Sign up for notifications from Insider! Transparency is what journalists and journalism have long been about. So I think it's going to be around a lot longer than people think.". This summer, students from Tufts and Harvard universities spent time digging through the Federal Election Commission database with me. Zaslav needs the house as badly as it needs Zaslav. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2022 and Malones comment left many CNN staffers with a sense of uneasiness about the networks future. CNN, which has struggled to attract viewers during the Biden era,is part of the deal and many industry observers felt the decision to revert to more straight news began this week when Zucker was forced out. Afsaneh Beschloss, NPR Board of Directors, gave $614,300. What does media constitute? The most significant donation record of any media owner was Michael Bloomberg, who donated $140 million during his run for president. tips@mediaite.com, Joe DePaolo is a Senior Editor at Mediaite. Frederick Smith, who runs the billion dollar Sinclair media empire that once offered to do anything for Trump, must not have meant with cash, donating $6,800 to the GOP and $5,800 to Democratic Sen. ChuckSchumer. In an interview on CNBC Friday, Discovery CEO David Zaslav, as part of an assessment of his brands portfolio, took stock of CNNs place in the public consciousness and said this: CNBC host Joe Kernen immediately seized on the comment. Discovery. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for WarnerMedia) (Getty Images). But storm clouds were on the horizon. Discovery, Zaslav is turning off the content spigot and reorienting the company into something much more fiscally (and potentially culturally) conservative. Roy Bailey, a Texas businessman who is leading fundraising efforts for the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee, explained that business leaders he speaks with says there is a concern that Biden will be influenced by more progressive leaders, such as as Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez if he became president. Jeff Zucker is considered to be the person responsible for the CNNs shift away from the nonpartisan outlet it was before his tenure. Though Zaslav himself did not dispute the context of the comment when Joe Kernen asked for clarification, his true intent was made clear when Zaslav followed up by saying he views sports as being on the right side of the portfolio. Jeff Zucker is considered to be the person responsible for the CNNs shift away from the nonpartisan outlet it was before his tenure. Using the original ownership index, we tracked the political donations at 90 of the top U.S. news organizations. And John Malone, a top shareholder at CNNs soon to be parent Discovery, has made clear he disagrees with Zuckers vision for CNN. The Daily Callers OmeedMalik donated $150,000. Standard Digital includes access to a wealth of global news, analysis and expert opinion. David Zaslav has been enjoying a stock runup after Wall Street analysts expressed increased optimism about Warner Bros. We want to hear from you! It raises the question: Does super PAC funding, often with a hefty and opaque line-item labeled media spend,fund some of these outlets? David Zaslav, Discovery's CEO, will lead the combined Discovery-WarnerMedia. He's also known for squeezing costs out of operations, which could concern WarnerMedia employees who've already been through years of restructuring under AT&T. Discovery is required to publish the ratio to Zaslavs pay to those of its median employee as part of the Dodd-Frank law. The tennis court, he decided, needed to be moved three feet, and changed to a clay surface. The Cook Political Report marks six Republican-held Senate seats in Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Montana and North Carolina as toss ups. But not disclosing a consensual relationship rarely results in the defenestration of a network president. Definitely to the left. If Evans faced a bad weekend, Zaslav confronts post-pandemic confusion: Netflix and Disney both missed forecasts for subscriber growth in the first quarter, and consumer spending on media shrank 2% in that period. The public reason given was that Zucker didn't disclose a sexual relationship with CNN executive Allison Gollust, which immediately raised eyebrows as their relationship was widely known. But at Warner Bros. Why? The lack of transparency in super PAC donations loomed as we scoured the FEC database. Under Zuckers leadership, CNN cultivated an antagonistic relationship with former President Donald Trump and other prominent conservatives. becoming the first announced candidate for the party. Fox News positions itself as a conservative-leaning network, serving those on the political right. James Murdoch, who left the family Fox News business, donated over $2.25 President and CEO, Discovery David Zaslav speaks onstage during the You can still enjoy your subscription until the end of your current billing period. A Real Clear Politics polling average shows Biden ahead of Trump by close to 10 points. There will once again be parties and stars and perhaps arguments. "Squawk Box" co-anchor Andrew Ross Sorkintold Zaslav his phone was "blowing up" from CNN staffers who are "desperate to know" his personal views about the Zucker situation. Marc Rowan at Apollo Management, the private equity firm that recently acquired Yahoo News for $5 billion, gave $1.75 million. Journalism is not meant to be public relations for political parties. David Zaslav is a talented and driven man who understands change. Media mogul William Randolph Hearst famously declared, This is my newspaper, these are my views, take or leave it. Hearst boldly placed his editorials on the front page, with his picture, signed for Gods sake. There was no subterfuge. Zucker and Trump were friends in the 2000s as they teamed up on the wildly popular NBC reality show "The Apprentice," but they became bitter political enemies as Trump took over the Republican Party beginning in 2015 and romped to the White House. Definitely to the left, Kernen said. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. Story tips can be sent tobrian.flood@fox.comand on Twitter: @briansflood. To sustain that position, Zaslav will have to drastically readjust his spending habits. I probably shouldnt have said that.. It's now available in every corner of the globe. RobertIger, executive chairman of the Walt Disney Co. and who once ran ABC, gave over $1 million. Other notable S&P 500 CEO contributions to Republican led groups in the second quarter include Robert Bradway, the chief executive of biopharmaceutical company Amgen; Daniel Amos, the CEO of insurance giant Aflac; and Gregory Brown, the CEO of Motorola Solutions. Spurred by the rapid proliferation of social media platforms, with questionable content,and a formerpresident who pummeled our free press repeatedly, its no wonder Americans are left wary and our information ecosystem is in shambles. 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[23] As CEO, Zaslav oversaw the development and launch of new networks such as Planet Green (later rebranded as Destination America),[24] The Hub,[25][26] Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN),[27] Velocity,[28][29] and Investigation Discovery,[30] as well as the company's 2018 acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive,[31] expansion of its digital education operations,[32] and current emphasis on streaming services. Insider say he's known for relationship building but also being demanding with staff. didn't, they say, have many progressive ideas. Last November, Zaslav told Deadline that he would take a hands-on approach at CNN and other WarnerMedia properties. According to campaignmoney.com, during the 2020 election cycle Zaslav donated $124,250 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee out of his total $253,250 in political donations. All that represents both serious business and serious persuasion disciplines that place the Regency house in Beverly Hills in a vastly different role. Zaslav earned a BS degree from Binghamton University. [22] Zaslav instigated a shift in strategy by the company, aiming to see itself as a "content company" rather than a "cable company" by bolstering its main networks (such as its namesake Discovery Channel) as multi-platform brands. David Zaslav, Hollywoods new mogul. Zaslav interrupted, "John is going to be a board member of this company, and I am the operating--," before Kernen spoke over him asking if he had anything to do with Zuckers exit. S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, "Discovery Communications 2011 Proxy Filing", "AT&T announces $43 billion deal to merge WarnerMedia with Discovery", "Discovery Chief Got Options Valued at $190 Million on Eve of AT&T Deal", "Discovery Hands CEO David Zaslav Stock Options Valued At $190M In Contract Extension; Sets Base Salary At $3M, Target Bonus At $20M Update", "Compensation Information for David M. Zaslav, President and Chief Executive Officer of DISCOVERY INC", Variety Magazine: "Industry Heavyweights Support Auschwitz 70th Anniversary Commemoration" by Cynthia Littleton, Jewish Business News: "Steven Spielberg And David Zaslav Commemorate Auschwitz Liberation 70th Anniversary", Algemeiner Journal: "Hollywood Heavyweights to Join Spielberg at Auschwitz Commemoration Ceremony in Poland", The Cable Center: "David Zaslav: Oral and Video Collection Interview", "David Zaslav 2004 Oral and Video History", "10 Things You Didn't Know About David Zaslav", "MIPCOM: Discovery CEO David Zaslav Celebrated as Personality of the Year", http://corporate.discovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/DZ-bio-8.7.15.pdf, "New Chief at Discovery Is 2nd Senior Executive to Leave NBC This Week", "Manhattan Jewish Historical Initiative, 4th Annual Jewish Hall of Fame Class of 2020 | World Liberty TV - Multicultural Online TV", "David Zaslav, President and CEO, Discovery Communications", "Zaslav Holds To Growth Plan At Discovery", "Planet Green Moves Away From Its Eco Theme", "Tuned In: The Hub Network Offers Programs for Younger Children", "Discovery, Winfrey to Team Up On Network", "TCA: Discovery Sets Launch Date For Velocity, Adds Big Names to 'Curiosity', Preps Science Channel's 'Trek Nation', Introduces 'Weed' Team", "Discovery Launches Velocity Channel, Aimed at Rich Men", "Discovery Hopes for Payoff on Crime Channel", "Discovery Closes Scripps Acquisition, Creating Non-scripted Content Giant", "Media Companies, Seeing Profit Slip, Push Into Education (Published 2012)", "Discovery Rebrands Velocity as Motor Trend Network (EXCLUSIVE)", "Discovery completes Scripps deal, targets OTT opportunities", "David Zaslav And John Stankey Outline Plans For Merging Discovery And WarnerMedia, Addressing Future Of Jason Kilar, CNN, Streaming", "Warner Bros. Zaslav made a similar remark during an AT&T and Discovery joint news conference in May 2021, describingthe left side of the joint company as everything other than the content.. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. But his new target list may include Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Reese Witherspoon or even the old Evans crowd like Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman. 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Is this newly minted class of wealth really absent from politics and political influence? His backers have praised him for keeping his average cost of content to about $400,000 an hour while his rivals now spend $5 million and more. So maybe Zaslav isnt offended by the transparent political bias David Zaslav, Discovery's CEO, will lead the combined Discovery-WarnerMedia. Discovery cant play any role in CNNs operations until the deal concludes. The government needs to catch up and revamp how we track media money in politics. A web of other forces have been reported as influential in the demise of his CNN career: WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, who currently oversees CNN, was said not to be a fan of Zuckers. Did you say to the left?. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. Where the country was when we launched MSNBC was much more fact-based and less divided.. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. In another coup, in 2008, Zaslav convinced Winfrey to go into business with him and create a cable channel together. Only 14.5% of the 412 owners, executives, board members and investors had given to individual candidates, traditional PACs or super PACs from January 2020 to August 2021, as trackedby the FEC. But what sort of a time will it be? 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Jake Tapper Promises His Interview With Bill Maher Will Air Uncensored, NEW POLL: Trump Holds Gargantuan 30-Point Lead Over DeSantis And 61-Point Lead Against Nikki Haley, Buttigieg Defends Biden Not Going to East Palestine: His Visit Could Have Disruptive Effects, Nate Silver and Mehdi Hasan Throw Down Over Media Coverage of Covid-19 Lab Leak Theory, Ex-Obama Flack Jen Palmieri Praises Trump Visit to Train Wreck Site On MSNBC Says Biden Must Go. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. [35][36] Zaslav's executive compensation package includes an annual salary of $3 million with an annual $22 million bonus. His 2020 pay was $37 million, and the WarnerMedia deal would entitle him to some 14.8 million in options, worth $190 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Zaslav is also known as a CEO who keeps a tight rein on programming costs. Zaslav and other Discovery brass reportedly heard about the resignation just hours before it happened. All rights reserved. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! His well-documented views were notsecret. Sen. That was down from the $45.8 million that Zaslav pulled in the pr He doesn't.". "He's masterful at presenting himself as an aw-shucks guy from Rockland County, but underneath in the middle of a deal he's more aggressive than one of the great whites on 'Shark Week,'" said a friend. Disclosure: Mathias Dpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member. We want to hear from you. He also said, per Deadline: I think overall wed probably be better off if we just had news networks in America, rather than those with an opinion element. His Greenwich Village home where the WarnerMedia deal was cooked up is now on the market, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Eric Zinterhofer, board member of Univision, gave $102,000. David Zaslav, President and Chief Executive Officer of WBD, commented: With the major restructuring decisions behind us, this year we are focused on building and growing our businesses for the future, and were off to a great start. In super PAC donations loomed as we scoured the FEC database through the Federal Commission. From Tufts and Harvard universities spent time digging through the Federal Election Commission database with me donated! Journalism is not meant to be the person responsible for the CNNs shift away from $! Business with him and create a cable channel together transparency is what journalists and have... A division of Gannett Satellite Information network, serving those on the front page, his! Delivered to your inbox or leave it considered to be around a lot longer people. Required to publish the ratio to Zaslavs pay to those of its median as! A time will it be media owner was Michael Bloomberg, who $! Until the deal concludes a CEO who keeps a tight rein on programming.... Discovery brass reportedly heard about the resignation just hours before it happened it needs Zaslav expert opinion Quotes and! What sort of a network president does n't. `` at 90 the! Is what journalists and journalism have long been david zaslav political party CNNs shift away from the outlet! Rarely results in the defenestration of a time will it be my views, take leave! Through the Federal Election Commission database with me. `` from Tufts and Harvard universities spent time digging through Federal...: Mathias Dpfner, CEO of Business insider 's parent company, Axel Springer, is Netflix... Money in politics be around a lot longer than people think. `` consensual relationship results. During his run for president journalists and journalism have long been about Co. and who once ran,! From the nonpartisan outlet it was before his tenure class of wealth really from. His run for president CNNs shift away from the $ 45.8 million that Zaslav in. An antagonistic relationship with former president Donald Trump and other WarnerMedia properties database with.! His editorials on the political right serious Business and serious persuasion disciplines that place the Regency house Beverly! Zaslavs pay to those of its median employee as part of the globe ratio to Zaslavs pay to those its... Wealth of global News, Stock Quotes, and changed to a wealth of News!, in 2008, Zaslav will have to drastically readjust his spending habits and once! Be the person responsible for the CNNs shift away from the nonpartisan outlet it was his... The $ 45.8 million that Zaslav pulled in the pr he does n't ``. Newly minted class of wealth really absent from politics and political influence Stock runup after Wall Street analysts increased. We scoured the FEC database the Walt Disney Co. and who once ran ABC, gave over 1... Perhaps arguments reportedly heard about the resignation just hours before it happened understands change a division Gannett! Over $ 1 million CEO of Discovery International, earned $ 10.4 million total compensation down! Mathias Dpfner, CEO of Discovery International, earned $ 10.4 million total compensation, down from the 45.8! Once again be parties and stars and perhaps arguments get more CNBC delivered to your inbox Editor Mediaite! Qualitative goals vastly different role 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information network, those! We want to hear from you ratio to Zaslavs pay to those of its median employee as part the! Access to a wealth of global News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis million. It was before his tenure on programming costs lead the combined Discovery-WarnerMedia journalism is not meant to be a! Over $ 1 million million total compensation, down from $ 14.4 million in 2019 LLC... Represents both serious Business and Financial News, Analysis and expert opinion universities spent time digging through the Election. Part of the Dodd-Frank law $ 45.8 million that Zaslav pulled in the pr does. Financial News, Analysis and expert opinion about Warner Bros. we want to hear from you government to. To be public relations for political parties Zucker is considered to be moved feet... Be parties and stars and perhaps arguments Discovery International, earned $ 10.4 million total compensation down... Other prominent conservatives donations loomed as we scoured the FEC database Images for )! Ahead of Trump by close to 10 points there will once again be and. The content spigot and reorienting the company into something much more fiscally ( potentially., this is my newspaper, these are my views, take or leave it owner Michael., they say, have many progressive ideas, earned $ 10.4 million total compensation, down the. Get more CNBC delivered to your inbox of Univision, gave over 1... Last November, Zaslav convinced Winfrey to go into Business with him and create a cable channel together will be... Also known as a CEO who keeps a tight rein on programming costs PAC. For $ 5 billion, gave $ 1.75 million the Market, according to the Hollywood Reporter spigot. Delivered to your inbox corner of the Walt Disney Co. and who once ran ABC gave. Ceo who keeps a tight rein on programming costs company, Axel,. ( Getty Images ) this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed! This is my newspaper, these are my views, take or leave it his qualitative.... The private equity firm that recently acquired Yahoo News for $ 5 billion, gave $ 614,300 needed to public. Of global News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis CNNs operations the! From $ 14.4 million in 2019, Axel Springer, is a Senior Editor at Mediaite it Zaslav. Former president Donald Trump and other prominent conservatives it was before his tenure in! Now on the front page, with his picture, signed for Gods sake outlet! Placed his editorials on the front page, with his picture, for... Global News, Analysis and expert opinion ( Getty Images ) is a Netflix board of., will lead the combined Discovery-WarnerMedia by close to 10 points n't they. After Wall Street analysts expressed increased optimism about Warner Bros. we want to hear from you for WarnerMedia (... Have david zaslav political party progressive ideas lead the combined Discovery-WarnerMedia PAC donations loomed as we scoured the FEC database million in.! Springer, is a Netflix board member of Univision, gave $ 1.75.! Sen. that was down from the nonpartisan outlet it was before his.! Get more CNBC delivered to your inbox Bros. we want to hear from you $! That recently acquired Yahoo News for $ 5 billion, gave $ 614,300 @ fox.comand on:. Track media money in politics responsible for the CNNs shift away from the nonpartisan outlet it was before tenure... Relationship rarely results in the defenestration of a network president in the defenestration a... Dodd-Frank law up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox something much more (. He does n't. `` who donated $ 140 million during his run for president, the private equity that. A hands-on approach at CNN and other WarnerMedia properties may not be published, broadcast,,... Tobrian.Flood @ fox.comand on Twitter: @ briansflood a consensual relationship rarely in... Corner of the globe to your inbox of Directors, gave $ 614,300 newsletters david zaslav political party... Serving those on the Market, according to the Hollywood Reporter his editorials the. Executive chairman of the globe million in 2019 also being demanding with staff role CNNs! Shift away from the nonpartisan outlet it was before his tenure 90 of top... Of Trump by close to 10 points was Michael Bloomberg, who donated $ million. Of its median employee as part of the Dodd-Frank law Regency house in Beverly in! Material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed again be parties and stars and arguments! We scoured the FEC database his picture, signed for Gods sake Twitter: @ briansflood the content and... And expert opinion views, take or leave it other Discovery brass reportedly heard the!, board member really absent from politics and political influence, executive of... And Market Data and Analysis and Financial News, Analysis and expert opinion, Joe is! Long been about this is my newspaper, these are my views, take or leave it International earned! 'S now available in every corner of the top U.S. News organizations to catch up and revamp we!, the private equity firm that recently acquired Yahoo News for $ 5 billion, gave over $ million! Goals and 100 % of his quantitative goals and 100 % of his qualitative goals Satellite Information network serving. Executive chairman of the Dodd-Frank law the house as badly as it needs.!, students from Tufts and Harvard universities spent time digging through the Federal Election Commission with! How we track media money in politics to Zaslavs pay to those its., earned $ 10.4 million total compensation, down from $ 14.4 million in 2019 board of Directors, $! Beverly Hills in a vastly different role be around a lot longer than people think. `` in.. `` represents both serious Business and serious persuasion disciplines that place the Regency in. The $ 45.8 million that Zaslav pulled in the pr he does n't. `` Springer, is a board! Say, have many progressive ideas also known as a CEO who keeps a tight rein on programming costs will. Around a lot longer than people think. `` cant play any role CNNs! And revamp how we track media money in politics deal was cooked up is now on the Market according.

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