Discovery Chooses ole to Handle Publishing Administration

ole has been chosen by Discovery Communications Inc., the world's number one nonfiction media company with more than 100 worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery (ID), Planet Green and HD Theater, to handle its publishing administration.

In announcing the deal, Robert Ott, ole Chairman & CEO, commented: "ole is very pleased to have been chosen by Discovery as Discovery's music publishing administrator and we look forward to providing excellent service for this important client."

David Weitzman, ole Director of Business Development in Los Angeles, who developed the relationship with Discovery, stated: "Discovery is a ground-breaking 21st century visual producer, so it's only fitting that they are represented by a forward-thinking 21st century music publisher like ole."

Discovery Communications continues to show impressive growth and to celebrate some eyebrow-raising milestones. Last year's strong ratings across the company's diverse portfolio have shown no signs of abatement in the first quarter of this year and, according to Discovery Communications' President & CEO David Zaslav, given the improved global advertising environment, the company was able to further monetize that increased viewership. Domestically, advertising revenue in the first quarter grew by 9 percent. Investigation Discovery (ID) continues to be one of the fastest growing networks on cable with 26 consecutive months of growth including a remarkable 60 percent increase in viewership in the first quarter of this year. Animal Planet also had its highest ever viewership during the same period capping 26 consecutive months of year-over-year delivery gains.

In this, its silver anniversary year, the Discovery Channel passed the landmark 100-million-subscriber mark in May according to Nielsen Universe Estimates. It is the second most widely-distributed cable network in the U.S. and the number one channel worldwide, distributed to 380 million subscribers in more than 180 countries.

Looking to the future, Discovery Communications is currently anticipating the launch of OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a joint venture between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications, on January 1, 2011; The Hub, a multi-platform joint venture between Discovery Communications and Hasbro, Inc., a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time products and services, on October 10, 2010; and the international roll-out of TLC, which had its global launch in Norway on March 4, 2010.

The Hub, which will "entertain, enlighten, empower and educate children and their families," at the time of its launch will reach approximately 60 million U.S. households on what is currently Discovery Kids channel.

OWN, a multiplatform media company designed to "entertain, inform and inspire people to live their best lives," will debut in approximately 80 million homes on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel. The venture includes the award-winning digital platform, Oprah.com.

The international version of TLC, one of the fastest-growing female lifestyle channels in the United States, will be available in more than 75 markets reaching more than 100 million households by spring 2011, making it the most widely distributed female lifestyle channel brand in pay-TV.

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