• Discovery tells the inside story of 'Argo'

    Submitted by ITV Production on Mar 25, 2013
    Indiantelevision.com

    MUMBAI: Discovery will air a special showing the true story that inspired the Oscar winning film ?Argo?.

    The special ?Argo: Inside Story? airs on 31 March at 8 pm.

    The Oscar winning film had chronicled the Central Intelligent Agency?s (CIA) attempt to rescue six Americans during the 1978 Iran hostage crisis. The film, which won the Best Picture Award, is based on real-life events.

    Discovery?s special gains access to the top players involved in the crisis to hear their side of the story, including the CIA?s "chief of disguise", Tony Mendez, who was called upon to devise the rescue plan. The one-hour special narrated by actor Bray Poor, gives an inside look at the dramatic escape and how Mendez forged identity documents and elaborate disguises to get past the security agents at the Tehran airport.

    The CIA had to come up with a convincing reason for the six people being in Tehran in the first place, and devise a way for them to leave without arousing suspicion. The operation became an elaborate scheme involving fake identification cards, a phantom movie production and unprecedented cooperation between the United States and Canada.

    Mendez, who had limited access to materials once inside Iran, recalls how he forged official documents in the office of the Canadian Ambassador. "One of the stamp pads had dried out and I had to mix the right ink color," Mendez recalls in the special. "So I went over to the Canadian Ambassador?s liquor cabinet and got a bottle of Scotch and poured some on [the pad]."

    The special reveals how the Americans prepared for their departure, the true story about the agency?s involvement and their reasons for keeping it secret for nearly two decades.

  • Discovery hires Laslie Grandy to look at its Digital Media arm

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications has named Leslie Grandy as Senior Vice President of Product & Development within

  • Animal Planet US launches shows for the Internet

    MUMBAI: Infotainment broadcaster Animal Planet in the US is tackling the Internet in a big way.

  • Discovery president, CEO David Zaslav to deliver keynote at MipTV

    Submitted by ITV Production on Feb 22, 2013
    Indiantelevision.com

    MUMBAI: Television trade event MipTV has announced that Discovery president, CEO David Zaslav will present a keynote address on 9 April, as part of MipTV?s Media Mastermind keynotes series. Organised by Reed Midem, MipTV will take place in Cannes from 8-11 April, 2013.

    Zaslav sets the strategy and oversees all operations of the non-fiction media company that reaches more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in nearly 220 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to igniting curiosity and delivering the thrill of discovery through more than 150 worldwide television networks and a leading portfolio of digital media properties that attract approximately 25 million unique visitors per month.

    At MipTV, Zaslav will discuss the global content environment, recent international M&A activity and his strategy for continued growth at the world?s largest pay-TV programmer.

    Prior to Discovery, Zaslav had a career at NBC Universal. In 2007, he received a Trustees Award for Lifetime Achievement from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Natas).

    Under Zaslav?s leadership, in September 2008 Discovery began trading as a public company on the Nasdaq stock exchange and has since delivered average double-digit profit growth over the past five years.

  • Discovery refreshes 9 pm content lineup

    Submitted by ITV Production on Feb 16, 2013
    Indiantelevision.com

    MUMBAI: Discovery Channel, a leading factual entertainment network, has refreshed the content lineup of its 9 pm prime time show with the launch of a new series during this time band.

    Ultimate Discovery will during this time band launch series like The Magic of Science, Wild Asia, History Of The World, Grand Design: Stephen Hawking, and Bear Grylls.

    The Magic of Science captures rising stars from the world of magic; Wildlife series Wild Asia gives the viewer chance to see one of the most beautiful and varied regions of the world; History Of The World lets onto a journey to unravel the mystery about our evolution; Grand Design: Stephen Hawking will introduce the viewers to the intriguing aspects and mysteries of our universe; and in the three special episodes, Bear Grylls shows how to survive in some of the new inhospitable and hostile surroundings.

    Airing every night at 9 pm, Ultimate Discovery has successfully brought for its viewers the world of Science, Exploration, History, Adventure and Wildlife since its launch in 2008.

    Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific SVP and GM - South Asia Rahul Johri said, ?Ultimate Discovery is our firm commitment to viewers to present the best of Discovery Channel at their preferred hour, every day of the week."

  • Discovery's international networks pump up revenues in 2012

    Submitted by ITV Production on Feb 16, 2013
    Indiantelevision.com

    MUMBAI: Discovery has announced that revenues for 2012 was $4.4 billion increased $319 million, or eight per cent, over 2011 revenues, primarily driven by 13 per cent growth at International Networks and 5 per cent growth at U.S. Networks.

    Adjusted OIBDA grew 9 per cent to $2,095 million, driven by an 8 per cent increase at U.S. Networks and a 12 per cent increase at International Networks. Excluding foreign currency fluctuations, full year revenues increased 9 per cent and Adjusted OIBDA increased 12 per cent.

    But net income for the year from continuing operations available to Discovery stockholders was $954 million, decreasing by $181 million compared to $1.1 billion a year ago as the strong operating performance in the current year was more than offset by the prior year inclusion of a $102 million, net of tax, gain from the contribution of the Discovery Health network to the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Own) joint venture as well as the recognition of foreign tax credits a year ago.

    Current year results also included increased mark-to-market equity-based compensation, higher interest expense and lower equity earnings as the Company began recording 100 per cent of OWN?s net losses in 2012.

    Free cash flow was $1 billion for the year, a decrease of $20 million from 2011, as better operating performance was more than offset by higher content investment, cash taxes and interest.

    Discovery president, CEO David Zaslav said, ?Discovery?s commitment to investing in our brands and developing new and diverse growth opportunities produced another year of strong operating momentum and financial results in 2012. The appeal of our content resulted in larger audiences across the globe, enabling us to deliver consistently healthy advertising growth both domestically and internationally, while we further leveraged our valuable programming across emerging distribution platforms worldwide.

    "At the same time, the strength of our balance sheet allowed us to make several strategic investments that we believe further bolster our asset portfolio, while also returning over $1.3 billion to shareholders this year. We head into 2013 with significant momentum, having just delivered the highest fourth quarter domestic viewership in our history, and will continue to invest in strategic growth initiatives so that we can deliver sustained long-term financial results and shareholder value.?

    Fourth quarter revenues were $1.2 billion increased $94 million, or eight per cent, over the fourth quarter a year ago, led by 15 per cent growth at International Networks and four per cent growth at US Networks. Adjusted Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (OIBDA) grew by nine per cent to $545 million, as a 17 per cent increase at International Networks, despite the adverse impact of foreign currency fluctuations, and a 7 per cent increase at US Networks, more than offset strategic transaction related costs recognised in the quarter. Excluding foreign currency fluctuations, fourth quarter revenues increased 9 per cent and Adjusted OIBDA increased 11 per cent.

    Fourth quarter net income from continuing operations available to Discovery stockholders of $224 million decreased by $112 million compared to $336 million for the fourth quarter a year ago as the strong operating performance and improved equity earnings in the current year were more than offset primarily by higher taxes and increased mark-to-market equity-based compensation. The higher taxes were largely due to foreign tax credits recognized a year ago as well as an increase in tax reserves in the fourth quarter of 2012.

    Free cash flow was $304 million for the fourth quarter, a decrease of $20 million from the fourth quarter of 2011, as improved operating performance was more than offset by higher content investment, interest and cash taxes. Free cash flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities less acquisitions of property and equipment.

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