COO Named for Discovery Networks International

SILVER SPRING, September 4: MTV Networks International
executive Sahar Elhabashi is joining Discovery Networks International (DNI) as
COO, reporting to president and CEO Greg Ricca, himself a former MTVNI
executive.

Elhabashi will be based in
London and will manage the day-to-day operations of the company’s international
business, including strategy and business development, digital media, marketing
and programming coordination, program operations, corporate research, licensing
and program sales. DNI distributes 15 media brands to 781 million cumulative
subscribers in more than 170 countries across Europe, Asia, Latin America, the
Middle East and Africa.

“Sahar is a highly talented
executive with extensive international experience building one of the
industry’s top media brands,” said Ricca. “With a proven track record in
strategy and new business development, Sahar will bring fresh vision to the
business and ensure the continued growth and margin expansion of Discovery’s
international networks across all platforms.”

Elhabashi has served as the
executive VP of strategy and digital media at MTVNI since 2001. Under Elhabashi’s
leadership, MTV’s international digital reach expanded to include over 50
mobile video platforms, more than 70 Internet sites including 15 broadband
services, and numerous interactive TV applications to complement the company’s
television networks. Elhabashi also led the team that developed Flux, the
world’s first mobile entertainment community, in Japan in 2005, and helped to
drive negotiations for the purchase of MTV’s largest international acquisition,
Germany’s VIVA Media.