Jane Root to Depart Discovery Communications
By admin - Posted on December 4th, 2007
John Ford Named New President And General Manager Of Discovery Channel
SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 28 -- David M. Zaslav, President and CEO of Discovery Communications, today announced that Jane Root, President and General Manager of Discovery Channel and The Science Channel, is leaving the company to return home to the United Kingdom. Zaslav has appointed John Ford as the new President and General Manager of Discovery Channel.
“I want to thank Jane for her passion, vision and leadership over the past three years. She has been a careful steward of our flagship brand and we are grateful that she is leaving Discovery Channel with such a strong foundation and she has built the relevance of The Science Channel – which I believe has the potential to be our next great global brand,” said Zaslav. "On behalf of the entire Discovery family, we wish Jane all the best in her future endeavors. I am confident her track record of great success will continue unabated!"
"After much consultation with friends and family, I have decided that this is the best time for me to leave Discovery and return to the United Kingdom to pursue other opportunities in the media industry. While I could not be more excited to get back home, the decision is bittersweet. I simply love Discovery and all that the brand and company represent. A big thank you to David Zaslav for his strong leadership, and to the entire Discovery Channel team for their tireless efforts, hard work and amazing creativity in programming one of the great channels of the world."
Under Root’s leadership, Discovery Channel and The Science Channel have earned double digit ratings gains in 2007 by attracting new audiences through brand-focused and innovative series such as DEADLIEST CATCH, MAN VS. WILD, and DIRTY JOBS, and worldwide programming events in EGYPT’S LOST QUEEN and Emmy Award-winning PLANET EARTH. Discovery Channel has achieved records ratings gains across Households and Persons 2+ (18% and 20%) in November versus a year ago and has delivered a Prime Median Age of 37 years old, versus 41 years old a year ago.
“John Ford is one of the best programming and operating executives in the nonfiction space, and having known him for more than a decade---he is the perfect executive to lead Discovery Channel into the future. It was important to Discovery’s long-term success to bring John’s tremendous talent to the company a few months ago and I am confident that his history with Discovery, familiarity with the brand's heritage and ground-breaking creative vision in nonfiction programming will make this great brand bigger and bolder and continue its strong growth trajectory,” Zaslav continued.
Ford rejoined Discovery Communications in September to take the helm of Discovery Times Channel and the Military Channel. Since 2003, Ford had been Executive Vice President, Programming at National Geographic Channel, where he boosted primetime ratings by 150%. Ford developed a strong slate at National Geographic Channel including NAKED SCIENCE, the popular DOG WHISPERER series, as well as specials including IN THE WOMB, INSIDE 9/11 and GALAPAGOS. For the previous 13 years, Ford was at Discovery, where he launched or expanded networks including TLC, Discovery Health Channel and HD Theater. Under his guidance, the networks earned numerous awards, including two Peabody awards and 13 Primetime Emmy nominations.
“I am incredibly honored to build upon Jane's strong track record and lead Discovery Channel into its next chapter of growth and creative excellence. Under David Zaslav’s steady management, this entire company is reaching new heights of success and I intend to make sure Discovery Channel is the pinnacle,” said Ford.
The new leadership for The Science Channel, Discovery Times (soon to be named Investigation Discovery) and Military Channel will be announced in the coming weeks.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications is the number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery's 100-plus worldwide networks are led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, The Science Channel, Discovery Health and HD Theater, with digital media properties including HowStuffWorks.com. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Co. (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
Source: Discovery Communications
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