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Zaslav recently signed a deal where the Discovery channel, which he heads, will gain controlling interest in major European sports channel Eurosport.
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David Zaslav / Getty
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David Zaslav, not long after signing a lucrative deal which will see him as CEO for the Discovery Channel for at least the next six years, is justifying his employer’s belief in him by raising the company stake in Eurosport, where they now have gained the controlling interest.
The Discovery Channel based in Silver Spring, Maryland, have increased their its stake in Eurosport, owned by Societe Television Francaise 1 (TFI)’s to a controlling 51 percent up from the 20 percent stake which they acquired last year.
According to the terms of the agreement the Discovery Channel retains the acquisition rights for the remaining shares in the company. Eurosport is currently valued at $1.2 billion (€902 million.)
Announcing details of the agreement David Zaslav explained that to gain control of Eurosport, the Discovery Channel will gain an advantage among strong competition, thanks to the expanded platform that the company can now provide.
“ Thanks to this agreement Eurosport are now competing in the race country-by-county to look at every sports right, and we are not ruling anything out.” David Sass love summed up.
Discovery gaining control of Eurosport once again adds considerable credibility to the increase value of sports broadcasting, while at the same time increasing Discovery’s increasing presence outside of the United States.
Industry observers point to the fact that through gaining controlling interest over Eurosport, Discovery will be considerably more more competitive than they well in the past against their particular rivals in sports broadcasting, particularly British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc and the British Telecom Group when bidding for TV sports broadcasting rights in the United Kingdom as well as in mainland Europe.
According to a statement released by the company with the new arrangement, the combined coverage that Discovery, Eurosport and SBS, a Scandinavian sports channel which they acquired last year, will enjoy no amount to 2.7 billion subscribers, tuning into close to nearly 200 networks in more than 220 countries throughout the world.
Eurosport network is currently regarded as being the only pan-European sports broadcasting platform.
David M. Zaslav is a Jurus Doctor law degree from the Boston University School of Law.
Zaslav began his professional career as an attorney with the legal practice of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Lieby and MacRae in New York.
David began his career in the entertainment business when he joined NBC 1989, where he was responsible for equally dramatic developments within the company before leaving to join Discovery Communications Inc in 2007.
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