MUMBAI: US non-fiction broadcaster Discovery has announced upcoming new and returning series across its portfolio of US Networks, including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Science, Investigation Discovery and Velocity.

There?s the power of the presidency and then there?s the power of the men behind the president. Discovery Channel lifts the curtain for the extraordinary behind the scenes history of the White House Chiefs of Staff in ?The Presidents? Gatekeepers?, a 2013 world premiere television special event.

From the filmmaking team of brothers Gedeon and Jules Naudet, news producer Chris Whipple and Peacock Productions comes a series looking at the key moments, the quiet conversations, back room bargains and heated debates that made history and have never been heard before until now. In addition, White House photographer David Hume Kennerly serves as producer.

Battleground: Rhino Wars:

The world renowned Greater Kruger area of South Africa, just north of Johannesburg, is the new ground zero in a war to protect magnificent creatures on the edge of extinction.

Rhinoceroses are being hunted to death by poachers who will stop at nothing to kill them just to take their horns. The death toll is astonishing; each year, nearly 500 rhinos are killed with baby rhinos and calves separated from their mothers and left to fend on their own.

The human toll too is steep. More than 100 park rangers have been killed by these poachers in the battle to halt these criminals. The situation is worsening. Park rangers and security forces are desperate for help. And now four U.S. special forces veterans have come to help fight for the rhinos.

Beginning on 7 March Animal Planet will be embedded in ?Battleground: Rhino Wars, a three-part mini-series that documents this conflict that is centered on the worldwide commercial demand for rhino horns, an exotic commodity that?s more valuable than gold on the black market.

The mini-series reveals the conflict between blood-thirsty poachers and one of South Africa?s anti-poaching units, which has recruited armed forces to stop the illegal, lucrative trade of rhino horns. Cameras reveal a bloody war that these elite U.S. warriors find themselves fighting, in an area where both rhinos and people are being slaughtered with increasing regularity.

Four current and former members of the U.S. Special Ops (Navy Seals and a Green Beret) have been recruited and brought in to help the security forces. Together, they will survey the situation, train the anti-poaching corps, exchange tactical information and go on the front lines to help defeat these ruthless criminals before the rhinos are brought to total extinction.

Science Channel meanwhile will kick off this month ?Stuff You Should Know? - a new genre-bending television series about a real podcast that?s set in a fictional world. Let us explain?Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant are two real guys - uber-popular podcasters and actual Discovery Communications employees. Their podcast, also called Stuff You Should Know, is in the top ten on iTunes with more than five million monthly downloads. On 19 January Science Channel will follow Josh and Chuck inside and outside the recording booth with theseries that combines all the informational nuggets of their podcast and wraps them in deadpan mockumentary-style humour. Along for the ride are guests making cameo appearances, including John Hodgman, Sarah Silverman, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Rufus Wainwright, and Michio Kaku.

MUMBAI: Discovery has reported a seven per cent jump in its revenue to $1.14 billion for the fiscal second quarter ended 30 June 2012.

Adjusted OIBDA increased by six per cent to $543 million, while net income rose 15 per cent to $293 million.

Discovery president, CEO David Zaslav said, ?Discovery?s consistent focus on investing in our global platform, building new brands and developing additional growth opportunities resulted in continued strong operating results during the second quarter. The steps we have taken to broaden our international content offerings, along with the continued evolution of pay-tv globally, are driving international expansion, while domestically we are generating significant returns from the sustained programming initiatives and audience growth across our younger networks."

The rise in revenue was led by six per cent growth at US Networks and 10 per cent growth at International Networks.

Adjusted Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (1) (?OIBDA?) grew six per cent to $543 million, driven by an eight per cent increase at US Networks and a two per cent increase at International Networks. Excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, total company revenues increased 10 per cent and Adjusted OIBDA increased by 11 per cent.

Second quarter net income available to Discovery stockholders of $293 million increased by $39 million compared to $254 million for the second quarter a year ago, primarily due to strong operating performance in the current year and lower taxes primarily due to a re-organisation of certain operations partially offset by the impact of foreign currency fluctuations.

Free cash flow was $138 million for the second quarter, a decrease of $60 million from the second quarter of 2011, as increased operating performance was more than offset by higher content investment and increased tax payments versus a year ago. For the last 12 months, free cash flow increased by five per cent over the previous twelve month period. Free cash flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities less acquisitions of property and equipment.

MUMBAI: Own: Oprah Winfrey Network has announced a restructuring of its network operations in Los Angeles and New York. The organisation has eliminated 30 positions and redistributed those responsibilities among the network and venture partners, Discovery Communications and Harpo Studios. Thirty positions have been cut.

Own CEO, chief creative officer Oprah Winfrey said, "It is difficult to make tough business decisions that affect people?s lives but the
economics of a start-up cable network just don?t work with the cost structure that was in place. As CEO, I have a responsibility to chart the course for long-term success for the network. To wholly achieve that success, this was a necessary next step."

Winfrey became Own CEO, chief creative officer eight months ago, and tapped her Harpo leadership team, Erik Logan and Sheri Salata as presidents. The new management team has been reviewing the best structure and organisational design for the long term.

Logan said, "We have been on the air for 15 months, and since September we have gained momentum in ratings and viewership.
Restructuring our business will allow us to build a solid foundation for long-term growth."

As part of the restructuring, Neal Kirsch, a long-time Discovery executive and CFO of Discovery?s US networks, will be moving to Own as COO, CFO reporting directly to Logan and Salata. In addition, Own VP, business and legal affairs Tina Perry will now oversee the department and partner with Discovery executive VP, global production management, business and legal affairs Lee Bartlett.

Own VP, production Michelle Holt will now oversee production management; and Discovery senior VP, marketing, ad sales Ian Parmiter will oversee integrated marketing for Own.

MUMBAI: US non fiction media company Discovery has reported full year ended 2011 revenues of $4.2 billion, a 12 per cent jump over 2010 revenues, primarily driven by an 11 per cent growth at US Networks and 16 per cent growth at International Networks.

Adjusted OIBDA grew by 13 per cent to $1,914 million, driven by a 10 per cent increase at US Networks and an 18 per cent increase at International Networks.

The domestic results included significant additional licensing revenues under an extended and expanded licensing agreement, partially offset by increased content costs from higher impairment charges and changes in amortization rates at several networks.

Full year 2011 net income from continuing operations available to Discovery stockholders of $1.13 billion increased $503 million compared to $630 million a year ago.

The current year results primarily reflect the strong operating performance, a gain of $102 million, net of tax, as a result of contributing the domestic Discovery Health network to the Own: Oprah Winfrey Network (Own) joint venture, $99 million of lower expense from the change in the fair value of mark-to-market share-based compensation and $137 million in lower taxes, primarily due to the recognition of foreign tax credits.

The increase also reflects a $136 million loss on the early extinguishment of debt and termination of interest rate swaps included in the prior year.

Free cash flow was $1 billion for the year, an increase of $423 million from full year 2010, due to increased operating performance as well as lower net tax, interest and long-term incentive compensation payments, partially offset by higher working capital and content investments.

The prior year included payments of $138 million for the early extinguishment of debt and termination of interest rate swaps.

Fourth quarter revenues of $1.12 billion increased $107 million, or 11 per cent, over the fourth quarter a year ago, led by 11 per cent growth at US Networks and 12 per cent growth at International Networks.

Adjusted Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (OIBDA) grew by eight per cent to $498 million, including $20 million of additional content costs in the quarter due to changes in amortization rates at several networks and higher impairment charges, as well as $12 million in adverse foreign currency impact.

Fourth quarter net income from continuing operations available to Discovery stockholders of $336 million increased by $142 million compared to $194 million for the fourth quarter a year ago.

The current quarter results reflect the strong operating performance as well as $109 million in lower taxes primarily due to the recognition of foreign tax credits as a result of a reorganisation of certain international operations, partially offset by a $20 million impairment charge related to our commerce operations.

Free cash flow was $324 million for the fourth quarter, an increase of $121 million from the fourth quarter of 2010, due to increased operating performance as well as lower net tax and long-term incentive compensation payments.

MUMBAI: Television format creator and distributor Endemol has announced that leading talent from its portfolio of US scripted series will be heading to Cannes for the television trade event Mipcom 2011 next month.

Among the international names attending the market as guests of Endemol are Happily Divorced co-writer, executive producer and star Fran Drescher as well as executive producer Peter Marc Jacobson.

Also joining Endemol?s line up this year is Kristen Johnston who has the leading role in TV Land?s latest sitcom ?The Exes?.

Endemol Worldwide Distribution CEO Cathy Payne said; "As we continue to drive our growth in US scripted programmes, we are thrilled to have star guests from these brilliant new series at Mipcom. It?s extremely exciting to be bringing such a high calibre of talent to Cannes and these stars will truly bring the shows to life for buyers at the market."

Inspired by the real life story of Drescher and her ex husband Peter Marc Jacobson, Happily Divorced is the latest sitcom offering from US network TV Land. After 18 years of marriage, Fran (Drescher) is shocked to discover that her husband Peter (John Michael Higgins) is gay. The LA based florist must deal with this bombshell and learn to juggle her new relationships and her ex-husband, who remains in the same house post-divorce.

Now renewed for a second season, Happily Divorced averaged 2.2 million total viewers in its first season, posting triple digit gains over the network?s primetime average.

Also from TV Land?s slate is The Exes - a sitcom which focuses on the lives of three men whose landlord also happens to be their female divorce attorney. Kristen Johnston (?3rd Rock from the Sun?) plays the attorney who avoids her own relationship and commitment issues by becoming immersed in the men?s affairs.

Endemol will announce further talent attending the market in due course.