MUMBAI: Infotainment broadcaster Discovery has reported financial results for the first quarter ended 31 March 2013 which got a boost by the international networks. Revenues increased by seven per cent to $1.1 billion

Adjusted OIBDA decreased to $498 million (up eight per cent excluding licensing agreements and foreign currency). Net income increased by four per cent to $231 million

Discovery president and CEO David Zaslav said, "The significant operating momentum Discovery generated throughout 2012 continued unabated in the first quarter with more and more audiences around the globe viewing our unique programming.

"The sustained investment we have made in developing compelling content, along with the quality of our brands, translated into further market share gains, with record first quarter viewership at our domestic networks and 16 per cent audience growth across our international portfolio. As we continue to invest in the organic growth opportunities our diverse distribution platform provides, we have also completed several strategic acquisitions which we expect will further broaden our asset mix around the world and bolster our long-term growth prospects. 2013 is off to a great start and with continued focus on strong operating execution, we anticipate building on the financial success we have achieved over the last several years while delivering significant shareholder value."

First quarter revenues of $1.1 billion were up by $71 million, or seven per cent, compared to the first quarter a year ago, led by 17 per cent growth at International Networks and one per cent growth at US Networks which included the impact of additional licensing revenues in the prior year. OIBDA declined by two per cent to $498 million, as an eight per cent increase at International Networks was offset by a decrease of five per cent at US Networks due to the additional licensing revenue in last year?s quarter. Excluding the impact of licensing agreements and foreign currency, total company revenues increased by 12 per cent and adjusted OIBDA increased by eight per cent.

First quarter net income of $231 million increased by $10 million compared to $221 million for the first quarter a year ago, primarily due to the underlying operating performance in the current year?s quarter as well as a $92 million gain associated with the consolidation of Discovery Japan and $46 million of improved equity earnings, partially offset by higher taxes, increased mark-to-market equity-based compensation and $59 million of losses from hedging activities primarily associated with the acquisition of the SBS Nordic operations.

Free cash flow was $105 million for the first quarter, a decrease of $122 million from the first quarter of 2012, due to higher content investment as well as increased tax and long-term incentive compensation payments.

MUMBAI: A+E Networks|TV18 has elevated Sudheer K G to the post of vice president and head programming of its factual entertainment channel History TV18 with immediate effect. Till now he was vice president - programming for History TV18.

In his new role, Sudheer will oversee and drive the programming strategy for the channel and will endeavour to create a superlative advantage for History TV18 in the competitive factual genre television space.

He will report in to A+E Networks|TV18 programming head Ritu Kapur.

A+E Networks|TV18 president Ajay Chacko said, "With a career spanning over 15 years, Sudheer, with his vast experience in programming, scheduling, acquisitions and production has taken History TV18 to new heights. He is key role to the channel delivering the best viewing experience to its audiences."

Kapur added, "Sudheer has demonstrated immense skill and ability to constantly gauge shifting and fragmented audience tastes to create a programming lineup that is both attractive and appealing to our target audience. I am positive of his growth trajectory going forward. His keen and astute sense of the programming domain makes him a valuable asset to the team."

 Sudheer said, "I?ve had a great journey so far with exciting milestones and the opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the industry. Today?s constantly evolving media universe and consumption habits are going to be quite challenging and interesting. I am eagerly looking forward to my new role and responsibilities."

During his earlier tenure at Discovery Networks India Sudheer was instrumental in the programming and language initiatives of Discovery, Animal Planet and TLC.

MUMBAI: Factual entertainment network, Discovery Channel will launch ?Frozen Planet?, a series that will take viewers through the Earth?s polar regions. The show is a co-production between Discovery and UK pubcaster The BBC.

The series will air every Monday to Friday at 8 pm from 6 May. Narrated by naturalist Sir David Attenborough and featuring wildlife cinematography, the show has taken new technology to the most extreme and remote parts of the planet, capturing imagery above and below the ice.

Discovery South Asia senior VP and GM Rahul Johri said, "Frozen Planet is one of those captivating series which will showcase the splendour of the most intriguing and extreme places on our planet - the polar region. Viewers will be inspired by the breathtaking landscapes and will realise the efforts that go behind capturing such amazing moments."

The show will take viewers through polar landscapes, which most humans will never get to experience. This series brings to the screen the frozen habitat of the polar region for what could be the last time before global warming changes them forever.

The series will take viewers on a ride from deep under the frozen seas to a world of erupting polar volcanoes. It will travel to the South Pole across the Antarctic icecap - the largest concentration of ice on our planet. The programme retraces the steps of how life evolved under trying circumstances and is surviving against all odds.The show is sponsored by amul, samsung, nerolac and pulsar.

MUMBAI: Infotainment broadcaster Discovery Networks Asia Pacific president, MD Tom Keaveny will be moving to London.

He will be Discovery Networks International (DNI) president of international affiliate sales. This is a newly created role.

Keaveney?s new role is effective from 1 September. The infotainment broadcaster has begun its search for Keaveny?s successor in the Asia Pacific region.
 
Keaveny?s new role will combine being Discovery joint sales organization CEO, which manages affiliate sales efforts for DNI in Western Europe, the Nordics, Ceemea and the Eurosport business. He will also head global affiliate sales strategy.

MUMBAI: It was shortly after midnight on 2 May 2011 when the search for the world?s most hunted felon finally came to an end.

Now on 28 April at 8 pm infotainment broadcaster Discovery Channel will air the special ?Osama Bin Laden: The Finish?. This is the inside story of one of the biggest and most arduous manhunts in history.

It is based on author Mark Bowden?s research book ?The Finish: The Killing of Osama Bin Laden?- that features an exclusive interview with US President Barack Obama, rare access to the White House and first-hand reporting. The special provides an account of the step-by-step developments that led to finally tracking down the world?s most wanted man.

After masterminding the terrorist attacks against the US on 11 September 2001, Osama bin Laden vanished. Over the course of the next decade, America discovered that its war with al-Qaeda - a scattered group of individuals who were almost impossible to track - required a more innovative approach. The special begins by looking at the tragic 2009 suicide bombing by a Jordanian triple agent which killed 10 people, including Jennifer Matthews, a mother of three and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative leading the hunt for Osama. Through access to military and agency sources, the special takes viewers on the ground where the action unfolded and inside the rooms where high-level decisions were made.

The special has been filmed on location in Jordan, Afghanistan and Pakistan and gives viewers a look at the top-secret strategies employed to complete the mission and President Obama?s campaign promise - to get Osama Bin Laden. The special also sheds light on how intelligence agencies utilise special operations to gather information to find al-Qaeda and Taliban targets.

MUMBAI: Discovery Communications has completed the acquisition of the SBS Nordic operations of ProSiebenSat.1 Group, originally announced in December 2012. Discovery has purchased SBS Nordic for a total enterprise value of approximately $1.7 billion.

The acquisition adds 12 television networks, as well as leading radio stations and several digital brands, to Discovery?s existing portfolio of eight brands in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, to form a combined regional business to be known as SBS Discovery Media.

"The formation of SBS Discovery Media solidifies Discovery?s long-term growth in some of the most well-penetrated and stable TV markets in the world, while also expanding Discovery?s brand portfolio by adding scripted entertainment programming to the company?s suite of genres," said Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav.

"This acquisition, along with the recent announcement of Discovery?s equity stake in Eurosport, is a continuation of a 25-year strategy of investing internationally to build the most extensive global footprint in media and extending our presence in key markets to support long-term growth and diversify the company?s offerings."

Along with the closing of the transaction, Discovery also announced the appointment of Henrik Ravn as President and Managing Director of the newly combined SBS Discovery Media business, which includes both Discovery?s and SBS?s networks and operations in the Nordic region. Ravn has led the SBS Nordic business since 2009.

Ravn joined SBS in November 2003 as CEO of the TV business in Denmark, and has served as CEO of SBS Nordic since 2009. His prior experience includes senior television marketing, programming and management roles with Viasat/MTG, TV2 in Denmark and Yousee. He was previously head of programming for TV 3 in Denmark, where he led the launch of Channel 3+, the first large niche network in the country.

Filling out the SBS Discovery Media senior management team will be Christian Kemp as CEO Denmark, Jonas Sjogren as CEO Sweden/Finland, Harald Stromme as CEO Norway, Hans van Rijn as Business Development Director, Eivind Landsverk as Programming & Content Director and Quinton Holland as CFO.

Also on the senior team is Jan Andreassen , the leader of Discovery?s Nordic business, who will serve as a key member of the integration team, working closely with Ravn and the rest of senior management to counsel on operational and strategic issues for the combined entity. Finally, Darren Campbell from Discovery will serve as Vice President of Human Resources.