Gibbons Tapped to Head Discovery Japan

SINGAPORE, June 27: Discovery Networks Asia has named James
Gibbons as general manager of Discovery and Animal Planet Japan, effective July
16.

Gibbons will be based in Tokyo and will report directly to
the board of directors for Discovery and Animal Planet Japan. He will be
responsible for the strategic direction and management of Discovery’s business
initiatives and future development in the Japanese market, as well as the
general operations of the Tokyo office.

Discovery Japan was established in August 1997 as a joint
venture between Discovery Networks Asia and Jupiter TV Co. Discovery Channel
now reaches 5.8 million households in Japan and is distributed through cable TV
and Sky PerfecTV!. Animal Planet Japan, which was established on in December
2000 also as a joint venture company, now reaches more than 3.9 million homes.
Discovery HD launched in December 2005 on the J:COM TV Digital platform in
Japan, reaching one million homes.

Gibbons was previously the senior VP of programming and
creative services for Discovery Networks Asia, based out of the company’s
Singapore headquarters. Before joining Discovery, Gibbons was the head of news
for Malaysian terrestrial ntv7.

With Gibbons’ move to Tokyo, Vikram Channa in the Singapore
office takes over as VP of content, reporting to Tom Keaveny, the executive VP
and managing director of Discovery Networks Asia.