MUMBAI: Infotainment broadcaster Discovery Networks Asia Pacific president, MD Tom Keaveny will be moving to London.

He will be Discovery Networks International (DNI) president of international affiliate sales. This is a newly created role.

Keaveney?s new role is effective from 1 September. The infotainment broadcaster has begun its search for Keaveny?s successor in the Asia Pacific region.
 
Keaveny?s new role will combine being Discovery joint sales organization CEO, which manages affiliate sales efforts for DNI in Western Europe, the Nordics, Ceemea and the Eurosport business. He will also head global affiliate sales strategy.

MUMBAI: Non-fiction broadcaster Discovery Networks International (DNI) has announced a new original series that guides viewers down the insider?s road of the used car trade on an international scale.

?Wheeler Dealers Trading Up?, a new six episode one hour series from X2 Productions, follows Mike Brewer, the ultimate used car trader, as he hits the road on an automobile adventure. The show will air in April on Discovery in 217 countries across the Asia-Pacific Europe, Middle-East, Africa, and Latin America.

In the show, Mike begins with just $3,000 with ambitions to buy, bargain, and blaze his way towards a $30,000 goal to purchase a super car at an auction. Big profits means an even bigger market, so Mike must hit the highway to track down motor gold. From Kolkata to the UK, from Mexico to the Middle East, Mike must buy and sell his way towards automotive success in his most ambitious attempts ever, pushing his abilities to new limits. Viewers will travel with Mike on his epic journey as he moves from one deal to the next, spots motor bargains, fixes up cars for sale, and trades up across the globe.

DNI VP production, development for factual programming Elizabeth McIntyre said, "Wheeler Dealers Trading Up? displays a keen sense of skill that literally translates across countries within a highly specialised industry. Mike?s knowledge and passion are electric and dispel preconceived stereotypes about the used car trade. This program provides a vivid look at the potential and finesse of navigating an industry that spans globally."

X2 Productions series producer Michael Wood said, "Mike Brewer takes on the car trading journey of a lifetime, and I think he might just about pull it off. He knows every car dealing trick there is, and he?ll need them all to buy and sell his way to a supercar."

MUMBAI: Discovery Networks International (DNI) has acquired a 20 per cent equity stake in Televista, a French pay-TV company specialising in the female lifestyle market.

Under this agreement, DNI becomes a strategic partner to Televista and will contribute to the development of its female lifestyle channels business. Under the new partnership, Discovery Networks will provide strategic counsel and access to its female lifestyle library of programming.

This equity investment supplements the content supply agreement already announced by the two companies in January 2012.

Through these transactions, Discovery becomes a key strategic partner of VIA, the female lifestyle DTT channel project filed by Televista on 10 January 2012.

Via is a female lifestyle channel, supported by a television company and French investment funds from Aplus Finance, Altice and Audacia. Local French programming made by Via will have the opportunity to be invested in Discovery?s network of female lifestyle channels outside France, reaching international audiences in multiple countries.

Building its female lifestyle portfolio TLC and Real Time across 170 markets, DNI has reached 135 million subscribers in just 20 months. In September 2010, Discovery launched Real Time in Italy as a ree-to-air channel in Italy. In less than 18 months, it has become the Number 8 commercial channel amongst women 20-49.

Televista CEO Gaspard de Chavagnac stated, "I am very pleased to welcome Discovery Networks International, the largest non fiction media company in the world to Televista. Discovery will bring both expertise and content we need to accelerate our development especially in Free DTT channels where Discovery is already present in Italy, Spain and Germany."

Televista applied for a female lifestyle DTT channel on 10 January 2012.

Discovery Networks Western Europe president, MD Dee Forbes said, "France is a very important market for us and we are delighted to be able to make this investment in Televista. We have a strong understanding of the female lifestyle market and are looking forward to partnering with Gaspard and his team. We have also launched a series of free to air channels across Western Europe over the last three years to complement our core paytv business. We are excited by Televista?s future French plans and the opportunity to bring our popular female lifestyle programming to viewers."