1 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:10,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to Strictly Business Varieties, weekly podcast featuring conversations with 2 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. I'm 3 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: Cynthia Littleton, business editor of Variety Today. My guest in 4 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:22,760 Speaker 1: New York is Kathleen Finch, Chief Lifestyle Brands Officer for Discovery. 5 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: Finch's role at Discovery might be best described as the 6 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: executive in charge of Comfort Food TV. She oversees eleven 7 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: brands in the Discovery universe, from Food Network and HDTV 8 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: to TLC and i D. Finch discusses the challenges and 9 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: opportunities of programming linear lifestyle networks in an on demand world. 10 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 1: She also addresses the tensions in the market place between 11 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 1: Discovery and some of its independent producer suppliers, and she 12 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: explains how Discovery is building out its digital footprint by 13 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: becoming an invaluable resource to fans who like to roll 14 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: up their sleeves after watching a show. Kathleen Finch, Chief 15 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: Lifestyle Brands Officer for Discovery, thank you for stopping by. 16 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: Happy to be here. It's been almost a year and 17 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: a half now since Discovery acquired Scripts Networks Interactive, where 18 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: you had been head of Programming for channels such as 19 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 1: hd h G, t V, Food Network, Cooking Channel, a 20 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: great array of lifestyle brands. About eighteen months ago you 21 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: came Scripts cames together with Discovery and created a true 22 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: cable programming powerhouse. And you are. You oversee eleven channels 23 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: and the Digital Studios group channels including HDTV, Food, TLC, 24 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:48,919 Speaker 1: I D Travel Channel, d I Y Network, Discovery Life, 25 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: Destination America. It's a it's a long list, even just 26 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: even just to read them. How has your job changed 27 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 1: and how has the way you work changed now that 28 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: you are overseeing this much larger group of much larger 29 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: portfolio channels. Well, my job is changed by becoming exponentially 30 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: more fun and more exciting. You know, I love all 31 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: these brands. I mean to me, one of the biggest 32 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: opportunities was to actually work with the TLC team because 33 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: I've been a huge TLC fan forever. I couldn't admit 34 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: that when I was only in the Scripts because they 35 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: were a competitor. But now you know, we were friend 36 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: of mees and now we're partners. And to be able 37 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: to work with all these great brands and use all 38 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: the power that we have to pull these brands together 39 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: is just a really exciting opportunity. You know. We we 40 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: just announced and we were just very proud of the 41 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: fact that we now have collectively the most female viewers 42 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: of any cable company. And to be able to take 43 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: all those women, harness all those uber fans and find 44 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,519 Speaker 1: ways to grow them, to super serve them, to move 45 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 1: them from network to network is really an exciting opportunity, 46 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: and it's just a fun piece of the puzzle of 47 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 1: the new job. It's a lot of work, you know, 48 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: my day to day is definitely very different, but it's 49 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: all fun, exciting opportunities to take these uber fans that 50 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: all of our networks have and super serve them in 51 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: ways that nobody but Discovery can do. Are you I 52 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: imagine a giant white board with you know, do you 53 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: do you actively look for ways that you can blend 54 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,079 Speaker 1: the audience or bring audience from one network to another 55 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:22,239 Speaker 1: show to a show on another network. Is that the 56 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: kind of strategic thinking that you're absolutely because it's such 57 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 1: an opportunity to do that. You know, what we do 58 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: is we'll bring all of our really smart leaders into 59 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: a room. I've got Henry Schliffe, Howardly, Jane Latman, Courtney White. 60 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: You know, all of us will sit down together and 61 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 1: we will sort of spitball. Okay, this big project is coming. 62 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: What can we do to really grow the audience. I 63 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: think we're going to see that in action like never 64 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: before in a couple of weeks when we launch a 65 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: very Brady renovation on h g TV. We've got all 66 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: the networks across Discovery leaning in to find ways to 67 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: promote that. We've got the cast that are going to 68 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: appear on other shows and other networks. We're doing a 69 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: lot of cross promotional opportunities. And that's such a great 70 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: way to say, all right, we've got this iconic, big 71 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: watershed moment for h GTV. What can all the other 72 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: brands do to pull their fans in and let them 73 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: experience it and maybe a different way. So on Food Network, 74 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: we have the cast of the Bradys appearing on a 75 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: Sister Brother face off on Chopped um or we've got 76 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: the Pioneer woman who's going to come to the renovated 77 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 1: Brady House and shoot her show in the kitchen of 78 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:27,839 Speaker 1: the Brady House. So I mean, all these different things 79 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 1: that we can do to take sort of a fun 80 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: idea and and make it exponentially so much bigger because 81 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: we now command the majority of female viewers. That's that's 82 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: a really fun thing, and we've got great brains behind it. 83 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:45,799 Speaker 1: Um How when you get to the granular level of 84 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 1: of you know, our episode by episode programming, when you 85 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: look at Discovery, it is one of the you know, 86 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: it is one of the industry's largest spenders on programming, 87 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: one of the biggest commissioners of shows. And for many 88 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 1: of your networks, you tend to commission and you know, large, 89 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: large episode orders, thirty and forty episodes are not unusual. 90 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: How just as a as a practical matter, as a business, 91 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: how how hard is it to manage that level of 92 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: programming that the original content that you commission for all 93 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: of the channels. Well, it's not hard because we've got 94 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 1: the best programmers in the business. I mean, I really 95 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 1: say that, you know, and and believe it wholeheartedly. You know, 96 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: you look at something like TLC, the hottest network on 97 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:29,600 Speaker 1: cable right now, and that is because of Howardly and 98 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: his team. They think through every single episode of every 99 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: single show. So we're not sort of sitting I'm not 100 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 1: sitting certainly above and sort of manipulating anybody's programming decisions. 101 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 1: I've I've empowered the best people in the business to 102 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 1: do that. They all live and breathe those brands on 103 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 1: a basis, so they're able to really manage it. The 104 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: volume is huge, but the volume is borne out of success. 105 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: So if something really works, we will double down, we 106 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 1: will triple down, we will create spinoffs. And that's very 107 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 1: much you know, what these teams are dedicated to doing. 108 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: That's why something like I D has the longest length 109 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: of tune in the industry, because people will sit down, 110 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: they'll find a show that they like, and Henry and 111 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: his team have made mirror shows that just keep sort 112 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: of super serving that audience and that really you know, 113 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:19,720 Speaker 1: narrow lane of crime um and doing it better than 114 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: anybody else. So the team's really focus, almost with blinders 115 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:25,919 Speaker 1: on on what their lane is. They don't you know, 116 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: they'll experiment, they'll push the boundaries, but they never leave 117 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: the lane. So that makes the programming decisions I won't 118 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: say easy, but it gives them a path to follow. 119 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: So it's not as if everybody's scattershot trying a thousand 120 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: different ideas. What they're doing is they're very much in 121 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,159 Speaker 1: the mindset of what the viewer wants and then iterating 122 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 1: on it in little, you know ways that just keep 123 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,600 Speaker 1: it fresh, but that keep the viewer coming back night 124 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:53,239 Speaker 1: after night after night. M hm. There's a real um 125 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 1: you know, there's almost a specialty community of producers that 126 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 1: are you know, really good at at delivering lifestyle programming, 127 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: you know, at volume in success, as you said, and 128 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 1: it's it's very clear right now that that with Discovery 129 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: and other big cable groups, there is some tensions in 130 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: the marketplace. There's a feeling among producers that budgets are 131 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: being squeezed, that they're being asked to do more with less, 132 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: and that it's it's very difficult and very difficult for 133 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 1: them to make their living on that traditional you know, 134 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: ten percent ish margin on the show. Has that you know, 135 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: has that affected Have you felt that effect of those tensions? 136 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 1: Do you do you feel like that there is um 137 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: you know that the producers are are having trouble, you know, 138 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: delivering the kind of goods, the kind of shows that 139 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: at the kind of at the level of the production 140 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: level that you want. I wouldn't say that we felt tension. 141 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 1: I mean, the reality is that business is changing. You know, 142 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: the business is definitely changing, but we are still probably 143 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: the most in demand content commissioner that anybody wants to 144 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: work with. You know, we can take an idea and 145 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: we're a really good partner. We were very very closely 146 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: with our producing partners. We can take an idea and 147 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: if it works, in success, which comes from our nurturing 148 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 1: and on the network side, them nurturing and on the 149 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: production side, in success, we're making hundreds of episodes. You know, 150 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: Ninety Day Fiance probably the most popular show on cable 151 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: right now, ruling on Sunday nights. That started as a 152 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: thirteen episode order of one show. It's now four spinoffs. 153 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 1: It's ruling Sunday nights on t l C. It's now 154 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: got to spin off that's ruling Monday nights on t 155 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,959 Speaker 1: l C. So that's all benefiting Sharp, the producer who 156 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: makes that show. House Hunters, we commission four hundred episodes 157 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: a year of House Owners on h GTV, Chopped on 158 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: Food Network. You know, in success, these shows and these 159 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: partnerships that we've forged are basically annuities for these production 160 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,079 Speaker 1: companies because we can keep ordering them and ordering them. 161 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: Has the business changed for them, it's changed for all 162 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: of us. You know, it's it's not the same business 163 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: that it was. We don't go from a pitch meeting 164 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: to automatically green lighting thirteen episodes. That's what we did 165 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: five ten years ago. But the business can't sustain that anymore. 166 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: So the really good partners, the ones that we work 167 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: hand in hand in the creative process with, we don't 168 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: feel tension. I mean, to them, it's an opportunity to 169 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 1: work with us and find a success. So is that 170 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: is the business changing? Absolutely? Has that caused issues for us? 171 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:23,959 Speaker 1: It hasn't. Who do you think in the independent producers 172 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: that you've worked with? What are the qualities that you 173 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: see in the in the companies that are successful and 174 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: and have been successful in delivering successful franchises, that that 175 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: lend themselves to iterations and has been off The two 176 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:42,199 Speaker 1: most important qualities that we look for storytelling and talent development. 177 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:45,079 Speaker 1: You know, everything that we do on our lifestyle networks 178 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: really starts with talent. You know, we may come up 179 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 1: with a great format idea, we may come up with 180 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: sort of a fun how to idea, but our big, 181 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: big hits, for the most part, have great talent fronting 182 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: them and and we don't find our talent because William 183 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 1: Morris brings them to our offices in New York City 184 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: and sits down for coffee, right, they don't find that 185 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 1: couple in Texas that has a really great eye for design, 186 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: like Joanna Gaines. So one of the things that we 187 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: really value in our producing partners is there are eyes 188 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: and ears for talent scouting. So, I mean High Noon 189 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: is a great example of that. And they're the ones 190 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 1: who did bring us Chip and Joanna Gaines. We know 191 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 1: High New knows what we want, they know what works 192 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 1: on our network. So they've got people all over the 193 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: US combing is it a hardware store, is it a restaurant, 194 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: is it you know, somebody in the in the crime space, 195 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 1: is it in the police department. We have all these 196 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: experts that we put on our air that are not 197 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 1: found through traditional means. So one of the most valuable 198 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: things that we need from a producing partner is somebody 199 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:46,719 Speaker 1: who's who's got a good eye for talent. But then 200 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 1: the storytelling really lends itself to documentary producers. Former journalists 201 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: make up a lot of the people out in the 202 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 1: field for us, So it's people who know how to 203 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: take a relatively simple idea in our arrow lane, um, 204 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 1: and then tell a story around it. And and that 205 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 1: those are the partners that we go back to time 206 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,559 Speaker 1: and time again with our own internally generated ideas, which 207 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: are about fifty of our ideas. I'd say about come 208 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:16,199 Speaker 1: in from the production community cold, um, and then about 209 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:19,680 Speaker 1: we create ourselves and then go out to our preferred 210 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 1: partners and give them the idea. I hear you, Thank you, um. 211 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: And this is kind of a nebulous question, but what 212 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: I was going to ask you about the scouting for talent, 213 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: because as you say, it's not people that come in 214 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: that have always yearned to be on stage with headshots. 215 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: I mean that your best people, I'm sure are you 216 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 1: know people you know that you would have never expected 217 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: in places you would never look for, you know, future 218 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: future TV stars. What in your experience having done so 219 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,839 Speaker 1: many shows and you know and been involved with people 220 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 1: that really became stars on TV the you know the 221 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: best ways TV births its own stars, Um, are there 222 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: any common threads to the people that had that you 223 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: have seen really emerge off of television? Absolutely? I mean 224 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: I have what I refer to you with the team 225 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 1: as the clicker test, meaning if you're sitting at home 226 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: and you're watching television and you're scanning through with your clicker, 227 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: if somebody on that screen doesn't make you stop in 228 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: five seconds, don't even give them the time of day. 229 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: Somebody needs to have that magnetic sort of that it 230 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: factor that's impossible to describe, but you know it when 231 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: you see it. I mean I still remember so vividly 232 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 1: the first time I put in a tape and saw 233 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: the Property Brothers. It's like, oh my god, are female 234 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 1: fans are going to go crazy for these guys. We 235 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 1: have got to get them on the air. So there 236 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: is that sort of something that happens. And frankly, I 237 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: like to look at people on tape. Meeting them in 238 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: person does not always tell the same story as how 239 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: they're going to resonate on television. So I like a 240 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:56,199 Speaker 1: skype interview with somebody. I like somebody being shot on 241 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: their cell phone. You know, what's what's the viewer experience 242 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: with that person and going to be And it is 243 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 1: sort of indescribable, But it's this sort of personality that 244 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:08,359 Speaker 1: cuts through. Plus in our case, we need real expertise, 245 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: you know, you really need to be a homicide detective, 246 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: you really need to be a real estate agent, you 247 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: really need to come from a dynamic family. You know, 248 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: there has to be something real about you, because we're 249 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 1: not casting people in our shows. We're following people as 250 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 1: they live their lives. And that's a really big difference. 251 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: And you can be the best chef in the world, 252 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 1: but if you're not telegenic, it just doesn't matter. You're 253 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: never going to be a star. So there's a little 254 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,239 Speaker 1: bit that we can do to get people ready for television, 255 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: but they have to have been born with it, frankly. 256 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: But it is interesting about a lot of the talent 257 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: on your air. You're right, they come to the screen. 258 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:45,319 Speaker 1: They they they are on screen because they are experts 259 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 1: in a particular field and and the the the and 260 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: are able to translate that to television. And then, i mean, 261 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 1: think about all the boxes that we have to check 262 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:55,839 Speaker 1: before somebody is put on our air. It's a huge 263 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: number of boxes because you might be living this fascinating 264 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 1: life with you know, this really dynamic family, and you 265 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 1: might think that you're the greatest story ever for TLC. 266 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 1: But if you don't pop on the screen, viewers aren't 267 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: going to invite you into their home every night. So 268 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: it is it is a needle in a haystack kind 269 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: of process. And when we find these people it's like gold. Um. 270 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 1: But that is something that probably occupies eight percent of 271 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: our time is finding that talent, finding the producers who 272 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: are good at finding that talent, and then building a 273 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 1: vehicle around them that America wants to watch. Do you 274 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 1: look um, I mean, in terms of covering the country, 275 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: do you look for like local news stories about interesting people, 276 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: like how do you how do you how do you 277 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 1: go about finding the small town we do. We find 278 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: a lot of people through, you know, a local news store. 279 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 1: We find a huge number of people on social you know. 280 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: One of our biggest stars now on Food Network is 281 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 1: Molly a and we found her she was she was 282 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: doing food on Yahoo. Um. Another person that we found 283 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 1: is um Ben and Aaron Napier, a couple who do 284 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: Hometown on h TTV Big Show in HDTV. We found 285 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: Aaron the wife on Instagram. She had this very compelling 286 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 1: Instagram account. She was doing these really pretty line drawings 287 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: of home renovations. We thought, oh, that's very attractive, these 288 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: very very pretty pictures. We called her up. She sounded 289 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 1: great on the phone. We took a look at her. 290 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: She was lovely. She had this adorable husband. Next thing, 291 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 1: you know, we've got a hit show on HDTV. So 292 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: we find people in many many ways. It's rarely though 293 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,000 Speaker 1: through William Morris or ci A. Now. Certainly, once the 294 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: talent becomes stars, they become recommended, and that's a good 295 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: thing that that's a good thing for all of us. 296 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 1: But it's not a traditional way of casting. It's it's 297 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: a much more nuanced sort of hunt and search method 298 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: as opposed to just sitting and waiting for you casting 299 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: call appointments. And it must be kind of gratifying to 300 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: see people that are really good at something they're passionate 301 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: about take that to television and then become It's it's 302 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 1: I mean, every time I walked by a Lows and 303 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: I see the property brothers Fern in the window of 304 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 1: the Lows, It's like, Wow, they deserve that. They are 305 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 1: incredible stars. They are incredibly gifted at what they do, 306 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 1: they're incredible designers. It's very gratifying to see people sort 307 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: of grow and thrive and and build a big fan base. 308 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: You mentioned, of course, the business is changing which is 309 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: I think an understatement. Um, but one of the things 310 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: that is so interesting about your the Discovery, the Discovery 311 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 1: portfolio in particular, and many of your channels is the 312 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: high volume of live viewing. And you know, we're not 313 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: talking about news programming, We're not talking about you know, 314 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: something that is so topical for that minute. What do 315 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: you think it is that drives all that live viewing. 316 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: It's we are so excited that that that is the case. 317 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: And you're absolutely right. It's the only thing that people 318 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 1: normally watch live is news and sports and our lifestyle networks, 319 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 1: you know. And I think the reason and and we're 320 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: up in the nine or something of last time I 321 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: love to h e TVs viewership has done live. I 322 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: think it's because, you know, we were talking about the talent, 323 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:06,919 Speaker 1: So much of it starts with the talent. You know, 324 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,239 Speaker 1: our viewers think of these people as their friends. We 325 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 1: teach them, we inspire them, we encourage them to live 326 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: their best lives. So there's this sort of comforting feeling 327 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:19,119 Speaker 1: that all of our network spring. So that sort of 328 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 1: starts it. But we also we we we stay very 329 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 1: much in a very narrow lane, which is a good thing, 330 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 1: and we super serve those fans. So if you are 331 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 1: somebody who loves crime programming, which is something that you 332 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:33,640 Speaker 1: know is on fire right now, you know that the 333 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,120 Speaker 1: only place to get There are many places to sample 334 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 1: crime programming, the only place to get is I D, 335 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:45,639 Speaker 1: and I D produces an incredible amount of premiere hours, 336 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: much more than most cable nets. So not only do 337 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: you know that you can come to I to have 338 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: your crime fix satisfied, you can come every night and 339 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: get a premiere. So we build a business model that 340 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: super serves this this passionate fan base. Unlike you know, 341 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 1: Tuesday night, I'm doing crimes or Wednesday night, I'm doing food. 342 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: You know, other networks like to dabble in what we're doing. 343 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,400 Speaker 1: But we super serve that audience, so it gets them 344 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 1: coming back time and time again. And one of the 345 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 1: things that that some people might think I would be 346 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 1: offended by, but one of the things I hear very 347 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 1: often is, oh my gosh, I love Food Network. I 348 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: turn it on. I just leave it on in the 349 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: house all day as I wander around. Well, I love 350 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 1: that feeling, you know, I love that it's wallpaper. It's 351 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,160 Speaker 1: sort of that comforting I'm dipping in, I'm dipping out. 352 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 1: It's almost like, you know, we all used to listen 353 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: to the radio when we were growing up. It's just 354 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:36,439 Speaker 1: that sort of feeling of there's something there. It's my friend, 355 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:38,919 Speaker 1: it's I and I'm hanging out with Iena for the afternoon. 356 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 1: You know. That sort of um engagement that we have 357 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 1: with our fans is so different than a typical television 358 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: watching experience, and it's very purposeful. The The other thing 359 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 1: that we work very carefully to do is really keep 360 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: our length of tune very very high. So again because 361 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:59,359 Speaker 1: our shows are not comedy at four o'clock and then 362 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: drama five o'clock, it's a very similar viewing experience. If 363 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: you turn it on at four o'clock. At seven o'clock, 364 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 1: the show might be different, but the experience is very 365 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,679 Speaker 1: much the same. The theme and and sort of the 366 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: atmosphere in the mood. You will turn it on at 367 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 1: four o'clock and look up and oh my god, I've 368 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: spent three hours in front of this network. Well that's 369 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: very purposeful. In the Food network, thank you, we like that. 370 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: But that's very purposeful, and and that's another way that 371 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:26,639 Speaker 1: we can get people coming back and watching us a 372 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: love which, of course, from the ad sales standpoint, it's 373 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: so hard to find live viewers anymore. It's getting harder 374 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: and harder and harder. So if you're a car dealership 375 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:37,679 Speaker 1: and your sales starts on Saturday, or if you're a 376 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 1: movie that's going to come out on Friday, you know 377 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:44,479 Speaker 1: the immediacy that that the live viewing our network's offer 378 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: is incredibly valuable to advertisers. And you have in some 379 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: of your verticals like food, like design, you have there's 380 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 1: such an opportunity or to be to have to have 381 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: a digital resource that complements it. Um. You know Food 382 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:01,879 Speaker 1: Network has a sing our kind of recipes and and 383 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 1: how to videos. Um, how much would you say your 384 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 1: focus right now is on the the linear experience, the 385 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: linear shows, and how much are you looking to the 386 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: future of building out you know digital extensions that I 387 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 1: know Discovery is looking at on a global basis in 388 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:23,399 Speaker 1: many areas, Every single piece of linear content that we 389 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:27,920 Speaker 1: produce has a digital content companion, every single piece, So 390 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 1: whether it's a digital series for our go apps like 391 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 1: for instance, right now, Flipper Flop is on h g 392 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 1: TV on our on our digital platform, we have something 393 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: called terex Flip Side, which is a spin off digital series, 394 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: short form series based off of Flipper Flop. So we 395 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: we provide a linear experience and then we immediately drive 396 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:51,159 Speaker 1: to a digital experience that's similar but different. That's in 397 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: addition to all the streaming that we do with all 398 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:56,679 Speaker 1: of our long form episodes. So you can go to 399 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:59,679 Speaker 1: our digital platform and stream the episodes, but much more importantly, 400 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 1: you can get recipes. You can get you know, behind 401 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 1: the scenes of ninety Day Fiance, you can get a 402 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 1: talk show about our made specifically for our idea addicts. 403 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: You know, there are all these things that we offer 404 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:15,480 Speaker 1: on the digital platform that enhance the linear experience but 405 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:19,959 Speaker 1: also provide a different experience, especially in the world of 406 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: home and food. If you're walking into a grocery store, 407 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: we want you looking at your phone at a Food 408 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 1: Network recipe. If you're walking into a home depot, we 409 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:31,919 Speaker 1: want you looking at your phone for the materials that 410 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: you'll need to build the doghouse that you just saw 411 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 1: an HDTV. So we always think of everything that we're 412 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: doing as a three sixty experience. You know, in the future, 413 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 1: can we commoditize that experience, Can we build out new businesses. Absolutely, 414 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: um So we always think about how can we take 415 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 1: those genres and figure out the best way to really 416 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 1: engage that fan and then turn them into a customer 417 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 1: in a different way. Are you seeing digital growth? Are 418 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: you seeing you know, continued uptick in people use Absolutely, 419 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 1: especially in the food world. I mean, you know, food recipes, 420 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:10,399 Speaker 1: how to demonstrations. Um we own all the big names 421 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: in the food world. You know, when you think about 422 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:15,959 Speaker 1: a household name chef, it's a Food Network chef so 423 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 1: and they have got huge social following. So there's so 424 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: many ways that you know, we can grow that fan base. 425 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 1: Um and and really capitalize on that fan base. And 426 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:27,199 Speaker 1: I saw something really interesting this week. We launched a 427 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,159 Speaker 1: new show on Food Network called Restaurant Steak Out. We 428 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 1: didn't really with with Alex Garner Shelley as the host. 429 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: We didn't really do a lot of marketing for the show. 430 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 1: We kind of quickly got it up on the air. 431 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 1: All the Food Network talent, who are just a bunch 432 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:44,400 Speaker 1: of really good guys, they all leaned in and they 433 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 1: rallied behind this show, and they were all sending out 434 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 1: Twitter messages and Instagram messages. Guy Fieri. All of them 435 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: were saying, hey, watch my friend Alex's new show. Well, 436 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 1: it ended up launching is the highest rated show on 437 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:59,359 Speaker 1: Food Network that night. Purely, I think through all the 438 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 1: social activity that our talent we're able to generate. So 439 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 1: the power of those Food Network talent and what we 440 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,439 Speaker 1: can do with them when they rallied together behind something 441 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: is very big. That's a that that's an absolute engine 442 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:17,439 Speaker 1: to harness for sure. Um you if I'm I understand right. 443 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:20,280 Speaker 1: Most of the streaming that is available on your shows 444 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: is authenticated, so it has to be for people with 445 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: the with an existing cable subscription. Do you feel at 446 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 1: all hemmed in by that? It's obviously it's the moment 447 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 1: right now when the industry is very focused on, you know, 448 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 1: the direct to consumer experience. Well, I wouldn't say hemmed in. 449 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: I mean because one of the things and there are 450 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: different ways to look at it. You know, yes, most 451 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:43,119 Speaker 1: of it is authenticated because obviously, you know, we have 452 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:46,919 Speaker 1: our affiliate partners, which are very important to the whole ecosystem. 453 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,439 Speaker 1: But at the same time, we have a lot of 454 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: marketing opportunities through social So on Sunday nights when ninety 455 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:58,959 Speaker 1: Fiance is on. The Twitter sphere is lit up with 456 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:04,640 Speaker 1: crazed fans commenting, questioning the gifts. I mean, the whole thing. 457 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: It's just you know, Twitter and the whole social landscape 458 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: is going nuts about this show. What I love about 459 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:13,960 Speaker 1: that is, even if people aren't watching the show, even 460 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 1: if they aren't subscribing to a cable system, at that point, 461 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 1: there's so much chatter about that show that it builds 462 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 1: awareness for TLC, it builds awareness for ninety Day Fiance. 463 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:25,880 Speaker 1: You know, it's such a great way to kind of 464 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 1: get people in the tent who might not normally be UM. 465 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: But I wouldn't say that we're hemmed in. It's it's, 466 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 1: you know, similar to the to the talking about the 467 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 1: production community. The landscape is changing. We're all figuring out, 468 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 1: how do we get our content in the hands of 469 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 1: all the people that we want to have it, How 470 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 1: do we structure a different sort of deal, how do 471 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:45,679 Speaker 1: we you know, create a new business. What is it 472 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: that we can do with these great brands. So it's 473 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:50,399 Speaker 1: it's not as much being hemmed in as it is 474 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: figuring out disruptive, exciting things that we maybe can do 475 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 1: in the future. Um, I have no doubt that. I 476 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: have no doubt that your intrepid leader, David zez Law, 477 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:03,880 Speaker 1: is spreading those tentacles and figuring out how to how 478 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 1: to get Discovery content everywhere it needs to be. I think, oh, 479 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 1: absolutely know. One of the really exciting things that we've 480 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:11,600 Speaker 1: been doing just in the past couple of weeks is 481 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: we've been rolling out HDTV around the world and I 482 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 1: have had the privilege of going to UK, to the 483 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,160 Speaker 1: UK to announce it, to Germany to announce it, and 484 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 1: just recently to South Africa to announce it. So and 485 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:28,200 Speaker 1: to see the reception and the enthusiasm in these foreign 486 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: countries were Frankly, I wasn't even quite aware that they 487 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 1: would know what HDTV was, but they all were, and 488 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:36,959 Speaker 1: they're all very excited about it. So yes, David has 489 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 1: absolutely charged us all with, you know, what can we 490 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 1: do to take these power brands that are so successful 491 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 1: in the US and so successful on cable, what can 492 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 1: we do to maximize them in all kinds of opportunities. 493 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:52,639 Speaker 1: Are you tailoring I would imagine you're tailoring some content 494 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 1: for different markets, for different territories a little bit, and 495 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:57,240 Speaker 1: you know, one of the beauties of of h G 496 00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 1: TV is we have House Unders Internationals. So one of 497 00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:01,879 Speaker 1: the things that we've done is, you know, that's a 498 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: show that follows people buying homes in different countries. What 499 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,280 Speaker 1: we've done is we've we've quickly regrouped the House Centers 500 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:12,120 Speaker 1: International team. We're targeting the new international markets that we're 501 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 1: launching in, so we're specifically going to start doubling down 502 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: on shooting in those countries so that it gives domestic 503 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: content to those new regions. So we'll shoot a lot 504 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 1: of House Centers International in Germany, will shoot a lot 505 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 1: of episodes in the UK, will give our international partners, 506 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 1: you know, what is considered local content for them. It 507 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 1: also seems like an awesome, awesome extension of your talent scouting. 508 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 1: Absolutely will be in country a lot more places. We're 509 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:42,919 Speaker 1: already looking at some Italian chefs undoubtedly tell me, I mean, 510 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:45,239 Speaker 1: I think from from your comments about social I think 511 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:47,359 Speaker 1: I know the answer. But can you talk about in 512 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:51,639 Speaker 1: this changing, very you know, very fast changing marketplace. What 513 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:55,080 Speaker 1: meant what are important metrics for you of success that 514 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:59,159 Speaker 1: are beyond Nielsen numbers? Well, because everything is changing, you know, 515 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 1: and we all know the Nielsen has its flaws, but 516 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:03,360 Speaker 1: it is the metric that AD sales needs us to use. 517 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:07,160 Speaker 1: It is the currency. Um. But we will look at rankings. 518 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 1: You know, I'm so proud when we look on a 519 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 1: night and we have the top four networks for women. 520 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 1: I mean, even if maybe ratings aren't quite what they 521 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:17,360 Speaker 1: were a year ago, as the as the whole industry shrinks, 522 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:20,320 Speaker 1: we might still have number one, two, three, four easily 523 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 1: on a night with our with our four big networks. 524 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:25,439 Speaker 1: So that is a very you know, that's an important metric. 525 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:28,959 Speaker 1: What is the entire cable environment choosing to watch? How 526 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 1: do how do we sit in the ranking? Social is 527 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:34,919 Speaker 1: very important, you know, not only streaming, but what is 528 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 1: Twitter talking about? What is you know, what's Instagram talking about? 529 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 1: Those are important metrics because those are our younger female fans, 530 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: and that's that's the reach play that we need. We 531 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,120 Speaker 1: need to be talking to those thirty five year old 532 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 1: women and they are on Twitter all day long. Um. 533 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 1: The other thing, and this is sort of an unusual one, 534 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: but one of the sort of interesting measures of success 535 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 1: for I D is do we help solve a crime? 536 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: And the fact is we you know, we we've got 537 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:03,920 Speaker 1: a new show in pursuit with John Walsh. We now 538 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:07,119 Speaker 1: just helped through through a fan We now just helped 539 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:10,760 Speaker 1: find the fourth missing fugitive since the series launched. I 540 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 1: mean that that's a really kind of exciting, gratifying way 541 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:16,919 Speaker 1: to say. Fan engagement can be measured in different ways. 542 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:21,040 Speaker 1: Obviously Nielsen doesn't care about that, but we care about it. Um. 543 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 1: So fan engagement in sort of all the different ways. 544 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: How many people will try a recipe that they saw 545 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:29,000 Speaker 1: Ia do. How many people will download a plan to 546 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 1: you know, build a pergola in their backyard that we 547 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 1: featured on h G. There are lots of different ways 548 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 1: that we can measure, and ad sales can participate in 549 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 1: many of those things. So I'm always thinking about how 550 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 1: can we monetize all this measurement. Well, there are lots 551 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:46,720 Speaker 1: of ways to monetize a lot of that engagement. Um, 552 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 1: how did you get into the business of television programming? 553 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:52,240 Speaker 1: As I understand, you were a producer for CBS News 554 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 1: for many years. I was a producer at CBS News 555 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: for many years. I also did what you did. I 556 00:28:57,320 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: was also a print reporter for many years. I am 557 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: a jar realist. Um. In my heart of hearts, I 558 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 1: still like to think of myself a little bit as 559 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 1: a journalist. But yes, my my background is in journalism, UM, 560 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 1: which I did for about fifteen years print and television. 561 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 1: And I loved it. I mean it was it was 562 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 1: really great. It was sort of a strange transition to 563 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 1: go into cable UM. But I had three little kids. 564 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:20,800 Speaker 1: Being a journalist traveling all over the world for CBS 565 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 1: was not the easiest thing to do with three little children, 566 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 1: especially since my husband is also a journalist. UM. So 567 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: it was sort of an interesting switch. But the best 568 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 1: career decision I've ever made. I mean, it's how did 569 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:36,520 Speaker 1: that door open for you? Well, interestingly enough, the former 570 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 1: president of CBS News ended up leaving CBS News. That 571 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 1: was always a temporary job. We used to say, network news. 572 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 1: You you were the president of a of a network 573 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 1: news division for a couple of years, and then they 574 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:51,280 Speaker 1: would move you on. UM. A terrific guy. And he 575 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:54,080 Speaker 1: ended up landing at food Network. So he was running 576 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 1: food Network and he called me up and he and 577 00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 1: I wasn't really looking for a job, but he called 578 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 1: me and he said, hey, I'm working at food Network. 579 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 1: Now We've got a lot of people who really know food, 580 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 1: but we don't really have a lot of storytellers here. 581 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 1: Would you ever think about coming over? And I had 582 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 1: actually worked with Martha Stewart at CBS. I used to 583 00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:14,040 Speaker 1: produce a lot of her segments at CBS when she 584 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 1: was there, so I knew a little bit about food. 585 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 1: And he said, you don't even need to know about food. 586 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 1: I just need people who could tell stories. So I 587 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 1: made the transition, not knowing what to expect um and 588 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 1: it was scary, but it was the best decision I 589 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 1: ever made. And it's I've never looked back, well hundreds 590 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: of shows later, and and for you know, for many 591 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:35,680 Speaker 1: ardent fans of food and HDTV, it was it was 592 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:36,920 Speaker 1: a good it was a good move. It was a 593 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: good decision. Thank you so much, Kathleen for stopping. But 594 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 1: I really enjoyed talking to you. Thank you, Thank you 595 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 1: so much. I've been doing it as well. Thanks for listening. 596 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:48,160 Speaker 1: To be sure to tune in next week for another 597 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 1: episode of Strictly Business.