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David M. Zaslav (born January 15, 1960)[1] is an American media executive. He is the president and chief executive officer of Discovery Inc., a position he has held since November 16, 2006.[2][3]
Under his leadership, Discovery began trading as a public company in 2008, became a Fortune 500 company in 2014, and acquired Scripps Networks Interactive, in 2018.[4]
Most recently, Discovery entered into an agreement with AT&T to combine WarnerMedia's entertainment assets with Discovery's nonfiction and international entertainment and sports business. The proposed combined company, to be called Warner Bros. Discovery, will be run by Zaslav. He was previously an executive at NBCUniversal.[2][5]
Early life and education[]
Zaslav was born to a Polish and Ukrainian Jewish family [6][7][8][9] in Brooklyn, New York.[10] At the age of 8, he moved to Rockland County (NY) where he graduated from Ramapo High School.[11][12] He was captain of the varsity tennis team.[13]
Zaslav earned a bachelor of science degree from Binghamton University.
Following this, he graduated from Boston University School of Law with a JD with honors in 1985 and started his career as an attorney with LeBoeuf, Lamb, Lieby and MacRae in New York.[14]
Career[]
NBC Universal[]
Zaslav joined NBC in 1989.[15] As president of Cable and Domestic TV and New Media Distribution, he oversaw content distribution to all forms of TV, negotiated for cable and satellite carriage of NBC Universal networks and forged media partnerships.[16][17]
His responsibilities extended to Bravo, CNBC World, SCI FI, ShopNBC, Sleuth, Telemundo, Telemundo Puerto Rico, mun2, Trio, Universal HD, USA Network, NBC Weather Plus and the Olympics on cable.
Zaslav also oversaw NBC Universal's interests in A&E, The History Channel, The Biography Channel, National Geographic International, the Sundance Channel and TiVo.[18][19]
Discovery Inc.[]
Zaslav became CEO of Discovery Communications in November 16, 2006, succeeding Judith McHale.[20] 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.[21] As CEO, Zaslav oversaw the development and launch of new networks such as Planet Green (later rebranded as Destination America),[22] The Hub,[23][24] Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN),[25] Velocity,[26][27] and Investigation Discovery,[28] as well as the company's 2018 acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive,[29] expansion of its digital education operations,[30] and current emphasis on streaming services.[31]
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.[32][33] Zaslav's executive compensation package includes an annual salary of $3 million with an annual $22 million bonus. In his contract extension, Zaslav also received stock options valued at $190 million.[34][35][36]
Boards and other activities[]
Zaslav serves on the boards of Sirius XM., Lionsgate,[37] the NCTA, The Cable Center, Center for Communication, Grupo Televisa, Partnership for New York City, Syracuse University, and USC Shoah Foundation.[38] He also is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Paley Center for Media and the Mt. Sinai Medical Center.[39] He is chair of the Auschwitz: The Past Is Present Committee which promotes awareness of the Holocaust.[7][8][40] In 2012, he received the Steven J. Ross Humanitarian Award from the UJA-Federation of New York[41] which honors people of vision, energy and sustained achievement in the entertainment, media and communications industries.[42]
In 2014, Zaslav was awarded the Fred Dressler Leadership Award by Syracuse University's S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.[38][14]
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.[43]
In 2017, Zaslav was inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame.[44]
In 2018, Zaslav received the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award.[45]
Personal life[]
Zaslav lives in New York City with his wife Pam and the couple has three children.[38] His daughter Ali Zaslav is a congressional producer with CNN.[46]
Criticism[]
Since 2022. Zaslav was heavily get criticized, for shrinks down the WB's retaled content, as well removing some shows from HBO Max, Some of those projects were "practically finished" or in the late stages of post-production, including Batgirl, Scoob! Holiday Haunt and Coyote vs. Acme. Zaslav also received backlash for the removal of many of Warner Bros' animated programs from streaming platforms and pulling some of the service's content in general, including Final Space (which was written-off for taxes), Tig n' Seek, Elliott from Earth, Infinity Train, Summer Camp Island, The Fungies!, Close Enough, The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo and nearly 200 episodes of Sesame Street, among others, a decision Infinity Train creator Owen Dennis remarked rendered many of the programs effectively as "lost media"
As Zaslav gaining more hate, people also spread the hashtag, #FireDavidZaslav. throughout the internet. for the intendency to fire Zaslav from Warner Bros. Discovery. it also has a Change.org pertition to do this as well.
References[]
- ↑ Zaslav, David. "Discovery Communications 2011 Proxy Filing". Securities and Exchange Commission.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 David M. Zaslav Archived December 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Discovery Corporate website.
- ↑ "David M. Zaslav Profile".
- ↑ "Discovery completes Scripps deal, targets OTT opportunities". Digital TV Europe. March 7, 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
- ↑ "David M. Zaslav Profile". Forbes, Age 52 (2012). Archived from the original on January 23, 2013.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
- ↑ https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/technology/1568580390-us-media-mogul-tells-i24news-israel-reminds-him-of-what-it-takes-to-fight-for-democracy
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Variety Magazine: "Industry Heavyweights Support Auschwitz 70th Anniversary Commemoration" by Cynthia Littleton January 24, 2015 |His grandparents and other extended family were fortunate to have fled their homeland before the Nazi extermination campaign began in the early 1940s.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jewish Business News: "Steven Spielberg And David Zaslav Commemorate Auschwitz Liberation 70th Anniversary" January 25, 2015
- ↑ Algemeiner Journal: "Hollywood Heavyweights to Join Spielberg at Auschwitz Commemoration Ceremony in Poland" January 25, 2015 |"When I was a kid I learned in temple the mantra of ‘Never again.’ But there has been genocide since the Holocaust..."There is persecution because of religion and ethnicity. This is a moment to realize that we as a global society have to stand together."
- ↑ The Cable Center: "David Zaslav: Oral and Video Collection Interview" June 12, 2013
- ↑ "David Zaslav 2004 Oral and Video History". www.cablecenter.org.
- ↑ Parker, Garrett (2016-09-01). "10 Things You Didn't Know About David Zaslav" (en-US). Money Inc.
- ↑ "MIPCOM: Discovery CEO David Zaslav Celebrated as Personality of the Year". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 http://corporate.discovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/DZ-bio-8.7.15.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ↑ Siklos, Richard (17 November 2006). "New Chief at Discovery Is 2nd Senior Executive to Leave NBC This Week". The New York Times. ProQuest 433445833. Retrieved 17 May 2021 – via ProQuest.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
- ↑ "David Zaslav – The Emmys" (en-US). theemmys.tv.
- ↑ MarketScreener. "David Zaslav - Biography" (en). www.marketscreener.com.
- ↑ "Manhattan Jewish Historical Initiative, 4th Annual Jewish Hall of Fame Class of 2020 | World Liberty TV - Multicultural Online TV" (en-US). www.worldlibertytv.org (2021-05-27).
- ↑ "David Zaslav, President and CEO, Discovery Communications". www.paleycenter.org.
- ↑ Ahrens, Frank (November 17, 2006). "Discovery Appoints New Chief". The Washington Post.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
- ↑ "Zaslav Holds To Growth Plan At Discovery" (en). Mediapost.
- ↑ "Planet Green Moves Away From Its Eco Theme". The New York Times.
- ↑ Owens, Rob (October 10, 2010). "Tuned In: The Hub Network Offers Programs for Younger Children". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 10, 2010.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
- ↑ "A Children's Channel Retools". The New York Times. October 10, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2014.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
- ↑ "Discovery, Winfrey to Team Up On Network". Washington Post. Retrieved April 29, 2017.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
- ↑ Richmond, Ray (July 29, 2011). "TCA: Discovery Sets Launch Date For Velocity, Adds Big Names to 'Curiosity', Preps Science Channel's 'Trek Nation', Introduces 'Weed' Team".
- ↑ D.M. Levine (April 18, 2011). "Discovery Launches Velocity Channel, Aimed at Rich Men".
- ↑ Ahrens, Frank (November 27, 2007). "Discovery Hopes for Payoff on Crime Channel". The Washington Post.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
- ↑ Szalai, Georg (March 6, 2018). "Discovery Closes Scripps Acquisition, Creating Non-scripted Content Giant".
- ↑ Barnes, Brooks; Chozick, Amy (2012-08-20). "Media Companies, Seeing Profit Slip, Push Into Education (Published 2012)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-07.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
- ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (2018-04-10). "Discovery Rebrands Velocity as Motor Trend Network (EXCLUSIVE)" (en). Variety.
- ↑ Meredith, Steve Kovach,Sam (2021-05-17). "AT&T announces $43 billion deal to merge WarnerMedia with Discovery" (en). CNBC.
- ↑ Hayes, Dade (2021-05-17). "David Zaslav And John Stankey Outline Plans For Merging Discovery And WarnerMedia, Addressing Future Of Jason Kilar, CNN, Streaming" (en-US). Deadline.
- ↑ Francis, Theo (2021-05-19). "Discovery Chief Got Options Valued at $190 Million on Eve of AT&T Deal". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-02-05.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
- ↑ "Discovery Hands CEO David Zaslav Stock Options Valued At $190M In Contract Extension; Sets Base Salary At $3M, Target Bonus At $20M – Update" (en-US). Deadline (2021-05-20).
- ↑ Salary.com, Site built by. "Compensation Information for David M. Zaslav, President and Chief Executive Officer of DISCOVERY INC". Salary.com.
- ↑ David Zaslav Exits Lionsgate Board In Wake Of WarnerMedia Deal; Tells Discovery Staffers At Town Hall To “Take A Deep Breath”
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 "Seven New Members Elected to University's Board of Trustees". SU News. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
- ↑ "Leadership – Discovery, Inc.". corporate.discovery.com.
- ↑ CableFax: "Never Forget: Zaslav, Spielberg Help Commemorate Auschwitz’s Liberation" January 26, 2015 | "Driving awareness and remembrance of the Holocaust for future generations is critical, especially as we lose more survivors and witnesses with each passing day"
- ↑ UJA-Federation of New York: "Oprah, Wiesel Honor Zaslav at Leadership Awards Dinner" April 2, 2012
- ↑ "Oprah, Wiesel Honor Zaslav at Leadership Awards Dinner". ujafedny.org.
- ↑ "AFTD's Inaugural Hope Rising Benefit". Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. Retrieved 20 October 2016.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
- ↑ "The Cable Center – David M. Zaslav". cablecenter.org.
- ↑ "Barack Obama receives RFK Human Rights award at NYC gala" (en). New York Post (2018-12-13).
- ↑ "He ran Animal Planet and HGTV. Now he will oversee WarnerMedia. Who is David Zaslav? - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times.