Paxton Exits Discovery Europe

LONDON, January 23: Discovery Networks International (DNI)
has separated its European business into two separate divisions, U.K. and EMEA,
reporting directly to Dawn McCall, the president of DNI. Robin Paxton, the MD
of Discovery Networks Europe, is exiting as part of the restructure.

The two operations were previously run as a single region
based in London reporting to Paxton, who in turn reported to McCall. Beginning
in February, Dan Brooke, the general manager for the U.K., and Arthur Bastings,
GM for EMEA, will each report directly to McCall. The new structure completes a
long-term strategic plan to evolve the European business. Both the U.K. and
EMEA regions will continue to be based in London.

DNI's EMEA business has seen the launch of eight channel
brands since 2005 and a 72 percent increase in subscription units from mid-2004
through mid-year 2006. The business accounts for 137 million subscription units
across 12 channel brands. The U.K. business continues to be DNI's largest
single market, accounting for 86.5 million subscription units among 11 channel
brands.

"It has long been a goal of Discovery Networks to grow
the U.K. and EMEA businesses into the successful businesses they are today with
their own fully functioning management teams,” McCall said. “The size and
distinct nature of the markets warrants that they be managed as separate
business organizations with direct access to Discovery Communications'
extensive resources.”