New Home of the Olympic Games
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A Quarterly Publication of Discovery Communications Volume 10, Number 2, August 2015 NEW HOME OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN EUROPE 03 05 10 SHARK WEEK Returns Q&A with Eurosport CEO Peter Hutton Discovery Impact A MESSAGE FROM 2015 SHARK WEEK BRINGS DAVID ZASLAV HIGHEST-EVER RATINGS Television’s longest running and most anticipated summer event, SHARK WEEK, returned to Discovery Channel on Sunday, July 5, and The Most Wonderful Week of the Year was bigger and better than ever before. Airing Discovery’s strong start to the year This comprehensive renewal ensures a total of 19 hours of primetime shark programming – the most in its 28-year continued in the second quarter as we carriage of our U.S. network portfolio history – SHARK WEEK 2015 was the highest-rated SHARK WEEK to date saw steady growth across our global across all Xfinity platforms, including TV among P25-54 in Prime as well as key women demos, W25-54 and W18-49. portfolio of brands and businesses. Everywhere rights, for years to come. Discovery Channel ranked as the #1 cable network for the week, and coupled Propelled from a strong second quarter It demonstrates that distributors and with the strong debut of NAKED AND AFRAID XL on July 12, earned its most- into a momentous start to the third audiences continue to place great value watched week in history among P25-54. quarter, I am more confident than ever in on our content and brands. Discovery’s future. Discovery’s long-standing commitment In June we signed a historic deal with and track record of developing globally the IOC for the European TV and appealing, world-class content and IP and multiplatform media rights to broadcast maximizing its value across platforms DISCOVERY AND COMCAST RENEW four Olympic Games from 2018 to 2024. continues to guide us well as we navigate LONG-TERM DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT With Eurosport already dedicating 40% a dynamic and ever-changing global media landscape. of its programming schedule to Olympic WITH MULTIPLATFORM RIGHTS sports, the Olympic Games will be a Long-term, our ability to grow and In July, Discovery and Comcast announced the renewal of a long-term, foundation for our company across the succeed will rest on the continued affinity comprehensive distribution agreement that will continue to deliver continent for the next decade, allowing us Discovery’s long-standing viewers and advertisers around the Discovery’s world-class content to Comcast’s Xfinity TV customers to bolster Eurosport’s growth prospects world have for our content, our global across the United States. The agreement encompasses 12 Discovery commitment and track while delivering the Olympic Games ownership of that content, and the strong U.S. networks and includes TV Everywhere rights, ensuring “ in Europe to more viewers on more record of developing globally economics we derive from our partners. Xfinity TV customers have access to their favorite Discovery brands platforms than ever before. and programs on multiple platforms, both in and out of the home. appealing, world-class content Based on our 30-year track record of and IP and maximizing its In July we announced our intention to success, the transformative partnerships acquire 100% control of Eurosport. We we’ve signed in just the past month alone, value across platforms began our investment with a 20% stake and our continued global growth horizon, continues to guide us well in Eurosport in 2012 and increased that I believe Discovery is well positioned on DISCOVERY TAKES FULL as we navigate a dynamic investment to 51% more than a year ago. all fronts. Moving into a full ownership position CONTROL OF EUROSPORT and ever-changing global allows us to further strengthen the brand media landscape. by buying local and pan-regional sports Discovery announced in July an agreement to acquire full ownership of rights, such as the Olympic Games, and to Eurosport, the leading sports channels group across Europe and Asia, fully realize the potential of this fantastic for €491 million. The company began its investment with a 20% stake in Eurosport in 2012 and increased that investment to 51% more than a year “ asset across Europe and Asia. ago. Taking full control of Eurosport is the culmination of the company’s The third transaction, also completed commitment to strengthening Eurosport as a premier sports brand and fully in July, is a strong, long-term integrating the business within Discovery’s unmatched global portfolio. distribution agreement with Comcast. David Zaslav is President and Chief Executive Officer DISCOVERY NAMED TO FORTUNE 500 LIST TWO YEARS RUNNING of Discovery Communications and serves on the Discovery Communications has been named to the prestigious company’s Board of Directors. Fortune 500 list for the second consecutive year, this year appearing at #430 - up 30 spots from its debut ranking at #460 in 2014. 2 A Quarterly Publication of Discovery Communications | AUGUST 2015 3 DISCOVERY, EUROSPORT INK UNPRECEDENTED OLYMPIC GAMES AGREEMENT FOR EUROPEAN MULTIPLATFORM RIGHTS 5 QUESTIONS OLYMPIC GAMES TO REACH MORE VIEWERS ACROSS MORE SCREENS THAN EVER BEFORE WITH PETER HUTTON & CEO, EUROSPORT The world’s biggest sporting event has joined the Discovery Family. Q A Following a successful bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Peter Hutton was appointed chief executive officer of Eurosport in January, overseeing the negotiation of sports rights Discovery and Eurosport have been awarded all TV and multiplatform as well as content strategy and local infrastructure and teams for the business. A sports industry veteran with more than rights in Europe for the Olympic Games from 2018 to 2024 including the 30 years of experience, Hutton has brought a renewed focus to programming, production, promotion and platforms for XXIII Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang in 2018, the Games of the the business and was instrumental in Discovery and Eurosport’s recent acquisition of all rights to the Olympic Games. XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo in 2020, the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022, and 2024, the host city of which is still to be determined. Discovery entered the sports arena just over a year ago with the acquisition of a 1 Tell us a little bit about the Olympics deal. controlling interest in Eurosport, the leading sports channels group across Europe Discovery and Eurosport are the new home of the Olympics in Europe! The European TV and multiplatform broadcast rights agreement covers the and Asia, and is now positioned to step into a leadership role in the global sports Summer and Winter Olympic Games from 2018 to 2024. It also gives us the opportunity to use the Olympic archive beginning in 2016 and to take business. With an average of 10 channels per country and the #1 European online advantage of Eurosport’s # 1 online sports destination – Eurosport.com – and leading OTT service - the Eurosport Player - to work closely with the IOC Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav joins IOC and OTT sports platform, Discovery and Eurosport will deliver the Olympic Games on the rollout of the Olympic Channel. President Thomas Bach at the official signing ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland. across more screens and to more viewers than ever before. The response to the successful bid has been fantastic. The whole industry is talking about the deal and clearly understands its strategic benefits The exclusive TV and multiplatform agreement, valued at $1.4 billion, diversifies and Now we have the task of delivering a really excellent product that will be in keeping with both our and the Olympic Committee’s high standards. expands Discovery’s continued strategy to invest in content and IP and will bring Olympic Games coverage to 700 million European viewers across all platforms, 2 Why did Discovery decide to pursue the Olympics? including free-to-air television, subscription/pay-TV television, internet and mobile Discovery and the IOC have a shared vision, and Discovery’s 30-year history of being the global leader in non-fiction content makes the company phone in local languages across 50 countries and territories. Consistent with IOC uniquely positioned to capture and deliver the remarkable stories and characters associated with the Games not just every two years, but every year and local market requirements, Discovery will broadcast a minimum of 200 hours and throughout the year. With Eurosport’s proud and long-standing tradition of broadcasting many winter and summer sports showcased during the of the Olympic Games and 100 hours of the Olympic Winter Games on free-to-air Olympics, adding the Olympic Games, the greatest live event in the world, is a perfect editorial and strategic fit. television during the Games period. Our investment also will go back into the sports industry. The IOC redistributes more than 90% of its income to the wider sporting movement, which As part of the agreement, Discovery and Eurosport also will partner with the IOC to means that every day the equivalent of $3.25 million goes to help athletes and sports organizations at all levels around the world. That contribution develop and roll out the new Olympic Channel across Europe. This channel, coupled helps all of the federations that we work with every day. with Eurosport’s already ample coverage of Olympic sports and newly granted access to Olympic archival footage, will help to extend the stories of the Games and How can Discovery leverage Eurosport to maximize Olympic coverage across Europe? Discovery and IOC executives at the official signing ceremony. offer European viewers a chance to engage in Olympic coverage throughout the year. 3 We are going to make sure that more live content is available across multiple platforms during the events. Eurosport television channels, Eurosport The partnership pairs a global, mission-driven company rooted in storytelling with the greatest live event in the world.