Upfront News and Views: Discovery Downsizes Its Presentation But Still Makes an Impact

Presentation It didn39t take long for Discovery Communications39 Chief Executive Officer David Zaslav and associates to hit their talking points In summary Most of what gets generated from the company39s 2 billion programming budget this year will get a worldwide audience therefore becoming more valuable to advertisers quotWe really are a purposedriven companyquot Zaslav stated quotOur big focus is on worldwide content We want to maximize linear TV while challenging digital TVquot One way or another material from Discovery39s 14 basicdigital basic US channels will play in more than 200 countries via Discoverymanaged networks fueling a 20 percent increase in international revenues Even Eurosport the pancontinent network Discovery acquired last year not carried in the US received valuable presentation time From there upcoming content was highlighted networkbynetwork after which Zaslav new Discovery Channel President Rich Ross TLCAnimal Planet President Marjorie Kaplan and other executives conducted a questionandanswer session Grade 35 JacksNews Going in expectations were for Discovery Channel to become A more culturedriven and familyfriendly and less reliant on stunts in new programming and B set at least one scripted series in motion Ross didn39t disappoint on either count In the A category amp8220Lunar XPRIZEamp8221 covering Google39s international competition to land a robot on the moon next year including live transmission from the moon amp8220Pacific Warriorsamp8221 Hawaii residents who fish by kayak and amp8220Racing Extinctionamp8221 endangered species documentary special from the makers of amp8220The Coveamp8221 and Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen Moving on to the B category Discovery will dive into scripted seas with amp8220HarleyDavidsonamp8221 about the formation of the worldwide motorcycle maker from Gold Rush39s production companyStaying with scripted Investigation Discovery will offer its first miniseries this summer Threepart amp8220Serial Thrilleramp8221 by October Films about the crimes of a notorious serial killer Also on ID39s docket Barbara Walters39 TV return with amp8220American Scandalamp8221 on the order of Jean Harris Jim Bakker and other subjects Walters covered at ABC and amp8220Death By Gossipamp8221 hosted by Wendy Williams Other attractions from Discovery channels include the intriguing off the bat include amp8220SaveMyStyleamp8221 TLC amp8220Sheriff of Cross Riveramp8221 and amp8220Restoration Wildamp8221 Animal Planet amp8220Secret Space Disastersamp8221 Science Channel amp8220An Hour to Save Your Lifeamp8221 Discovery Life Channel and amp8220American Empireamp8221 American Heroes ChannelAbsent from the rundown Oprah Winfrey Network which disclosed its news a week earlier at an advertiseronly dinner and Discovery39s Spanishlanguage services En EspanolFamilia which may do their own event in midMay Grade 45 JacksHost Engaging turn by Zaslav who always comes over at ease in front of a crowd Ditto Ross Kaplan and company who unlike previous years didn39t have celebrities from their channels on hand to assist Grade 35 JacksOverall Grade 4 Jacks The extravagant stage antics may be gone for now but the presentation and news value was on solid ground Special kudos to Discovery39s video clip producers who year after year deliver among the best vignettes of any Upfront event Two standouts here The opening quotMoment of Pure Discoveryquot in honor of the flagship channel39s 30th anniversary this summer and Discovery ad sales chief Joe Abruzzese39s amusing homage to the JeanClaude Van Damme quotOnly Timequot messageNext up CMT with its first showcase as part of Viacom39s Kids ampamp Family network group5 Jacks amp8211 Excellent4 Jacks amp8211 Very Good3 Jacks amp8211 Good2 Jacks amp8211 Fair1 Jack amp8211 Poor0 Jacks amp8211 Worse than badUntil the next time stay well and stay tunedThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaBizBloggerscom management or associated bloggers MediaBizBloggers is an open thought leadership platform and readers may share their comments and opinions in response to all commentaries

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Upfront News and Views: Discovery Downsizes Its Presentation But Still Makes an Impact

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Upfront News and Views: Discovery Downsizes Its Presentation But Still Makes an Impact

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