Discovery Employee Political Affiliation. Early last spring, Stelter wrote in his newsletter that Malones comments about CNN stoked fears that Discovery might stifle CNN journalists and steer away from calling out indecency and injustice. The popular host's downfall came when documents revealed how heexchanged dozens of text messages with his brother Andrew's top aide, Melissa DeRosa. [20][21], Zaslav became CEO of Discovery Communications in November 16, 2006, succeeding Judith McHale. This reinforces why he was terminated for violating our standards and practices, as well as his lack of candor.'. He is a Guardian US columnist. April 13, 2022 5:00am. His favorite television show (not on the Discovery network) is Saturday Night Live. CNNs new corporate overseer is Warner Brothers Discovery Inc, which now owns what used to be Time Warner, including CNN. Though Zaslav himself did not dispute the context of the comment when Joe Kernen asked for clarification, his true intent was made clear when Zaslav followed up by saying he views sports as being on the . Just when you think that youve negotiated a fair price, and the paperwork for financing has, Read More 20 Things You Didnt Know about TrueCarContinue, The brain plays a vital role in almost all aspects of physiology. [45][16], David Zaslav was awarded the Susan Newhouse & SI Newhouse Award of Hope for his support of the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) in September 2016. Sprecher also gave at least $106,500 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the official campaign arm of Republicans running for Senate seats. Discovery boss will soon oversee CNN as part of deal with WarnerMedia, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 16: President and CEO, Discovery, Inc. David Zaslav speaks onstage during the Discovery, Inc. TCA Winter Panel 2020 at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 16, 2020 in Pasadena, California. , updated Zaslavs comment drew a surprised response from CNBC host Joe Kernan, who wondered aloud if it was a reference to CNNs ideological bent. See Barrs tweets at the bottom of this post. But speculation has been growing over whether Zucker was forced out at CNN over his open-secret affair not because bosses had any real issue with it, but because the scandal of it and his ongoing war with Chris Cuomo could have threatened AT&T's deal with Discovery. They want to fix the shows first, but they dont realize the shows and ratings are connected.. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Journalism first. 'I told him, 'If you have done nothing that you believe was wrong, don't resign,' Cuomo told investigators. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, We're running our business. Discovery and has publicly committed to keeping CNN after the merger. Of the top 10 political donors among S&P 500 CEOs, a majority gave big to GOP groups in the second quarter, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. ", JEFF ZUCKER OUT AT CNN AFTER FAILING TO DISCLOSE CONSENSUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH COLLEAGUE: I WAS WRONG. 'There were no secrets about this, as other individuals besides Mr. Cuomo can attest. All rights reserved. Last week,Discovery reportedit had reached 20 million paying streaming subscribers worldwide by the end of September. Whoops! When you follow the money behind deeply irresponsible decisions at the power centers of America today, the road often leads to rightwing billionaires. Discovery CEO David Zaslav "Is An Imbecile And His Cowardice Is Breathtaking" While a level of sadness and anger in response to a long-awaited release is standard, these particular fans took things to the next level and began blaming the loss of these animated projects to Zaslov . One theory centers around AT&T's deal to sell WarnerMedia - which owns CNN - to Discovery. During his tenure in law school, Zaslav worked as a summer associate at 2 law firms in Los Angeles, California. Per Barr, Zaslav said he is waiting for the deal to close before discussing or simply divulging those types of plans. [37][38][39], Since August 2022, Zaslav received heavy criticism for his decision to heavily shrink down the content library on the streaming service HBO Max, to be used as tax write-offs. 'I would never do oppo research on anybody alleging anything like this,' he told investigators. The anti-democracy movement in America (as elsewhere) is among the biggest issues confronting us today. Anyone who doesnt fall in line could be ousted, according to the report. David Zaslav does not give an answer when asked about Jeff Zucker's future at a combined WarnerMedia and Discovery because the deal hasn't closed yet, Ken Auletta: "What's the future of cable? Discovery CEO David Zaslav embraces the past as he plans his company's future. Shortly after, longtime boss Zucker resigned after he didnt disclose a romantic relationship with another senior executive at the company. (Malone was a chief architect in the merger of Discovery and CNN.). David Zaslav, now 56, has achieved success in both professional and personal levels. Zucker and Allison Gollust had worked together for 20 years. David Zaslav, who led the merger with CNN and Discovery, donated over $240,000. Zaslav is Jewish and describes his family life as normal. David Zaslav, the longtime leader of Discovery, sketched out his vision for the newly formed Warner Bros. He managed to triple revenues, generate 57 per cent profit . [22] Zaslav instigated a shift in strategy by the company, aiming to see itself as a "content company" rather than a "cable company" by bolstering its main networks (such as its namesake Discovery Channel) as multi-platform brands. . joan cusack richard burke. [46] He is chair of the Auschwitz: The Past Is Present Committee which promotes awareness of the Holocaust. The Bionic Lens Could Lead to Better Than 20/20 Vision, How to Apply for a Small Business Loan in New Jersey, The Five Highest Grossing Indian Movies of All-Time, 20 Winnie The Pooh Quotes That Apply to Business, Eight Reasons to go to French Polynesias Marquesas Islands, How Lisa Rinna Achieved a Net Worth of $10 Million, 20 Cities with The Worst Weather in Europe, How Zac Stacy Achieved a Net Worth of $6 Million. David has made over 19 trades of the Discovery Inc stock since 2009, according to the Form 4 filled with the SEC. 'We have this great entertainment menu, which should keep people in the home, from the kids to the grandparents. And then we're the leader in news to the left' said Zaslav, gesturing to his left. According to arecent Axios report, Licht isevaluating whether CNNs staffers can adjustto the new approach. After graduating from high school, David Zaslav went to Cornell University to play tennis. He was born in Rockland County, New York. However, in November last year after news of the impending merger was announced, Malone made it clear that he was not a fan of the direction CNN had gone in under Zucker, who took the helm in 2013. 'Because resigning is you saying that you did something wrong. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery, Inc.). That Saturday was also the worst-rated since 1993, which pre-dated CNNs top competitors Fox News and MSNBC. He worked with Discovery as an attorney. The total accounted loss was nearly $25 billion off the company's market cap. Zaslav got a bit of a break when his firm sent him to work as counsel at the Discovery Channel. Its made up of a collection of all of the films that have been produced in the country of India. We've received your submission. Graphic Policy believes in journalistic integrity and transparency. In comparison, WarnerMedias HBO and HBO Max topped 69 million worldwide customers combined at the conclusion of Q3, according toAT&Ts third-quarter earnings results, which were released late last month. Discussions centered around Andrew Cuomo stepping down prompted the governor to consider doing so in March, Cuomo said. The consequences for both the unemployment rate (which now sits at over 15%) and the states, Read More How to Apply for a Small Business Loan in New JerseyContinue, Indian cinema has come a long way in its evolution. Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison has also been close to the president and was one of the donors advising Trump at the start of the pandemic. They are doing that, and there's still time," Eberhart said. A Discovery spokesperson told the Post that Zaslav didnt finish his thought, adding that he uses the phrase to organize his conversations around Discoverys business. Jeff Zucker is considered to be the person responsible for the CNNs shift away from the nonpartisan outlet it was before his tenure. Plotkin is a political analyst, a contributor to the BBC on American . CEO David Zaslav, who will lead the combined company after Discovery merges with CNN parent WarnerMedia later this year, made the remark in an interview with CNBC on Friday, prompting laughter from host Joe Kernan. So whats motivating Zaslav? He is also the highest paid CEO in the United States. David Zaslav is President and Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros. Discovery executives are treating Zuckersunexpected exit as a fresh startfor CNN, according to the networks own media reporter, Brian Stelter. Did you say to the left? The entertainment giant owns the Warner Bros. film and TV studios, HBO, CNN, TBS, the Food Network . That tells us a very different story than whats come out in the media. Definitely to the left. Why it matters: Ratings are secondary to credibility, in the view of Warner Bros. people whose views might not be in the mainstream. While we dont know his political party identification right now, we can look up Zaslavs donations to candidates and PACs. Zaslav's plan is to focus on making as much money as cheaply as possible. As President and CEO, David Zaslav sets the strategy and oversees all operations for Discovery's global suite of brands across pay-TV, free-to-air, direct-to-consumer and other digital platforms. Where the country was when we launched MSNBC was much more fact-based and less divided.. And when asked about the future of cable, the former protector of the cable bundle acknowledged that the medium is declining, but believes it will still stick around a lot longer than people think.. Discovery, one of the world's largest and most diverse media and entertainment companies with market leadership across all programming genres, including premium scripted television and movies, non-fiction series, international, animation, global sports and news. DISCA runs 13 cable stations in the United States including Animal Planet and TLC. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for WarnerMedia) (Getty Images). Zaslav was excited by the idea. NY Times 'forgot' to print Declaration of Independence for Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, Buster Murdaugh got 'very drunk' with dad 2 months after mom, brother murdered: source, I'm a professional cleaner ditch these 4 household products immediately, Tom Sandoval speaks out on Raquel Leviss affair: I deserve your anger, Shoeless Ariana Madix awkwardly tries to avoid cheating Tom Sandoval, Prince Harry was scared to lose Meghan Markle after fight that led to therapy, Tom Sizemore And The Dangerous Burden of Desperation, Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval have awkward moment amid cheating scandal. With the cancellation of Batgirl and Scoob sequel, as reports of lack of diversity at Discovery under his leadership, Zaslav is being depicted as a right-wing stooge. A source told Deadlines Dominic Patten and Ted Johnson that even if Malone didnt order Stelters ouster, it sure represents his thinking. Last week, CNN abruptly canceled the show and effectively fired Stelter and his staff. Cuomo's legal team ultimately told CNN investigators that it washypocritical to suggest that the host had a personal conflict of interest while Zucker had failed to disclose his own relationship with comms chief Allison Gollust - even though it was an 'open secret' at the company. The details about his parents and siblings are not disclosed in any source. Mediaite, which initially reported on the comment as a political remark, later issued a correction to clarify that 'Zaslav was referring to the left side of the Discovery portfolio, not the left side of the political aisle. Zaslav interrupted, "John is going to be a board member of this company, and I am the operating--," before Kernen spoke over him asking if he had anything to do with Zuckers exit. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for WarnerMedia). ', The CNBC host, chuckling, then apologized and withdrew his comment, saying 'I probably shouldn't have said that.'. It was a disastrous deal that the telecoms giant has been trying to unwind for years. 1. 'READ THIS,' Cuomo said. David Zaslav very well might become the poster boy for the 2016 campaign. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. CNBC posted a clip of the exchange on Twitter, but later deleted it. He was excited by entertainment law at Boston University, 4. People close to both men insist that Zaslav is . Correction: Mediaite has learned Zaslav was referring to the left side of the Discovery portfolio, not the left side of the political aisle. JEFF ZUCKERS CNN EXIT: FIERY MEETING, SOMBER CONFERENCE CALL PROVE MANY STAFFERS ALREADY MISS FORMER BOSS, "So youve got a guy whos run it for nine years," Kernen said, referring to Zucker. Discovery. Cuomo's text exchanges contradict his claims to investigators that he had 'irregular contact' with DeRosa. That is, the poster boy for income inequality. Next quarter the company projects $1.6 billion in profit, and for 2023, it expects to have operating margins of 21 to 22 percent, up from 18 to 20 percent in 2022. Fox News positions itself as a conservative-leaning network, serving those on the political right. Jeff Zucker is considered to be the person responsible for the CNNs shift away from the nonpartisan outlet it was before his tenure. Now he will oversee WarnerMedia. A Real Clear Politics polling average shows Biden ahead of Trump by close to 10 points. Zaslav is a member of several boards including Sirius XM Radio, Lions Gate Entertainment, National Cable and Telecommunications Assoc., The Cable Center, Grupo Telviso, and USC Shoah Foundation. According to Puck media reporter Dylan Byers, Zucker and Gollust were due to take on senior roles within the new company, under the leadership of Discovery CEO David Zaslav. The leading shareholder in Warner Brothers Discovery is John Malone, a multibillionaire cable magnate. "I would like to see CNN evolve back to the kind of journalism that it started with, and actually have journalists, which would be unique and refreshing,"Malonesaid in an interview that aired on CNBC. Longtime Discovery chief David Zaslav, who will soon oversee CNN as part of his company's merger with WarnerMedia, called his future competitor Fox News Channel "much more of an advocacy . Zaslav was cut off and did not finish his thought, but a spokesperson for Discovery told the New York Post that he was not using the term 'left' in the political sense, but rather to organize his conversation about Discovery's portfolio. David Zaslav is the CEO of Discovery Communications, one of the biggest cable conglomerates in the world. Billionaire Trump donor, who is the largest shareholder of the network's new owner Discovery, wants to restore it to impartiality - and INSISTED on Jeff Zucker's departure after his affair was exposed, Jeff Zucker and girlfriend Allison Gollust 'advised "pandemic hero" Andrew Cuomo on how to handle COVID' and even 'gave him talking points on how to publicly spar with Donald Trump', 'I would like to see CNN evolve back to the kind of journalism that it started with, and actually have journalists, which would be unique and refreshing, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, 'Vindication': Georgia Harrison on ex Stephen Bear's sentencing, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' I don't tolerate a lot of oppo research on any level. As David Zaslav prepared to take over Warner Bros. Even straight news reporting depends on what stories are featured, which facts are highlighted and the context surrounding the news. [34], In May 2021, it was announced that Zaslav would serve as CEO of a proposed merger of Discovery with a spin-out of AT&T's WarnerMedia. David M Zaslav is President/CEO at Warner Bros Discovery Inc. See David M Zaslav's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. He donated $250,000 to Trump's inauguration in 2017 and has made no secret of the fact that he, like Trump and millions of others, think CNN has become too left-wing and biased. Zaslav is listed as living in New York and all three are politicians from New York. Scrambling to walk back the comments, Discoverys team said Zaslav often uses the phrases the left or the right to reference current and future business initiatives. don't wanna make things that are political, topical, alienate Middle . I cannot resign. The ratings are getting worse because they are taking out all the bells and whistles. Discovery Inc. Chief Executive David Zaslav told employees that he wants CNN to focus on maximizing its impact, not profitability, and set itself . Zaslav had a hand in the launch of MSNBC, another left-leaning network, during his time as an NBC executive. The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It. The titan next door. His new book, The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It, is out now. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. . Two weeks earlier, Zaslav, the president and CEO of Discovery since 2007, had pulled off the slickest coup in the current era of megamergersa $43 billion deal hashed out in spy-like secrecy . Discovery CEO David Zaslav was confronted on Friday about the future of CNN, the liberal network he is set to oversee once a looming merger is official, but claimed the ousting of now-former CNN boss Jeff Zucker had nothing to do with rumors the network could shift to a nonpartisan approach. In 2012, Zaslav was honored by the UJA Foundation of New York with the Steven J. Ross Humanitarian Award. So maybe Zaslav isn't offended by the transparent political bias of CNN. The Cook Political Report marks six Republican-held Senate seats in Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Montana and North Carolina as toss ups. Biden has said he wants to raise the corporate tax rate to 28% from 21%. CNN's political stance is a source of frequent scrutiny in the news industry. A Division of NBCUniversal. Barr also said Zaslav did not give an answer when asked about current CNN boss Jeff Zuckers future at the soon-to-be combined company.