Chris Cuomo refused to leave CNN quietly after being fired for helping quash sex assault allegations against his brother, disgraced ex-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo - and he was 'trying to burn the place down' when he ousted Jeff Zucker's secret relationship with a senior network executive. Its patriotic. Discovery CEO David Zaslav embraces the past as he plans his company's future. Discovery chief executive David Zaslav's last name. Even straight news reporting depends on what stories are featured, which facts are highlighted and the context surrounding the news. AP. David Michael Zaslav (born January 15, 1960) is an American media executive who currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Warner Bros. He also enjoyed the Entertainment Law course he took at Boston University. Wright responded and, in 1989, NBC Universal hired Zaslav to help build NBCs cable operations as a lawyer for the cable division of NBC and the companys head of Cable Business Development. Zaslav also helped DISCA expand its audience of female viewers with development of TLC programming. Anyone who has purchased a car from a dealer knows how difficult and time consuming the process can be. . So maybe Zaslav isn't offended by the transparent political bias of CNN. He built partnerships like video-on-demand with Comcast. Discovery CEO David Zaslav raised the curtain on the combined Warner Bros. ', 'If that's the case, this is a domino effect, that begins with Andrew Cuomo going down in the governor's office, and then Chris Cuomo gets fired from CNN, and then Jeff Zucker losing his job.'. As Trump and other Republicans slide in the polls, the idea that taxes could go up under a Democratic administration and Congress has forced GOP donors off the sidelines, according to people helping raise money for GOP organizations. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, whose media giant is set to close itsmerger with CNNs owner WarnerMediathis spring, made the surprise remark during a discussion about the networks future days after theabrupt resignation of the networks president, Jeff Zucker. Zaslav was speaking at the Paley International Council Summit when . During his tenure in law school, Zaslav worked as a summer associate at 2 law firms in Los Angeles, California. Raising the corporate tax rate is not exactly conducive to growing revenue or earnings," Eberhart said. 'We're the leader in news to the left,' he said ahead of merger with CNN. In 2017, he donated $250,000 to Trumps inauguration. After graduating from high school, David Zaslav went to Cornell University to play tennis. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. People helping raise money for these Republican organizations told CNBC that the idea of taxes going up has struck a nerve with GOP donors and forced them off the sidelines after being largely absent throughout the 2020 election cycle. Jeff Zucker is considered to be the person responsible for the CNNs shift away from the nonpartisan outlet it was before his tenure. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. Zaslav had a hand in the launch of MSNBC, another left-leaning network, during his time as an NBC executive. Brian Stelters very popular and commerically successful show was axed. Biden and the Democratic National Committee outraised their opponents in the second quarter. [16], Zaslav joined NBC in 1989. That cycle, which covers contributions made in 2019, shows Zaslav contributed small sums to one Republican and three Democrats. "Was there any conjecture that John Malone is behind the curtain? What else could a person, Read More 20 Winnie The Pooh Quotes That Apply to BusinessContinue. We're running our business. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He was born in Rockland County, New York, 3. Got a confidential news tip? Is it a good one? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Zaslav, however, did tip his hand as to how he views CNN's political orientation, a view that seems to align with comments made last year by Malone, who has been openly . Zaslav counts among his friends, Oprah Winfrey, Lloyd Blankfein (Goldman Sachs CEO) and Colin Powel (former Secretary of State). David Zaslav is the CEO of Discovery Communications, one of the biggest cable conglomerates in the world. Zaslav's executive compensation package includes an annual salary of $3 million with an annual $22 million bonus. This attorney also worked with the Discovery Channel and MTV which were struggling new cable stations at the time. However he does like to take on other topics involving some of his personal interests like automobiles, future technologies, and anything else that could change the world. 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. His testimony was subject to the penalty of perjury. RELATED: Anonymous Batgirl Actor Allegedly "Very Offended" Over Film's Cancellation, Says Warner Bros. Zaslav helped NBCs cable division expand and grow. ', The CNBC host, chuckling, then apologized and withdrew his comment, saying 'I probably shouldn't have said that.'. Discovery in April, hired Chris Licht as head of CNN, following the ouster of Jeff Zucker earlier this year. Zaslav earned a BS degree from Binghamton University. David Zaslav very well might become the poster boy for the 2016 campaign. The largest trade he's ever made was exercising 2,947,078 units of Discovery Inc stock on 16 January 2015 worth over $71,820,291. 2-min read. The public reason given was that Zucker didn't disclose a sexual relationship with CNN executive Allison Gollust, which immediately raised eyebrows as their relationship was widely known. Media tends to be a reflection of where the country is. The guest list is a mixture of executives, news anchors, politicians and celebrities. See Barrs tweets at the bottom of this post. We have this great entertainment menu, which should keep people in the home, from the kids to the grandparents. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. . [41] 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), Infinity Train, Summer Camp Island, Close Enough, The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo and several hundred episodes of Sesame Street, among others, a decision Infinity Train creator Owen Dennis remarked rendered many of the programs effectively as "lost media". Given six seats on the new company's board, Zaslav and Discovery appointed a roster of all white male directors. The titan next door. DISCA has brokered deals with foreign cable and broadcast companies which has helped to expand the companys international presence. The rest of the business, meanwhile, is . David Zaslav, the longtime leader of Discovery, sketched out his vision for the newly formed Warner Bros. The pair claim their relationship turned romantic during the pandemic but others say it far predates COVID, and was common knowledge for as many as eight years. 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. One theory centers around AT&T's deal to sell WarnerMedia - which owns CNN - to Discovery. [6][7], Zaslav was born to a Polish and Ukrainian Jewish family[8][9][10][11] in Brooklyn, New York. The dealmaker. Who is David Zaslav? The problem is we are not a neutral country, the source said. Follow the money. CNNs political stance is a source of frequent scrutiny in the news industry. Discovery Inc. Chief Executive David Zaslav will remove executive layers and take direct oversight of key creative and news operations upon the company's merger with AT&T Inc.'s WarnerMedia . Story tips can be sent tobrian.flood@fox.comand on Twitter: @briansflood. 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. And John Malone, when you hear him, hes still a big part of your life, a big part of Discovery, if he said we need CNN to go back to reporting news". The final straw came after New York AG Letitia James' office released damning evidence where text messages proved he was more deeply involved than he'd let on. 11 contributions have been made in 2021 and 2022 by David Zaslav to very few. Wouldnt failing to report on it in a way that sounded alarms be a gross dereliction of duty? Despite weak ratings for Reliable Sources, the show still outpaced CNN prime-time hosts like Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon for the quarter in terms of total viewers, Nielsen said. Holiday Haunt. 'I will not resign. This story has been shared 130,478 times. "After Biden released his economic plan, I would expect CEO donations to President Trump to accelerate. It was cancelled by Chris Licht, CNNs new chairman and CEO, who reportedly was not a fan of Stelters opinionated style. Discovery, despite the sudden ouster of CNN . Discovery in April 2022.. Zaslav's executive compensation package includes an annual salary of $3 . If nothing else, itll be interesting to see if the list of donations grows and who might benefit. He enjoyed sports and loved to play tennis as a child. His older brother graduated from Binghamton and went on to Medical School. Warner Bros. 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 . "David Zaslav: "The future of cable is that it's declining" but says "It offers a unique proposition to advertisers. 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? (CNBC Screenshot). The leading shareholder in Warner Brothers Discovery is John Malone, a multibillionaire cable magnate. When Discovery CEO David Zaslav and a handful of colleagues visited AT&T's Dallas headquarters in May 2021 to finalize the megamerger that . Cuomo told investigators under oath that they only had 'irregular contact'. [33], 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. It, finally, is now in the finalizing stage of a $43billion sale of WarnerMedia to Discovery. for their coverage of . He went to college to play tennis. They developed the Consumer News and Business News Channel which focused on business news by day and consumer news by night. I can't speak to this issue. I am in a different position and I am working with a different standard than these other politicians I understand why they have to say what they are saying. After half a year of weak ratings, CNN turned in one of its worst months yet. Discovery Employee Political Affiliation. By Chip and Joanna Gaines. As Trump and other Republicans slide in the polls, the idea that taxes could go up under a Democratic administration and Congress has forced wealthy GOP donors off the sidelines. Internationally, DISCA has greatly expanded under Zaslavs reign. They are doing that, and there's still time," Eberhart said. He is the middle child with two brothers. The contract, which includes stocks and stock options includes a $3 million base salary with $6 million in bonuses. [13][14] He was captain of the varsity tennis team.[15]. Legal Statement. Under his leadership, Discovery began trading as a public company in 2008, became a Fortune 500 company in 2014, and acquired Scripps . Discovery Inc. Chief Executive David Zaslav told employees that he wants CNN to focus on maximizing its impact, not profitability, and set itself . Other notable S&P 500 CEO contributions to Republican led groups in the second quarter include Robert Bradway, the chief executive of biopharmaceutical company Amgen; Daniel Amos, the CEO of insurance giant Aflac; and Gregory Brown, the CEO of Motorola Solutions. 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 . 'I'm not in the oppo research business. CNN's political stance is a source of frequent scrutiny in the news industry. ', Keith Olbermann, the former MSNBC commentator, responded in a tweet saying: 'Well Sir, if you really mean this I have a great programming idea for you at 9 PM.'. The highest CEO in the United States, his salary in 2015 was $156,000,000. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery, Inc.). A Division of NBCUniversal. 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. CNN's new CEO, Chris Licht, has been attending to an audience neglected by the network for the past several years: Republican lawmakers. What investors need to know about Biden's economic vision. "CNN is a fantastic asset, I cant wait to get in there. The development comes as the presumptive Democratic nominee has expanded his lead in the polls over President Donald Trump. Longtime Discovery chief David Zaslav, who will soon oversee CNN as part of his company's merger with WarnerMedia, called his future competitor Fox . Stelter and other opinion-focused anchors have recently been on the hot seat at CNN. Zaslav was excited by the idea. Discovery's CEO has sparked confusion by calling CNN 'a leader in news to the left' ahead of his company's acquisition of the network, though it appears to have been awkward phrasing to describe the company's portfolio, rather than political leanings. Employment lawyer Debra S. Katz said the allegation against him was made by a former junior colleague at another network, and was unrelated to his brother, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo. 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. Recently, Zaslav negotiated a contract that runs through 2019. Discovery. [45] His daughter Ali Zaslav is a congressional producer with CNN.[53]. Cuomo has always maintained that Zucker knew the extent to which he had helped his brother while he was in office, and the network boss ignored calls to fire him for months. I think youre seeing more of that at CNN. In the second quarter of the year, CNN primetime reeled in an average of 670,000 total viewers and 155,000 in the demo. David Zaslav donated $535,750 to the Democratic Party. Loeffler is running for reelection to the Senate. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He is on the board of directors of the Cato Institute. Zaslav and other Discovery brass reportedly heard about the resignation just hours before it happened. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time. , updated Zucker and Allison Gollust had worked together for 20 years. "Who do they want managing the economy: Trump (Mnuchin, Powell, Kudlow) or Biden (Bernie, Warren and AOC)?," Bailey said. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! We've received your submission. He is married to Pam and they have three children. 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. Discovery Communications/President & Ceo. But he was reportedly given no choice by WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, who characterized the change as his decision at an emotional meeting with CNN Washington staff members on Wednesday night. CNN, like MSNBC, serves liberal audiences. 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. CNBC then cut away from Zaslav for breaking news on the January jobs report but came back to the Discovery honcho afterwards. 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. Zaslav himself hasnt helped matters stating that CNN would feature more right-wing viewpoints planting a flag for the center but what can readily available data tell us about the executive. Plotkin is a political analyst, a contributor to the BBC on American . Mediate recently reported that Stelter and Acosta beat out CNNs weekday primetime programming a rare feat that demonstrates just how bad things are at CNN. Zaslav got a bit of a break when his firm sent him to work as counsel at the Discovery Channel. Man you weren't kidding. Zaslavs negotiating expertise and vision of the future of cable television helped forge his career in the broadcast industry. Discovery Lost $20 Billion in Market Cap Trying to Cut $3 Billion in Costs", "HBO Max is treating animation fans and creators like hot, burning garbage", "Infinity Train Creator Says Animation Teams Were Given No Warning Before HBO Max Purge", "Seven New Members Elected to University's Board of Trustees", CableFax: "Never Forget: Zaslav, Spielberg Help Commemorate Auschwitzs Liberation", UJA-Federation of New York: "Oprah, Wiesel Honor Zaslav at Leadership Awards Dinner", "Oprah, Wiesel Honor Zaslav at Leadership Awards Dinner", "David Zaslav: The 100 Most Influential People of 2022", "He ran Animal Planet and HGTV. 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. That tells us a very different story than whats come out in the media. Jeffrey Sprecher, the CEO of the Intercontinental Exchange and husband to Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., who came under scrutiny for their stock dealings during the start of the coronavirus pandemic, gave nearly $1.3 million during the April-June quarter. He and his graduate friends would sometimes sneak into Red Sox games at Fenway Park during the seventh inning. Zucker abruptly resigned this week after admitting he failed to properly disclose his relationship with another senior executive, CNN chief marketing officer Allison Gollust. Discovery CEO David Zaslav made the awkward remark in interview on Friday. CNBC posted a clip of the exchange on Twitter, but later deleted it. Jeff Zucker's successor at the CNN helm will be Licht . "I think of CNN in a totally different way than I thought about it years ago. The President and Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Inc., David M. Zaslav aka David Zaslav was born and brought up on 15th January 1960 in Brooklyn, New York, the United States. Its ratings have suffered somewhat lately but it was doing better than several of CNNs primetime shows. His name alone can send chills down one's spine, but when Fixer Upper (the . He managed to triple revenues, generate 57 per cent profit . "It was a business . 1. Wright envisioned broadcast network getting into cable television as cable was rapidly growing with business, news and entertainment channels. Keith Griffith For Dailymail.com Those two tend to split viewers, and Fox News is regularly No. ', In the intervew, Zaslav praised CNN, saying that the cable network 'has the greatest group of journalists in the world. While we dont know his political party identification right now, we can look up Zaslavs donations to candidates and PACs. [42][43][44], Zaslav serves on the boards of Sirius XM, The Cable Center, Center for Communication, Grupo Televisa, Partnership for New York City, Syracuse University and USC Shoah Foundation. The CEO of Discovery, David Zaslav, appeared on CNBC Friday in an interview discussing the company taking over CNN and allegedly misstated that the network was the leader in news to the left when . The $43billion deal is almost done, after years of attempts by AT&T to spin the network off. In media news today, an AP reporter spars with the State Departments Ned Price over allegations on Russia, a report claims that Jeff Zucker and Allison Gollust gave Andrew Cuomo COVID talking points to combat Trump, and an MSNBC broadcast gets interrupted by a Lets Go Brandon flag. 'Jeff is a good friend of mine. It controls balance, movement, thoughts, emotions, organ function, coordination, speech, hearing, nerves, and so much more. 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. 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.. Zaslav himself hasn't helped matters stating that CNN would feature more right-wing viewpoints planting a flag for the center but . [52], Zaslav lives in New York City with his wife Pam and the couple has three children. David M. Zaslav was born on January 15, 1960 in Rockland County, New York. P. NATIONAL CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (NCTA PAC) ZASLAV, DAVID. In the last 48 hours Warner Bros. Discovery's CEO David Zaslav has been painted as a villain. So, how much is David Zaslav worth at the age of 62 years old? Why would they go anywhere else? Here are 10 things you didnt know about David Zaslav. November 10, 2021 7:10am. Discovery and has publicly committed to keeping CNN after the merger. Although a diligent law student, during his 3 years in Boston, Zaslav had a good time. David M. Zaslav was born on January 15, 1960 in Rockland County, New York. Is reporting on it considered straight news or opinion? Last Sunday, on his last show, Stelter said: Its not partisan to stand up for decency and democracy and dialogue. [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. AT&T Inc., agreed to merge its WarnerMedia division with Discovery Communications Inc., creating a streaming giant to compete with Walt Disney Co.'s Disney+ and Netflix. Zaslav spearheaded the transaction between AT&T and Discovery to combine with WarnerMedia and create the combined Warner Bros.