Henry Schleiff Named President and General Manager, Investigation Discovery

-- Industry Leader and Innovator Tapped to Helm Fastest-Growing Network in the U.S. --

(Silver Spring, Md.) Discovery Communications announced today the appointment of industry veteran Henry Schleiff to president and general manager, Investigation Discovery.

“I have known Henry for more than 20 years, and he is an accomplished and seasoned programming leader with an unparalleled track record in the investigative genre,” said David Zaslav, president and chief executive officer, Discovery Communications. “Hiring someone of Henry’s experience and stature in the industry underscores the confidence we have in the potential and growth of Investigation Discovery. Henry has created a tremendous amount of value throughout his career, and Clark, the board and I look forward to his passionate leadership in unlocking ID’s full potential.”

In this newly created position, Schleiff, who will report to Clark Bunting, president and general manager Discovery Emerging Networks, will spearhead the development, production, scheduling, research, marketing, communications and online efforts for Investigation Discovery, with direct responsibility for driving the revenue, ratings and brand of the network. Schleiff was most recently the president and chief executive officer of Crown Media Holdings.

Since its launch in January, 2008, Investigation Discovery has experienced 16 consecutive months of year-over-year primetime HH gains and is the fastest growing cable network among the target demographic of women 25-54. In its first time measured in Beta’s Brand Identity Survey, ID ranked #1 as viewers’ favorite channel and was in the top five for being distinctive; being bold and trying new things; and being a channel for which viewers pay more attention to the commercials. In Nielsen’s Media Research study, ID ranked in the top five ad-supported cable networks for length-of-tune in primetime and total day. Since its launch, ID has debuted more than 16 original series, including The Shift, Wicked Attraction, Dallas DNA, Extreme Forensics, Call 911 and the upcoming On the Case with Paula Zahn, with seven of the 10 series launched in its first year returning for new seasons.

While at Crown, Schleiff oversaw the growth of Hallmark Channel to more than 86 million homes, with ratings performance consistently ranking the network in the top 10 in primetime. He also expanded the brand with the successful launch of Hallmark Movie Network in standard and high definition. Prior to joining Crown, Schleiff was the chairman and chief executive officer of Court TV Network, where he was responsible for the network’s rise from a base of 30 million homes to more than 85 million U.S. subscribers and ad sales revenues increases at a compound rate of 57% per year during his tenure. Under his leadership, Court TV became a primetime ratings powerhouse known for innovative industry and consumer marketing campaigns.

“Investigation Discovery is one of the most exciting brands in television, ranking at the top of studies that measure growth, engagement, length of tune and consumers’ favorite brands,” said Clark Bunting, president and general manager of Discovery Emerging Networks. “I’m delighted that Henry will lead the brand during this entrepreneurial period of tremendous investment and growth.”

“If my experience in this industry has proven anything, it’s that the combination of an imaginative and passionate team plus a distinctive brand supported by compelling and well produced programming leads inevitably to growth, success and, certainly, some fun. In that regard, I am thrilled to join Discovery Communications and look forward to working with a visionary media executive like David Zaslav and contributing to the enormously impressive company he is building,” said Schleiff. “More specifically, I believe Clark Bunting and his team have found a void in the marketplace and are filling it at ID with the kind of programming that viewers, today, clearly demand. Accordingly, I am delighted and excited to join ID and to contribute to its growth in becoming one of the industry’s leading and most important networks.”

Schleiff joins DCI on August 1, 2009 and will be based in Discovery’s New York office.

About Henry Schleiff
Prior to joining Discovery Communications, Henry Schleiff was president and chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors for Crown Media Holdings. Previously, Schleiff served as chairman and chief executive officer of Court TV network, where he grew the service from 30 million subscribers to more than 85 million homes. Schleiff has also served as executive vice president for Studios USA, where he was responsible for evaluating all East Coast broadcasting and cable opportunities for the television group and developing new talent relationships. Formerly executive producer for Viacom International, Inc, Schleiff’s production credits include projects for HBO, Showtime, USA, Lifetime and AMC. He first joined Viacom as senior vice president of Viacom International and Chairman and CEO of Viacom’s broadcast and entertainment groups. He began his television career as senior vice president, business affairs and administration for HBO and head of HBO Enterprises. Schleiff holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, where he was editor of the Law Review. Schleiff is vice chairman of the board of directors for the International Radio & Television Society Foundation, Inc and serves as a member of the board of directors of The International Council; The Creative Coalition, Help USA; Theatreworks USA; Guild Hall of East Hampton; The American Museum of the Moving Image; The Cable Center; the Board of Governors of the Museum of Television and Radio Media Center; the Dean’s Council of the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University; the Executive Leadership Cabinet of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Foundation; and, the We Are Family Foundation.

About Investigation Discovery
Investigation Discovery (ID) is the source for fact-based investigative content about culture, history and the human condition. ID, the new authority in real investigations, is expanding partnerships with leading news organizations and production companies to bring the strongest analytic, factual investigative and current affairs programming to nearly 54 million U.S. households. Providing the highest quality investigative programming focused on fascinating stories of human nature from the past to the present, Investigation Discovery’s in-depth documentaries and series challenge viewers on important issues shaping our culture and defining our world. For more information, please visit investigation.discovery.com.

About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world’s number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.