Henry Schleiff, the programming government who crafted Investigation Discovery into a genuine-crime cable juggernaut, is established to move down from his Discovery article immediately after far more than a decade at the business and 40 many years in the cable Tv organization.
Kevin Bennett is also stepping down as common manager of Investigation Discovery. Jason Sarlanis, who is now senior VP of enhancement for TLC, is finding a large marketing and will acquire in excess of Investigation Discovery along with two other channels that Schleiff now operates. Schleiff will keep on being at the firm via the conclusion of the yr and he has a 1st-appear generation pact with Discovery beyond that.
The shuffle comes as Discovery is getting ready for a mega merger with AT&T’s WarnerMedia. Sources close to the problem mentioned Schleiff’s transfer has been in the functions for some time and is not a reaction to the WarnerMedia deal.
Schleiff joined Discovery in 2009 to just take the reins of Investigation Discovery, or ID. On Schleiff’s look at, ID turned a prime 10 cable community and destintation for correct-criminal offense enthusiasts. Schleiff embraced the style with gusto and intelligent advertising and marketing that walked a wonderful line in drawing viewers to endless programs, mainly unscripted, focused on murder and gals in peril.
“It’s been an honor — and, frankly, a large amount of exciting — to guide my team of networks in this article at Discovery about the previous various many years — and, in particular, to see the achievement and unprecedented growth of ID with its insightful, entertaining — on event, most likely, inspiring programming. And, of course, those stunts and titles: everything superior than ‘Wives With Knives?’” Schleiff wrote in a memo to Discovery staffers.
Schleiff has served as a group president for Discovery considering that 2015, overseeing ID as nicely as Travel Channel, Location The usa and American Heroes Channel. Sarlanis will oversee Spot The us and American Heroes Channel. Howard Lee, president and typical manager of Discovery’s TLC, will add Vacation Channel to his portfolio with Schleiff’s retirement.
“From the minute Henry walked into my business office 12 a long time back, he built an quick impact on our business. He experienced a eyesight to make ID the range a person criminal offense network, and talked with conviction about his encounter launching Court Tv set and knowing the great importance of talent, excitement and a fantastic story,” Discovery CEO David Zaslav wrote in a memo outlining the modifications. “Henry and his remarkable team not only manufactured ID the major criminal offense network, they built it a best five network in all of cable. Since he started off, ID has been 1 of the fantastic advancement tales in Tv, obtaining positioned the organization to be a chief in Real Criminal offense across linear, streaming and Discovery+, as properly as a world wide chief that expanded Discovery’s portfolio to complement and compete in virtually just about every market place in the entire world.”
Sarlanis’ star rose at Discovery with the achievements of its dating show “90-Day Fiancé,” which has been a single of cable’s most-watched courses in the latest years. Like other manufacturer leaders at Discovery, Sarlanis is also tasked with creating original material for the Discovery As well as streamer.
Schleiff is effectively identified all over the cable enterprise for his programming and advertising and marketing savvy, his brief wit and his sartorial aptitude with dapper satisfies. He’s been a crucial mover in cable due to the fact becoming a member of HBO in 1980. He segued to Viacom International in the late 1980s. He also headed Hallmark Channel from 2006 to 2009 and Courtroom Television from 1999 to 2006. From 1996 to 1998, he worked in Television set enhancement for Barry Diller’s Studios United states of america.
Sarlanis joined Discovery in late 2016. Prior to that, he put in eight years at E! and also served a stint at Ryan Seacrest Productions and as VP of specials and choice collection at ABC from 2014 to 2016.
Bennett, executive VP, has been with Discovery for additional than 20 many years. He has been typical supervisor of ID and American Heroes Channel since 2012.
Here is Zaslav’s total memo:
I would like to inform you of Henry Schleiff’s future chapter. Soon after numerous several years and plenty of accomplishments at Discovery, Henry has made the decision to depart Discovery as Group President of ID, Vacation Channel, AHC and Vacation spot The united states to target on his enthusiasm for production, like a 1st glimpse for Discovery networks.
From the minute Henry walked into my workplace 12 decades ago, he designed an instant impact on our organization. He experienced a vision to make ID the variety 1 crime network, and talked with conviction about his practical experience launching Court Tv set and knowing the worth of talent, buzz and a wonderful tale. Henry and his astounding staff not only designed ID the best crime network, they designed it a top rated 5 community in all of cable. Considering that he started, ID has been a person of the wonderful progress stories in Television set, possessing positioned the organization to be a chief in Accurate Criminal offense throughout linear, streaming and Discovery+, as effectively as a global chief that expanded Discovery’s portfolio to enhance and compete in pretty much each individual market place in the planet.
Henry has been a source of leadership, knowledge and insane humor, with an seasoned point of view on how to explain to fantastic tales and market them. There is no a person who can title a demonstrate greater than Henry. From Wives with Knives to Southern Fried Homicide to Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry? Henry taught a great deal of us about showmanship and the electrical power of breaking as a result of, remaining reliable and employing emotion to drive narrative. I will pass up our chats and passionate debates…and no issue, our leadership meetings will definitely not be the exact! Henry will stay until eventually the close of the 12 months.
Independently, Kevin Bennett, the normal manager of ID and Team EVP of programming for Vacation and ID, has decided that following a amazing 25-yr occupation at Discovery, now is the time to step absent to glimpse for new troubles. We are sorry to see him go. His management on ID, AHC, Spot The usa, Discovery Channel and so quite a few other makes has been remarkable.
We are fired up to share with you that Jason Sarlanis will be promoted to President, Criminal offense & Investigative Written content and will get started to changeover into that purpose quickly, reporting to Kathleen Finch. Jason has carried out a great position spearheading the growth of the 90-Day franchise at TLC under Howard Lee’s leadership. We are thrilled to convey some of the magic behind 90-Day and Jason’s nose for cultural buzz to ID as nicely as to discovery+, in which his genres are amongst our most popular. Jason will also believe obligation for AHC and Desired destination The usa. Additional leveraging TLC’s secret sauce for leisure, cultural relevance and reliable storytelling, Howard will now broaden his portfolio with the addition of the Vacation Channel. Journey Channel GM Matt Butler, who has led our productive pivot to paranormal on Travel and discovery+, will now report into Howard.
Remember to be part of me in wishing Henry and Kevin nothing but the finest and great thanks for all the worth they developed, talent they have nurtured, and all the leadership, motivation and devotion to Discovery over the a long time. And congratulations to Howard and Jason on their expanded leadership roles.
Right here is Schleiff’s full memo:
It’s been an honor – and, frankly, a whole lot of pleasurable – to guide my team of networks here at Discovery over the previous a number of yrs – and, particularly, to see the achievements and unprecedented growth of ID with its insightful, entertaining – on celebration, possibly, inspiring programming. And, of class, all those stunts and titles: just about anything superior than “Wives With Knives”?
Our functionality has been due in no modest evaluate from the aid at the best from Zas, Kathleen and other individuals – and, even a lot more so, from the uniquely gifted and committed crew I have been fortunate to guide me, correct me – and, snicker with me.
With my networks now positioned for the up coming act in their contributions to what will be an even larger sized and extra productive corporation, I believed calendar year conclusion would be the great time to stage again from my company responsibilities and delight in the option I will then have to make for a marketplace that is so plainly escalating in need for new articles, in all formats. The timing of all this will also allow for me to be extra energetic as a Board Member at my different not-for-earnings, which includes UNICEF and RFK Human Rights – and, to add to the Innocence Venture. Indeed, my disappointment in leaving is properly offset by the excitement of doing the job with outdated pals and new, with the widespread target of success…and, exciting!