials as of December 31, 2019.[2][3][4][5]

Discovery, Inc. was an American multinational mass media factual television conglomerate based in New York City. Established in 1982, the company operated a group of factual and lifestyle television brands, such as the namesake Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and TLC. In 2018, the company acquired Scripps Networks Interactive, adding networks such as Food Network, HGTV, and Travel Channel to its portfolio. Since the purchase, Discovery described itself as serving members of "passionate" audiences, and also placed a focus on streaming services built around its properties.

Discovery owned or had interests in local versions of its channel brands in international markets, in addition to its other major regional operations such as Eurosport (a pan-European group of sports channels, most prominently the rightsholder of the Olympic Games throughout most of Europe), GolfTV (an international golf-focused streaming service, which is the international digital rightsholder of the PGA Tour), Discovery Communications Nordic (which operates general-interest channels in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland), TVN Group in Poland, and a portfolio of various free-to-air channels in Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

In May 2021, AT&T announced its proposal to merge its media subsidiary WarnerMedia with Discovery, Inc. The transaction was approved by the European Commission in December 2021 and was completed on April 8, 2022, forming Warner Bros. Discovery.

History

[edit]
Former headquarters of Discovery, Inc. in Silver Spring, Maryland

The company was established in 1982 in Landover, Maryland as the Cable Educational Network. Its namesake and flagship brand, Discovery Channel, first launched on June 17, 1985.[6][7] In 1991, Discovery Channel's owners acquired The Learning Channel.[8] Three years later, Cable Educational Network was renamed Discovery Communications.

In October 1996, Discovery launched several new spin-off networks, including Animal Planet, and the digital cable channels Discovery Kids, Discovery Travel & Living, Discovery Civilization, and Science Channel. This was followed by the 1997 purchase of a 70% stake in Travel Channel, and the 1998 launches of Discovery en Español, Discovery Wings, and Discovery Health Channel.[9][10][11] Also in 1998, Discovery acquired a stake in the struggling CBS Eye on People channel; Discovery eventually acquired the remainder of CBS's stake, leading to its January 1999 relaunch as Discovery People.[12][13] The network quietly folded in 2000, being replaced by other Discovery channels on providers.[14]

On September 1, 2001, Discovery Communications bought The Health Channel, and announced that it would be re-branded as FitTV.[15] In 2002, Discovery relaunched Discovery Civilization as Discovery Times, as part of a joint venture with The New York Times.[16] In June 2002, coinciding with Discovery's 17th anniversary, the company launched a 24/7 high definition channel known as Discovery HD Theater.[17] In 2003, Discovery Communications moved its headquarters from Bethesda to Silver Spring.[18] In 2003 and 2004, Discovery acquired academic film companies such as AGC, AIMS Multimedia, and Clearvue & SVE to form Discovery Education, which is now led by Jeremy Cowdrey, former CEO of Imagine Learning.[19][20][21] In 2019, Discovery Communications moved its headquarters to New York City,[22] keeping 300 employees in a smaller hub in Silver Spring.[23]

Zaslav era

[edit]

Former NBCUniversal executive David Zaslav was named president and CEO of Discovery Communications on November 16, 2006.[24] In the years that followed, Zaslav placed a major focus on bolstering Discovery's core networks, programming, and expanding the company's reach into digital media. He described these goals as reflecting an expansion into becoming a "content company" rather than just a "cable company".[25]

In March 2007, Discovery sold its stake in Travel Channel back to Cox Communications, in exchange for the stake in Discovery that Cox owned.[26] Cox would later sell the controlling interest in the channel to Scripps Networks Interactive in 2009.[27] In June 2008, Discovery Home was replaced by Planet Green, a network devoted primarily to environmentalism and sustainable living.[28]

In 2007, according to Crunchbase, TreeHugger was acquired by Discovery Communications on August 1, 2007, for $10 million.[citation needed][verification needed] In 2012, Mother Nature Network, founded by Joel Babbit and Chuck Leavell (now Narrative Content Group) acquired TreeHugger.[needs update]

On January 15, 2008, Discovery announced that it had entered into a joint venture with Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions to relaunch Discovery Health as a new service, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, in 2009.[29] In 2008, Discovery Times was relaunched as Investigation Discovery, a new brand that would be dedicated to true crime programs and documentaries.[30] The company also formed its Emerging Networks Group, and named Clark Bunting as president[31] and Clint Stinchcomb as executive vice president and general manager.[32] On April 30, 2009, Discovery announced a joint venture with Hasbro to relaunch Discovery Kids as a new youth- and family-oriented entertainment channel.[33][34] The channel, ultimately named The Hub, launched on October 10, 2010.[35][36] After multiple delays, OWN officially launched on January 1, 2011.[37][38]

On March 17, 2009, Discovery Communications sued Amazon.com for patent infringement by its Kindle e-reader line, regarding "secure distribution of electronic text and graphics to subscribers and secure storage". The patents were originally developed by Discovery founder John Hendricks, who had been developing technologies related to e-books and the digitization of television programs. While Discovery had divested the television-related patents, it retained the e-book patents.[39] Amazon subsequently accused Discovery of violating a patent for an "Internet-based customer referral system";[40] The two parties settled in 2011.[41]

On October 4, 2011, due to the wider implementation of high-definition feeds for mainstream cable channels, HD Theater was relaunched as Velocity, a new "upscale male" network focusing on automotive programming.[42][43][44] On May 26, 2012, Planet Green (which had begun to abandon its original concept in 2010 due to poor viewership)[28] was relaunched as Destination America.[45]

In January 2014, Discovery launched Curiosity, a website that aggregates online education content.[46]

In April 2014, Discovery made an investment and strategic partnership with Dog TV, a television network made specifically for dogs.[47]

In May 2014, Discovery and its shareholder Liberty Media acquired British television studio All3Media for $930 million in a 50/50 joint venture. The new ownership stated that All3Media would be operated as an independent company.[48] In October 2014, Discovery acquired controlling interest in Hub Network from Hasbro and re-branded it as Discovery Family.[49][50] During the same month of that year, Discovery Communications announced a special dividend of shares of the company's Series C common stock payable to holders of record of the company's Series A common stock, Series B common stock and Series C common stock as of the close of business on July 28, 2014. As a result of the dividend, each holder of a share of the company's Series A common stock, Series B common stock or Series C common stock will receive one additional share of the company's Series C common stock on or about August 6, 2014.[51] In November 2014, Curiosity was spun out as a venture-funded startup, receiving $6 million in funding.[52]

In November 2015, Discovery Communications and Liberty Global paid approximately $195 million for a 3.4% stake in Lionsgate Entertainment with Discovery CEO David Zaslav joining the Lionsgate board of directors as part of the acquisition.[53][54][55] In December 2015, Discovery launched Discovery Go, a TV Everywhere service offering access to live streaming and on-demand content from Discovery Communications' cable networks.[56]

In May 2016, Discovery initiated a restructuring plan aiming to save $40 to $60 million by the third quarter of 2016, including a shift in strategy to "maximize" its linear television business whilst plotting larger investments in content, digital media, sports, and international markets.[57] In August 2016, Discovery purchased a minority stake in the Hong Kong-based digital talent and content company VS Media; Discovery intended to have VS distribute Discovery Digital Networks content in China, and to offer their own resources to VS.[58][59][60]

In October 2016, Discovery purchased a minority stake in Group Nine Media, a digital media holding company consisting of Thrillist Media Group, NowThis, The Dodo and Discovery's digital network Seeker—for $100 million. The transaction gave Discovery an option to acquire a majority stake at a later date.[61][62]

Acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive

[edit]

On July 31, 2017, Discovery announced it would acquire Scripps Networks Interactive, owner of networks such as Food Network, HGTV, and DIY Network, for $14.6 billion, pending regulatory approval.[63] On March 6, 2018, the acquisition was completed, with the company renamed as Discovery, Inc. afterwards. Following the purchase, SNI shareholders owned 20% of Discovery's stock.[64] Discovery retained an operational hub in SNI's home city of Knoxville, but planned to move its corporate headquarters from Silver Spring, Maryland, where it had operated since 2003, to New York City in late-2019.[65]

Discovery's brands were reorganized into two groups under different chief brand officers: SNI's chief programmer Kathleen Finch became chief brand officer of Lifestyle, overseeing TLC, the six former Scripps channels, and Discovery's other lifestyle networks. Rich Ross, who formerly served as group president of Discovery and Science, stepped down, and would be replaced by TLC president Nancy Daniels as chief brand officer of Discovery & Factual.[66]

An on-air result of the acquisition were multiple programs featuring crossovers between TLC and Scripps talent, such as the Food Network series Buddy vs. Duff (a cake design competition series starring Buddy Valastro and Duff Goldman of the TLC and Food Network programs Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes), and a revival of TLC's While You Were Out incorporating HGTV personalities.[67][68]

On August 3, 2017, Discovery announced that it would contribute Velocity into a joint venture with the digital, live events, and direct-to-consumer businesses of automotive publisher TEN: The Enthusiast Network. Discovery will hold a majority stake in the venture; it will not include TEN's print brands, but there will be opportunities for cross-promotion.[69] In April 2018, it was announced that TEN had been renamed Motor Trend Group, and that Velocity would be re-branded as an extension of its namesake magazine Motor Trend.[70][71]

In December 2017, Discovery announced that it would acquire an additional 24.5% stake in OWN that it did not already own, for $70 million. Oprah Winfrey will remain as CEO of OWN, and extended her exclusivity agreement with the network and Discovery through 2025. Harpo Productions retains a "significant minority stake" in the venture.[72] In February 2018, Discovery sold a majority stake in Discovery Education to the private equity firm Francisco Partners.[73]

Focus on direct-to-consumer services

[edit]

During its 2018 upfronts, Zaslav stated that the company was now strongly focused on serving "passionate fans and passionate audiences", and was preparing to increase its focus on direct-to-consumer offerings targeting such audiences. The SNI purchase, Eurosport's Olympics rights, and the aforementioned Motor Trend-branded network were described as being examples of this strategy.[74] Food Network Kitchen would also launch in 2019, with a focus on live and on-demand cooking classes.[75]

In June 2018, Discovery announced a 12-year agreement to acquire the international media rights to the PGA Tour, with plans to develop an international streaming service to house these rights.[76] The service was officially announced in October 2018 as GolfTV, with Eurosport executive vice president Alex Kaplan named the president and general manager of Discovery Golf.[77] Former Amazon executive Peter Faricy, who was named Discovery's chief executive of global direct-to-consumer operations in August 2018, considered GolfTV consistent with the aforementioned strategy, as golf was one of several sports "where people's passions and their interest in participating and learning more becomes a core part of their life."[78]

With Discovery choosing 230 Park Avenue South as its new New York City headquarters, Discovery sold its former Silver Spring headquarters to Foulger-Pratt and Cerberus Capital Management in September 2018, and leased a smaller space at nearby 8403 Colesville Road.[79][80][81]

In November 2018, Chip and Joanna Gaines of the former HGTV series Fixer Upper announced on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, that they were in early talks to form a "lifestyle focused media network" with Discovery named after their personal company Magnolia. It was reported that Discovery had considered rebranding either DIY Network or Great American Country as this new channel.[82][83] In April 2019, Discovery confirmed its Magnolia joint venture, which is scheduled to launch in 2020 and replace DIY Network, with an over-the-top subscription component to launch later.[84] Magnolia Network was originally scheduled to launch on October 4, 2020,[85] but it was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[86] It was also announced that Fixer Upper would be revived for the new channel.[87]

In January 2019, Discovery increased its ownership of Play Sports Group, operator of the YouTube channel Global Cycling Network, to 71%. Discovery previously acquired a 20% share in 2017.[88] The group is the foundation for an in development global cycling OTT service.[78]

On April 1, 2019, after a previous agreement with the broadcaster lapsed six years prior, Discovery announced a 10-year global content partnership with BBC Studios, under which it will become the exclusive subscription video-on-demand rightsholder of programming from the BBC Natural History Unit (which will become the basis of an international subscription service by 2020) outside of China, Ireland, and the UK. In addition, Discovery and the BBC reached an agreement to break up their UKTV joint venture (which was inherited from Scripps), with Discovery acquiring the BBC's shares in the Good Food, Home, and Really channels, and BBC Studios acquiring Discovery's shares in the seven remaining channels, and its streaming platform UKTV Play.[89] Home was later rebranded as a local version of HGTV,[90] and Good Food was closed in favor of the local version of Food Network.[91]

On May 13, 2019, Discovery announced that it would acquire Golf Digest from Condé Nast to integrate into its Discovery Golf division.[92]

In March 2020, Discovery began to deploy a new direct-to-consumer brand known as Discovery+, initially in India, which would focus on content from across its factual and lifestyle television brands, as well as the BBC.[93] In December 2020, Discovery announced that it would launch Discovery+ in the United States on January 4, 2021, which would feature new exclusive programming from across Discovery's brands, and previews of Magnolia Network (whose linear launch had since been delayed to 2022).[94][95]

In May 2021, Discovery formed a multi-platform content partnership with the Georgia Aquarium.[96]

Merger with WarnerMedia

[edit]

On May 17, 2021, AT&T announced that it had reached an agreement to merge its content and broadcasting subsidiary, WarnerMedia (the former Time Warner, which AT&T had acquired in 2018 for just over $85 billion in an attempt to become a vertically integrated media conglomerate) with Discovery Inc. to form a new company, subject to regulatory approval. The merger, scheduled to be completed in mid-2022, would be structured as a Reverse Morris Trust; AT&T shareholders will hold a 71% interest in the new company's stock and appoint seven board members, and Discovery shareholders will hold 29% and appoint six board members. AT&T will receive $43 billion in cash and debt from the spin-off.[97][98]

Zaslav will lead the new company. He stated that the new company's goal would be to "[tell] the most amazing stories and have a ton of fun doing it", and emphasized that the two companies spend over $20 billion annually on content (outpacing Disney, Netflix and even Amazon). The company will aim to expand their streaming services (which includes WarnerMedia's HBO Max) to reach 400 million global subscribers.[97][98]

On June 1, 2021, it was announced that the merged company would be known as Warner Bros. Discovery, and an interim wordmark was unveiled with the tagline "The stuff dreams are made from"—a line from the 1941 Warner Bros. film The Maltese Falcon. Zaslav stated that the name would reflect "the combination of Warner Bros.' fabled hundred-year legacy of creative, authentic storytelling and taking bold risks to bring the most amazing stories to life, with Discovery's global brand that has always stood brightly for integrity, innovation and inspiration".[99] On June 7, 2021, Discovery announced that it would divest Great American Country to GAC Media, a new Fort Worth-based investment group led by Tom Hicks and former Crown Media Holdings CEO Bill Abbott.[100]

Electronic Arts, who were a bidder in the proposed sale of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, purchased the mobile gaming studio Playdemic from WBIE for US$1.4 billion in the same month.[101]

In September 2021, Fox Corporation acquired TMZ from WarnerMedia in a deal worth about $50 million with TMZ being operated under the Fox Entertainment division.[102]

In November 2021, Discovery and WarnerMedia discussed a plan to combine the two streaming services, HBO Max and Discovery+, into one streaming service in two phases: an initial phase that allows for quick bundling of the services and a second phase that allows for a common service on one tech platform.[103] In the same month, it was announced that Discovery will rename itself Warner Bros. Discovery and reclassify and convert its stock into stock of WBD.[104]

On December 22, 2021, it was announced that the transaction was approved by the European Commission and it is expected to be completed in mid-2022, subject to approval by Discovery shareholders and additional closing conditions.[105][106]

On January 5, 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that WarnerMedia and Paramount Global (at the time known as ViacomCBS) were exploring a possible sale of either a majority stake or all of The CW, and that Nexstar Media Group (which became The CW's largest affiliate group when it acquired former WB co-owner Tribune Broadcasting in 2019) was considered a leading bidder.[107] The news led to speculation that, should a sale take place, new ownership could steer the network in a new direction, transforming The CW from a young adult-oriented network into one that featured more unscripted and even national news programming.[108] However, reports also indicated that WarnerMedia and ViacomCBS could include a contractual commitment that would require any new owner to buy new programming from those companies, allowing them to reap some continual revenue through the network.[109] Network president/CEO Mark Pedowitz confirmed talks of a potential sale in a memo to CW staffers, but added that "It's too early to speculate what might happen" and that the network "must continue to do what we do best."[110][111]

On January 26, 2022, it was reported that the merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. was expected to close sometime during the second quarter of 2022.[112][113] This was later narrowed down to mid-April 2022.[114] On February 1, 2022, it was reported that AT&T had elected to structure the merger as a spin-off of WarnerMedia, followed by a merger with Discovery Inc. to form the new company. The company had been contemplating structuring the transaction as a split-off (under which AT&T shareholders would be given the option as to whether to exchange their shares for those of the new company, rather than receive them pro rata).[115][116] On February 7, the merger was approved by the Brazilian antitrust regulator Cade.[117] It was approved by the United States Department of Justice two days later.[118]

The transaction was approved by Discovery shareholders on March 11,[119] and formally completed on April 8, 2022.[119]

2010 hostage crisis

[edit]

On September 1, 2010, the Discovery headquarters were the site of a hostage taking; a lone gunman identified as James J. Lee (c. 1967 – September 1, 2010), armed with two starter pistols[120] and an explosive device, took three people hostage inside of the Discovery Communications headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, prompting an evacuation of the building. Lee's motive was believed to have been grounded in environmental activism. Lee had previously been arrested in 2008 while protesting in front of the same site.

The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland has since labeled the crime a terrorist attack.[121]

The incident began at 1:00 p.m. ET, when the 43-year-old Lee entered the building with two starter pistols and fired a single round at the ceiling of the lobby.[122][123] The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) confirmed that Lee had an explosive device and was holding three people[124] hostage in the lobby.[122][125] The building was placed on lockdown and most of the 1,500 employees were evacuated.[125] Children from a day care center inside were safely removed to a nearby McDonald's restaurant on Colesville Rd.[122] Lee was shot and killed by an MCPD SWAT team at 4:48 p.m. ET after the hostages made a run to escape.[126] The remaining hostages were immediately freed.[127] The incident was described by the FBI as the first instance of a would-be suicide bomber taking hostages in the United States.[128]

Lee was an environmental protester who, in 2008, was given six months of supervised probation and fined $500 after he was arrested during a protest outside the Discovery Communications headquarters. Lee had published criticisms of the network in an online manifesto at Savetheplanetprotest.com,[123] among which was a demand for the company to cease the broadcasting of television series displaying or encouraging the birth of "parasitic human infants and the false heroics behind those actions".[129] His manifesto also railed against "immigration pollution and anchor baby filth", leading commentators such as Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center to decry Lee as an "eco-fascist".[130] Lee's opinions were dominated by Malthusian analysis,[131] though he also cited works ranging from Daniel Quinn's novel My Ishmael to former U.S. Vice President Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth.[132] The Washington Post credited the Twitter community for initially breaking the story.[133]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "John S. Hendricks". wvstatemuseumed.wv.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  2. ^ "Discovery Selects 230 Park Avenue South As New Global Headquarters – Discovery, Inc". corporate.discovery.com. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  3. ^ "US SEC: 2019 Form 10-K Discovery, Inc". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. February 26, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  4. ^ "Discovery 10-K 2020". Discovery. Retrieved February 26, 2021.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Discovery Selects 230 Park Avenue South As New Global Headquarters". Discovery. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  6. ^ Schneider, Steve (June 16, 1985). "CABLE TV NOTES; A CHANNEL WITH A DIFFERENCE". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  7. ^ "Television: The Russians Are Coming". Time. February 23, 1987. Archived from the original on April 17, 2008.
  8. ^ "Discovery to Buy a Channel". The New York Times. April 2, 1991.
  9. ^ Parsons, Patrick (2008). Blue Skies: A History of Cable Television. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. ISBN 978-1592137060.
  10. ^ Kirchdoerffer, Ed (April 1, 1999). "Digital Play in the U.S. of A". Realscreen. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  11. ^ "Discovery seeks 70% interest in Travel Channel Paxson Communications would get $20 million". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  12. ^ Carter, Bill (July 28, 1998). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Discovery to Buy 50% Stake In CBS Eye On People Channel". The New York Times. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  13. ^ "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; CBS Is Selling Stake in Venture". The New York Times. December 31, 1998. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  14. ^ "Discovery People fades out". Variety. February 28, 2000.
  15. ^ "Discovery Finds That FitTV Was Best Fit After All". Multichannel News. Archived from the original on December 5, 2004.
  16. ^ "'Civilization' Seeks Current-Affairs Niche". Multichannel News. November 4, 2002.
  17. ^ "Discovery to launch 24-hr HDTV channel in June". Broadcaster Magazine. Retrieved April 29, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "Silver Spring Hails Discovery's Opening". The Washington Post. April 1, 2003. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  19. ^ Alexander, Geoff (2010). Academic Films for the Classroom: A History. Jefferson: McFarland & Co. pp. 65–66, 76–77. ISBN 9780786458707. OCLC 601049093. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  20. ^ "Discovery Communications Announces Acquisition of AIMS Multimedia; Deal Strengthens Discovery's Positions in the Education Technology Market" (Press release). August 16, 2004. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  21. ^ "Discovery Education soon to be in the hands of a new owner". EdScoop. February 28, 2018. Archived from the original on March 5, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  22. ^ "Discovery Communications Is on the Move". Broadcasting & Cable. June 14, 2018. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  23. ^ "Discovery inks deal for new Silver Spring hub". Washington Business Journal. September 6, 2018. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  24. ^ Ahrens, Frank (November 17, 2006). "Discovery Appoints New Chief". The Washington Post.
  25. ^ "Zaslav Holds To Growth Plan At Discovery". Mediapost. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  26. ^ "Update: Discovery Buys Out Cox, Gives Up Travel Channel". Broadcasting & Cable. March 29, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  27. ^ "Scripps Networks Takes Full Control of Travel Channel". Variety. February 25, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  28. ^ a b "Planet Green Moves Away From Its Eco Theme". The New York Times. March 10, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  29. ^ "Discovery, Winfrey to Team Up On Network". Washington Post. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  30. ^ Ahrens, Frank (November 27, 2007). "Discovery Hopes for Payoff on Crime Channel". The Washington Post.
  31. ^ "Bunting Elevated To Lead Discovery's Emerging Networks Group". Multichannel News. February 11, 2008. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  32. ^ "Discovery Names Campbell Digital President". Multichannel News. March 15, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  33. ^ Flint, Joe (January 14, 2010). "Discovery and Hasbro Name New Kids Channel "The Hub"". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  34. ^ Schneider, Michael (April 30, 2009). "Hasbro Nabs Discovery Kids Stake". Variety. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
  35. ^ Owens, Rob (October 10, 2010). "Tuned In: The Hub Network Offers Programs for Younger Children". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  36. ^ "A Children's Channel Retools". The New York Times. October 10, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  37. ^ "Oprah costs Discovery a fortune". New York Post. August 4, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  38. ^ "Oprah Winfrey's OWN network lineup will aim to offer 'mindful television'". National Post. Retrieved April 30, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  39. ^ "Discovery hits Amazon with Kindle patent suit". CNET. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  40. ^ "Amazon: Discovery is infringing on our patents, too!". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  41. ^ "Amazon, Discovery End IP Battle Over Kindle, E-Commerce". Law360. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  42. ^ Richmond, Ray (July 29, 2011). "TCA: Discovery Sets Launch Date For Velocity, Adds Big Names to 'Curiosity', Preps Science Channel's 'Trek Nation', Introduces 'Weed' Team". Deadline Hollywood.
  43. ^ D.M. Levine (April 18, 2011). "Discovery Launches Velocity Channel, Aimed at Rich Men". Adweek.
  44. ^ Lawler, Richard (April 14, 2011). "Discovery HD Theater is becoming Velocity, focuses on programming for 'upscale male audience'". Engadget.
  45. ^ "Discovery Communications Replaces Planet Green With Destination America". Adweek. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  46. ^ Grant, Rebecca (January 14, 2014). "Discovery unveils Curiosity.com to inspire everyday learning". VentureBeat.
  47. ^ "Discovery Acquires Stake in DogTV, a Network Aimed at Canine Viewers". Variety. April 8, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  48. ^ "Discovery And Liberty Global Agree To $930M Deal For All3Media". Deadline. May 8, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  49. ^ Szalai, Georg (September 25, 2014). "The Hub to Rebrand as Discovery Family Channel as Discovery Takes Control". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  50. ^ Flint, Joe; Hagey, Keach; Ziobro, Paul (September 17, 2014). "Discovery to Take Control of Hub Children's Network". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  51. ^ "Discovery Communications Announces Special Dividend of Series C Common Stock". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Discovery Communications. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  52. ^ Elahi, Amina. "Chicago-based Curiosity spins off from Discovery, raises $6 million". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  53. ^ Meg James, Ryan Faughnder (November 10, 2015). "Lionsgate sells 6.8% stake to John Malone's Liberty Global". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  54. ^ Gerry Smith (June 30, 2016). "Malone May Have Bigger Plans Beyond Lionsgate Purchase of Starz". Bloomberg. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  55. ^ Michael J. de la Marced (November 10, 2015). "Liberty Global Take Stakes in Lions Gate". The New York Times. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  56. ^ "Discovery Bows TV Everywhere App". Multichannel News. Archived from the original on December 3, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  57. ^ "Discovery initiates restructuring plan, reports higher Q1 earnings". Realscreen. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  58. ^ Ritchie, Kevin. "Discovery reports Q2 profit rise, invests in Chinese MCN". Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  59. ^ Kalogeropoulos, Demitrios (August 2, 2016). "Discovery Communications Inc. Tunes In to Higher Profits – The Motley Fool". Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  60. ^ "Discovery Takes Stake in Chinese Digital Talent Firm VS Media". The Hollywood Reporter. August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  61. ^ "Discovery Is Investing $100 Million in This Digital Media Venture". Fortune. October 13, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  62. ^ Spangler, Todd (October 13, 2016). "Discovery Investing $100 Million to Merge Thrillist, NowThis, The Dodo in New Digital Venture". Variety. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  63. ^ Szalai, Georg (July 31, 2017). "Discovery to Acquire Scripps Networks for $14.6 Billion". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  64. ^ Szalai, Georg (March 6, 2018). "Discovery Closes Scripps Acquisition, Creating Non-scripted Content Giant". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  65. ^ Steinberg, Brian (January 9, 2018). "Discovery Communications to Shift Headquarters to New York City". Variety. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  66. ^ Hipes, Patrick (March 1, 2018). "Rich Ross Out At Discovery In Exec Shakeup; Scripps' Kathleen Finch Adds To Oversight". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  67. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (October 29, 2018). "TLC and HGTV to Revive 'While You Were Out' as Crossover Series Tailored for Both Channels (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  68. ^ "TLC, HGTV's crossover reboot "While You Were Out" gets March premiere date". Realscreen. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  69. ^ Evans, Greg (August 3, 2017). "Discovery Communications Partners With TEN Network For Auto Portfolio". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  70. ^ Petski, Denise (April 10, 2018). "Discovery Rebrands Velocity As Motor Trend Network". Deadline. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  71. ^ "Discovery Launches 'Motor Trend On Demand' in UK on Amazon Channels". Multichannel. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  72. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 4, 2017). "Discovery Communications Ups Stake In OWN Via $70 Million Harpo Deal, Oprah Winfrey Extends Contract Through 2025". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  73. ^ "Discovery Education to Find a New Owner in SF Private Equity Firm – EdSurge News". EdSurge. February 27, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  74. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (April 10, 2018). "Discovery Rebrands Velocity as Motor Trend Network (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  75. ^ "Food Network Kitchen brings live, interactive cooking classes to Echo Show, Fire TV & more". TechCrunch. October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  76. ^ Clarke, Stewart (June 4, 2018). "Discovery Inks International Deal for PGA Tour Golf Rights". Variety. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  77. ^ Clarke, Stewart (October 22, 2018). "Discovery and PGA Tour Tee Up 'GolfTV' Streaming Brand for 2019 Launch". Variety. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  78. ^ a b Connolly, Eoin (March 26, 2019). "Going deep with Discovery: Peter Faricy on building GolfTV and global digital platforms for fans". Sports Pro. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  79. ^ "Discovery's Silver Spring headquarters sells". WTOP. September 6, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  80. ^ "Discovery leases Silver Spring space for new Md. operations". WTOP. September 6, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  81. ^ Diegel, Mike (September 6, 2018). "Discovery Sells Silver Spring Headquarters Building". Source of the Spring. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  82. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (November 10, 2018). "Chip and Joanna Gaines in Talks With Discovery for Linear Channel and Streaming Platform". Variety. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  83. ^ "Chip and Joanna Gaines announce a new TV network with Discovery: 'We are excited to be back'". USA Today. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  84. ^ "DIY to Be Rebranded as Chip and Joanna Gaines' New Discovery Network". TheWrap. April 10, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  85. ^ Romano, Nick (January 16, 2020). "Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia cable network set to launch this fall". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corp. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  86. ^ Gelman, Vlada (April 21, 2020). "TVLine Items: Chip & Joanna's Network Delayed, NOS4A2's New Date and More". TVLine. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  87. ^ "Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network Announces Return of Hit Series Fixer Upper, Expands Original Programming Slate" (Press release). Magnolia Network. August 4, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020 – via The Futon Critic.
  88. ^ "Discovery Nabs Majority Stake in Online Cycling Platform Play Sports Group". The Hollywood Reporter. January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  89. ^ White, Peter (April 1, 2019). "Discovery & BBC Reignite Global Content Deal With SVOD & UKTV Agreement, Six Years After Ending Previous Pact". Deadline. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  90. ^ Szalai, Georg (June 26, 2019). "Discovery U.K. to Rebrand Home as HGTV, Revive Gok Wan's 'How to Look Good Naked'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  91. ^ "Good Food channel merges with Food Network UK". Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  92. ^ Spangler, Todd (May 13, 2019). "Discovery Buys Golf Digest From Condé Nast for $30 Million". Variety. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  93. ^ "Discovery Plus App Debuts With Content 'Curated Specifically for India'". NDTV Gadgets 360. March 16, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  94. ^ Alexander, Julia (December 2, 2020). "Discovery, home of Shark Week, HGTV, and Food Network, enters the streaming wars with Discovery Plus". The Verge. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  95. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 11, 2021). "Chip & Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network To Launch Slate On App & Discovery+ First, DIY Takeover To Follow". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  96. ^ "Discovery and Georgia Aquarium Enter Into All-New Multi-Platform Content Partnership To Document Animal Experiences and Global Conservation Efforts". NGeorgia Aquarium. May 7, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  97. ^ a b Meredith, Steve; Kovach, Sam (May 17, 2021). "AT&T announces $43 billion deal to merge WarnerMedia with Discovery". CNBC. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  98. ^ a b Hayes, Dade (May 17, 2021). "David Zaslav And John Stankey Outline Plans For Merging Discovery And WarnerMedia, Addressing Future Of Jason Kilar, CNN, Streaming". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  99. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (June 1, 2021). "Warner Bros. Discovery Set As Name Of Merged Company". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  100. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (June 7, 2021). "Discovery Sells Great American Country To Investor Group With Former Crown Media Chief Bill Abbott As CEO". Deadline. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  101. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (June 23, 2021). "AT&T, WarnerMedia Sell Playdemic Mobile Game Studio To Electronic Arts For $1.4 Billion". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  102. ^ Hayes, Dade (September 13, 2021). "Fox Entertainment Closes Acquisition Of TMZ From WarnerMedia". Yahoo!. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  103. ^ Bunson, Ben (November 3, 2021). "Discovery+, HBO Max may bundle before combining after merger". FierceVideo. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  104. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (November 18, 2021). "Discovery, AT&T's WarnerMedia Talks Collapsed In April Before They Clinched May Deal, According To Massive SEC Filing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  105. ^ Vlessing, Etan (December 22, 2021). "Discovery-WarnerMedia Merger Gets European Union Approval". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  106. ^ "European Commission grants approval for Discovery acquisition of WarnerMedia". Reuters. December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  107. ^ Flint, Joe (January 5, 2022). "WarnerMedia and ViacomCBS Are Exploring Possible Sale of CW Network". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  108. ^ Weprin, Alex; Goldberg, Lesley (January 12, 2022). "Will The CW Be a Streaming Wars Casualty?". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  109. ^ Farley, Ashley (January 13, 2022). "REPORT: The CW's Potential Sale May Kill Its Original Programming". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  110. ^ Goldberg, Lesley; Weprin, Alex (January 6, 2022). "ViacomCBS and WarnerMedia Exploring Sale of The CW". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  111. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 6, 2022). "The CW CEO Mark Pedowitz Confirms WarnerMedia & ViacomCBS Exploring "Strategic Opportunities" As Majority Stake In Network Is Shopped With Nexstar Among Suitors" As Majority Stake In Network Is Shopped With Nexstar Among Suitors – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  112. ^ Hepburn, Tmera (January 26, 2022). "WarnerMedia and Discovery Merger Now Expected to Close This Spring". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  113. ^ Pinto, Jordan (January 27, 2022). "WarnerMedia-Discovery merger expected to close in Q2, says AT&T's Stankey". C21 Media. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  114. ^ Maas, Jennifer (February 23, 2022). "AT&T, Discovery Prepare for Mid-April Close of WarnerMedia Deal". Variety. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  115. ^ Spangler, Todd (February 1, 2022). "AT&T Sets Plan to Spin Off WarnerMedia in $43 Billion Deal". Variety. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  116. ^ Szalai, George (February 1, 2022). "AT&T Picks WarnerMedia Spin-Off as Structure for Key Step in Discovery Merger". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  117. ^ "Cade surpreende e aprova fusão Discovery/WarnerMedia sem restrições". Notícias da TV (in Portuguese). February 7, 2022.
  118. ^ Szalai, Georg (February 9, 2022). "Discovery-WarnerMedia Merger Gets U.S. Antitrust Clearance". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  119. ^ a b Maas, Jennifer (April 8, 2022). "Discovery Closes Acquisition of AT&T's WarnerMedia". Variety. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  120. ^ "Discovery Channel attacker convicted of smuggling immigrant in 2003". CNN (International). April 9, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  121. ^ "Background Report: Discovery Communications Building Hostage-Taking" (PDF). University of Maryland. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  122. ^ a b c "Armed Man With Bomb Takes at Least One Hostage in Discovery Channel Building". Fox. September 1, 2010. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  123. ^ a b "Suspect in Maryland hostage situation published angry online manifesto". CNN. September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  124. ^ Morse, Dan (September 3, 2010). "James J. Lee's hostage standoff at Discovery was grueling time for officials". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  125. ^ a b Robbins, Liz; Stelter, Brian (September 1, 2010). "Gunman Takes Hostage in Maryland". The New York Times. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  126. ^ Morse, Dan (September 1, 2010). "Environmental militant slain at Silver Spring building after taking hostages". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  127. ^ Robbins, Liz; Stelter, Brian (September 1, 2010). "Maryland Hostages Safe as Police Kill Gunman". The New York Times. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  128. ^ "New Strategies for Countering Homegrown Violent Extremism: Preventive Community Policing" (PDF). November 13, 2013. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  129. ^ Theresa Vargas (September 1, 2010). "James J. Lee is suspect in Discovery hostage case, officials say". The Washington Post.
  130. ^ Mark Potok (September 1, 2010). "Apparent Eco-Terrorist Holding Hostages at TV Building". Hatewatch (blog), Southern Poverty Law Center.
  131. ^ Leonard, Andrew (September 1, 2010). "How Malthus drove the Discovery Channel gunman crazy". Salon. p. 1. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  132. ^ "Police kill Discovery building gunman". NBC News. January 9, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  133. ^ Paul Farhi (September 1, 2010). "Twitter breaks story on Discovery Channel gunman". The Washington Post.
[edit]
  • Official website (archived November 26, 2018)
    • Historical business data for Discovery Communications:
    • SEC filings