MUMBAI: Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific senior vice president & general manager ?South Asia Rahul Johri was conferred the "CEO of the Year" award at the Broadcasting Industry Awards organised by the World Brand Congress.

With over 19 years of experience in the industry, Rahul has worked across media verticals, from news channels, magazines and news dailies.

The award was given in recognition of Johri?s impactful strategy in establishing Discovery as the leading non-fiction media company in the country and his inspiring leadership to build a robust and varied portfolio of eight unique channels, led by the leading factual entertainment brand - the Discovery Channel.

Johri has been responsible for the company?s expansion and growth including its localisation strategy and launch of multiple language feeds across brands. His venture to launch the game changing channel in the kids genre, Discovery Kids, has received industry wide applaud. His recent initiative is Discovery?s association with India Today Group to launch Discovery Channel Magazine in India.

Johri said, "It is an honour for the entire company. I am grateful to my team, our esteemed partners and stakeholders in the region who have shared the spirit of commitment in making Discovery as one of the most respected television brands in South Asia.?

The jury said, ?The distinction compliments Rahul Johri?s innovative thinking and creative leadership which has translated into business excellence.?

Johri joined Discovery in 2001 and currently leads its South Asia operations. He is responsible for the overall growth strategy of India?s highest quality factual and lifestyle portfolio including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Discovery HD World, Discovery Tamil and Discovery Kids.

Rahul is also credited with commissioning a range of acclaimed series including Living with a Superstar: Shah Rukh Khan, What Not to Wear: India, Oh My Gold!, and Be Blunt with Adhuna Akhtar. He also spearheaded Discovery Channel?s association with Yash Raj Films for the latest release Jab Tak Hai Jaan and with the Indian Army for its women officers? expedition to Mount Everest in 2012.

Johri is a Board Member and Treasurer of Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF). He is also a member of the media and entertainment committee of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and member of the Media & Entertainment Division of Ficci

MUMBAI: Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific has partnered with India Today Group to launch the Discovery Channel Magazine in India.

Mirroring the different genres featured on the Discovery Channel, the Discovery Channel Magazine will cover a wide spectrum of topics including nature, adventure, marvels, sci-tech, history, the universe, forensics, seekers, survival, info-tech, psychology and the environment.

To be published monthly, Discovery Channel Magazine will have a contemporary design and feel and will stay true to the DNA of the Discovery brand. The editorial will deliver a compelling read, with strong injections of humour and emotion.

Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific SVP and GM - South Asia Rahul Johri said, "Discovery Channel Magazine will provide additional touch points for our viewers and will serve as an extension of Discovery Channel?s ability to satisfy their curiosity on a broad range of subjects. We are delighted to launch the magazine in partnership with the India Today Group - one of India?s leading and most respected media companies.?

India Today Groups CEO Ashish Bagga commented, ?India?s growth and the exposure of the average Indian to the world have created a market for globally acclaimed quality knowledge products. Discovery Channel Magazine with its high quality content will fill the void in this space in the Indian market. We are excited to launch this magazine and feel strongly that this will add to the vast portfolio of diversified, market leading products of the India Today Group and will add to the depth of our relationship with our customers.?

Discovery Channel Magazine is currently sold in Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand at newsstands, and is also available for subscription sales in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Discovery Channel Magazine recently won the Award for Excellence in Magazine Design, at the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) 2012 Awards for Editorial Excellence.

MUMBAI: Factual entertainment channel Discovery Channel launches tonight a new show ?The Magic Of Science?.

This is a new series featuring illusions performed by an ensemble of fresh, innovative magicians in front of live spectators. The twist - each feat is backed by real science, with an explanation and breakdown to prove it.

The nine-part series is a part of Discovery?s block ?Ultimate Discovery? and starts tonight 11 February at 9 pm. Episodes begin with impromptu tricks captured by hidden cameras and culminate in full-scale, elaborate stunts in a melding of magic and science. The result is a blending of theatrical exhibition and empirical principles, bolstered by the before and after reactions of the audience.

The show looks to elevate the purely entertaining aspect of magic to new heights by proposing seemingly impossible endeavours, executing them flawlessly, and ultimately disclosing the scientific reality as the featured magicians, Canadian female, Billy Kidd, American Wayne Houchin, Briton Ben Hanlin and Australian James Galea explore the physics, chemistry, biology and a little pure Einstein that make illusions possible. The magicians are filmed in New York, London, and Warsaw with the help of both hidden and open cameras for the largest possible impact.

From a new scientific lie detector test, a silver bracelet that transforms into gold, to mind-reading metal and burning ice cubes, the magicians transform sceptical viewers into astonished believers by doing the opposite of what they usually do: showing us how the tricks are done. The talented troop of magicians, each armed with their unique style of delivery, challenges onlookers with inconceivable claims and seamless execution, all through the very real magic of science. Live audiences and home viewers alike will be stunned by the tricks themselves as well as their real world applications.

MUMBAI: Discovery HD World will air the docudrama ?Lincoln?s Last Night? on 2 February at 8 pm. The programme will repeat on 10 February at 3 pm and on 12 February at 6 pm.

The special aims to paint a lifelike portrait of the American leader?s life, having been filmed in locations across the US and featuring a cast of more than 80 historical actors; it is an account of how one gunshot changed the country forever.

The one-hour docudrama tells the story of Lincoln and the dramatic account of the last few hours of his life graphically documenting the events that led up to his shocking assassination on the night of 14 April, 1865.

The special begins by tracing Lincoln?s career from the early years to his successful ascent into America?s politics. It is a story of a young boy from the prairie who fought his way all the way to the top to become the 16th President of the US, and who, at the peak of his power, was killed by John Wilkes Booth - a popular American stage actor - while attending a theatre performance.