NBC’s Zaslav Tapped as Discovery’s President and CEO

SILVER SPRING, November
17: Discovery
Communications has hired NBC executive David Zaslav as its new president and
chief executive.

Zaslav,
the president of NBC Universal Cable, will replace Judith McHale, who will step
down at the beginning of December. John Hendricks, the founder of Discovery,
will serve as interim CEO until Zaslav starts in January.

Zaslav
is the second top executive to announce he is leaving NBC. Randy Falco, NBC
Universal Television Group's president and chief operating officer, was named
head of Time Warner Inc.'s AOL earlier this week.

“We are absolutely
delighted to announce that David Zaslav will become the next president and CEO
of Discovery Communications,” says Hendricks. “I have had the pleasure of
knowing David for over two decades since he first helped me in the early days
of Discovery as a bright, energetic young lawyer who enthusiastically embraced
our brand and worked tirelessly on our key programming and distribution deals.
In the time since, David has amassed an enormous set of management and
financial skills at NBC Universal where he built the distribution base and
operations of an enviable array of cable and new media offerings. In serving
with David on the TiVo Board of Directors, I directly observed David's keen
insights into the future landscape of media. David is always ahead of the
game. He is a passionate,
inspiring leader who is the perfect choice to steward the valuable stable of
Discovery brands and to guide our global company into the digital future.”

“I want to
thank John Hendricks and Discovery's shareholders for the opportunity to lead
this great company,” adds Zaslav. “Simply put: this is a dream job. From right
out of law school in the mid-1980s, I have long admired John's incredible
vision, integrity, and entrepreneurial spirit. I could not be more honored to
join the incredible team at Discovery and work with somebody who I consider
such a tremendous leader and mentor. With so many trusted and dynamic brands,
Discovery has been a trailblazer from its very beginning. I look forward to
building on the company's heritage of creative excellence, and the attributes
for which it has always been known-world-class content, global expansion, and
first-mover advantage into new distribution platforms.”

“It's been a
pleasure working with Bob Wright and Jeff Zucker. There's an amazing team in
place at NBC Universal, so leaving was not an easy decision. I'll always look
back on my time at NBCU with great fondness.”

Zaslav was
named president of NBC Universal Cable and Domestic TV and New Media
Distribution in May 2006. He has directed NBCU's new media strategy, leading
strategic efforts to sell the company's content on all relevant platforms. He
has also been responsible for the strategic development for NBC Universal's
cable portfolio and operations for the company's domestic TV distribution, TV
EST (electronic sell-through) and TV Wireless Distribution. Zaslav has also
overseen domestic distribution of NBC Universal content to all forms of
television throughout the United States and Canada and the strategic
development of NBC Universal's cable portfolio, the company's video-on-demand,
HDTV, and pay-per-view initiatives.