Cablefax The Magazine - April 2017 - 40

52. DISCOVERY ZONE
Nancy Daniels
President & GM
TLC, Discovery Communications
Years in Cable: 20 years (with a little sojourn
in broadcast)
One Word that Best Describes Me:
Determined
Eric Phillips
President, Domestic Distribution
Discovery Communications
Years in Cable: 15
Education: Bachelor's, Oberlin College, JD,
University of Michigan
One Word that Best Describes Me: Tall
Rich Ross
Group President
Discovery Channel, Animal Planet & Science
Channel, Discovery Communications
Years in Cable: 26
One Word that Best Describes Me: Passionate
Henry Schleiff
Group President
ID, AHC & Destination America,
Discovery Communications
Years in Cable: 30+
Education: BA, cum laude, University of
Pennsylvania; JD, University of Pennsylvania
Law School
One Word that Best Describes Me: Tenacious
Discovery's success rides on its continued
strong programming offerings and the ability
of viewers to access that programming across
multiple platforms. This group ensures both
objectives are met, and exceeded. In 2016,
Phillips secured a renewed agreement with
DirecTV, including a robust on-demand offering
and TV Everywhere distribution for Discovery's
portfolio of linear U.S. nets to AT&T DirecTV and
U-verse customers on more platforms than ever
before. He also was instrumental in the launch
of Discovery's disaggregated US. TV Everywhere
app and streaming service, Discovery GO. With
Schleiff at the helm, ID is taking a big step
forward in 2017, moving into the scripted movie
space as well as expanding coverage of wrongful
conviction content. Ross, too, is adding a
select number of high-end scripted projects to
the Discovery roster, beginning with " Manifesto, "
its first-ever scripted series, about Ted
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Kaczynski, aka the Unabomber. Thanks to Daniels,
TLC is continuing on its upward trajectory
and branching into uncharted waters for the
network. Although its foundation in unscripted
series has kept TLC a top 10 cable standard
among the W25-54 audience, she spearheaded
a move into scripted via a partnership with Tyler
Perry and corporate cousin OWN for the series
" Too Close To Home, " which got an immediate
pick-up for a soon to debut second season.
Daniels Q&A
What are the top three qualities you look for
in a hire? Ambitious, pro-active, and has to be
a fan of television
Which TV family is most like your own? The
Dunphys on " Modern Family "
What product or service could you not live
without? Waze
How long is your morning commute? 30-50
minutes-depending on where Waze sends me
Favorite Saturday morning cartoon from
your childhood? " The Smurfs "
Last show I watched not on my networks:
John Oliver-he and Samantha Bee have filled
the hole that Jon Stewart left!
Favorite podcast: " Fresh Air " with Terry Gross
-she is a fantastic interviewer with a wide
range of fascinating guests
Phillips Q&A
How do you celebrate
your birthday? Too
often!
What inspires you
about the industry?
The great people I get
to work with on a daily
basis.
Last show I watched
not on my networks:
Showtime's " Billions "
Best way to spend
a Saturday night: At
home with my family.
Ross Q&A
What are the top
three qualities you
look for in a hire?
Skill set, collaborative
spirit and interest to
innovate.
What inspires you
April 2017
Cablefax: The Magazine
about the industry? No longer willing to
lean back but now working tirelessly to be
consumer lead.
The best thing about fast broadband... It
allows people to watch more of our content
more places.
How do you celebrate your birthday? With my
husband.
What product or service could you not live
without? The gym.
How long is your morning commute? 15
minutes.
Last show watched not on my net:
" The Crown "
Schleiff Q&A
What are the top three qualities you look for
in a hire? Creativity; Tenacity; Paternity.
If President Trump tweeted about you, he
would say... Even though, ID has HUGE ratings...
I had more people at my inauguration.
Which TV family is most like your own?
Hopefully, NOT the Menendez...
Best way to spend a Saturday night: Watching
ID's " Deadline Crime with Tamron Hall "
and " On the Case with Paula Zahn " - I mean,
actually, with them!
What product or service could you not live
without? Chinese food/Sunday delivery. ■
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Cablefax The Magazine - April 2017

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