Discovery Communications Named To Interbrand's Annual 'Best Global Brands' Report

SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Interbrand, the world's leading brand consultancy, has named Discovery Communications to its annual report on the "Best Global Brands." Ranking 70^th in its first appearance in the report, Discovery is the highest ranked new entrant for 2013. Discovery Communications is one of only three global programmers on the list.

Discovery makes its 2013 debut on the Best Global Brands list after a record-breaking year. Discovery-branded channels are available in more than 220 countries and territories and in 45 languages, reaching more than 1.5 billion subscribers outside the US. Since David Zaslav joined as CEO, the company has grown from making an estimated USD $720 million in total profits to making USD $721 million from its international business alone. Acclaimed programming including the Deadliest Catch series and Shark Week, has allowed Discovery to connect with viewers on a global scale. These moves have positioned the brand as a leader in its sector and have earned it a firm position in Interbrand's 2013 Best Global Brands report.

"Being recognized by Interbrand as one of the best global brands is an honor and a testament to the passion, loyalty and trust that Discovery has ignited in viewers around the world for more than 28 years," said David Zaslav, President and CEO of Discovery Communications. "It is also a validation of Discovery Communications' ongoing strategy of investing in our family of brands to provide viewers with the highest quality programming featuring the best storytelling and the most compelling characters."

"In today's global and social media-obsessed marketplace, brand leaders recognize the need to be highly collaborative," said Jez Frampton, Interbrand's Global Chief Executive Officer. "The top 100 most valuable global brands are unlocking their value by participating, listening, learning, and sharing – and not just with leaders from within their organization, but with consumers too. Brands that learn to think differently about the role they play in consumers' lives – and how to fulfill that role – have an opportunity to change the world in ways they never imagined."

Launched in 1985 to just 156,000 U.S. households, Discovery Channel today is one of the world's most distributed media brands, reaching more than 430 million households in over 220 countries and territories. It is the flagship of Discovery Communications' global family of more than 30 television brands, which also include TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel and Investigation Discovery, among others.

The Interbrand Best Global Brands report is compiled using an ISO-certified methodology that analyzes the many ways a brand touches and benefits an organization, from driving bottom-line business results to delivering on customer expectations. Key criteria include a company's financial performance, how the brand influences consumer choice, and the strength the brand has to command a premium price or secure earnings for the company.

For the full list, click here.

About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 2 billion cumulative subscribers in over 220 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through more than 190 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Across the Nordic region, Discovery owns and operates SBS Discovery Media, a top-three portfolio of 20 television brands that feature leading nonfiction content, as well as locally produced entertainment programs, sports and the best scripted series and movies from major studios. Discovery also is the leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of digital textbooks, and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including Revision3. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

About Interbrand
Founded in 1974, Interbrand is one of the world's largest branding consultancies. With nearly 40 offices in 25 countries, Interbrand's combination of rigorous strategy, analytics and world-class design creativity enables it to assist clients in creating and managing brand value effectively across all touchpoints in all market dynamics.  Interbrand is widely recognized for its Best Global Brands report, the definitive guide to the world's most valuable brands. It is also known for having created a broader platform for the discussion on brands in the Webby-award winning website www.brandchannel.com. For more information on Interbrand, visit www.interbrand.com.

SOURCE Discovery Communications