TCA: Zaslav -- Discovery To Invest $1.5 Billion In Original Programming

Complete Coverage: 2013 TCA Summer Press Tour

Discovery Communications will continue to support its 14 cable channels by investing $1.5 billion in original programming this year, according to Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

Zaslav, who opened Discovery's Television Critics Association summer tour presentation Thursday, said that the company has significantly improved support for its cable business since his arrival seven years ago. The company's 14 channels currently have a cable viewership share of 11% compared to just 3.5% in 2006. Discovery has also doubled its commitment to original programming during that time to $1.5 billion from $500 million, according to Zaslav.

"Here in the US we've launched more channels in aggregate than all the other media companies combined," he said. "We still believe that if we can find a compelling brand, create good storytelling and characters and invest with great creative energy, we can create new channels that people spend time with. We're finding some meaningful success."

 Zaslav also pointed to Discovery's international business, touting that the company "makes more money with our cable business and is the largest international cable programmer in the world."

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.