JB Perrette Talks Discovery’s New Digital Services

Speaking at APOS, JB Perrette, president and CEO of Discovery Networks International, talked about how the company is rolling out digital-first properties as it looks to expand its business worldwide.

Perrette talked about Discovery, Inc.’s commitment to non-scripted content against a backdrop of ever-rising scripted programming costs. “There is a lot of volume in that world. We’re a different type of media company. We’re focused on super-serving strong brands for great vertical communities of passionate fans around adventure, survival, animals, real crime. The Scripps acquisition takes us even further in that respect,” with its portfolio of lifestyle networks.

In the sports space, with Eurosport, “our focus is not necessarily on the super-premium. It’s around passionate verticals of fans of cycling, tennis, winter sports.”

For the next chapter of Discovery’s growth, a key strategy will be developing “more nonlinear products to super-serve fans” with multiplatform content from video to apps.

Perrette cited the Eurosport Player and the Motor Trend streaming service around motoring content, which the company is looking to globalize beginning this year. At APOS today Discovery unveiled plans to launch Discovery Kids as a digital service in the Philippines. “Asia is a critical launch platform,” especially given mobile penetration rates in the region. Those are the key digital projects at present, but the goal is to have five to ten mobile-led digital-first products in the next 12 to 18 months.

“For us it’s about finding these sweet spots of passionate communities of fans, enthusiasts, who we can super-serve.”