Nick
08-01-06, 05:04 PM
...former ABC News "Nightline" host Ted Koppel and his
production team begins to air on Discovery. Koppel will
have three prime-time hours Sept. 10, the eve of terrorist
attacks' fifth anniversary...
Tue, Aug 1, 2006
By DAVID BAUDER
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — British TV executive Jane Root is still learning the peculiarities of the
American television market, but she already knows to keep away from the sharks.
This is the Discovery Channel's 19th annual Shark Week, six days of programming
in the midsummer heat that will make you want to stay away from the water. It's
usually the network's most popular week of the year, despite airing at a time of
low TV usage.
"It's one of the icons of the American summer," said Root, executive vice president
and general manager of Discovery, "and you mess with it at your own peril."
Two years in charge, she's presiding over an effort to return Discovery to its roots
with more informational programming and specials, and has started an unlikely
hit series featuring crab fishermen off the coast of Alaska.
Brian Greer sorts Alaskan crabs in an episode of "Deadliest Catch," the Discovery
Channel's hit reality series. (Corey Arnold/AP)
Discovery had been sagging a bit in the ratings before Root was hired from British
television, its prime-time average declining from 1.3 million five years ago to 1.07
last season, according to Nielsen Media Research. There have been signs of life
recently; this season's average was 70,000 above the year before.
More importantly, Root wanted Discovery to stop looking like something targeted
strictly at auto mechanics. ...
More @ The Brunswick News (http://www.thebrunswicknews.com/open_access/news/312749431303287.php)
production team begins to air on Discovery. Koppel will
have three prime-time hours Sept. 10, the eve of terrorist
attacks' fifth anniversary...
Tue, Aug 1, 2006
By DAVID BAUDER
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — British TV executive Jane Root is still learning the peculiarities of the
American television market, but she already knows to keep away from the sharks.
This is the Discovery Channel's 19th annual Shark Week, six days of programming
in the midsummer heat that will make you want to stay away from the water. It's
usually the network's most popular week of the year, despite airing at a time of
low TV usage.
"It's one of the icons of the American summer," said Root, executive vice president
and general manager of Discovery, "and you mess with it at your own peril."
Two years in charge, she's presiding over an effort to return Discovery to its roots
with more informational programming and specials, and has started an unlikely
hit series featuring crab fishermen off the coast of Alaska.
Brian Greer sorts Alaskan crabs in an episode of "Deadliest Catch," the Discovery
Channel's hit reality series. (Corey Arnold/AP)
Discovery had been sagging a bit in the ratings before Root was hired from British
television, its prime-time average declining from 1.3 million five years ago to 1.07
last season, according to Nielsen Media Research. There have been signs of life
recently; this season's average was 70,000 above the year before.
More importantly, Root wanted Discovery to stop looking like something targeted
strictly at auto mechanics. ...
More @ The Brunswick News (http://www.thebrunswicknews.com/open_access/news/312749431303287.php)