DCI confirms Nordic team

MIPTV: Discovery Communications (DCI) has confirmed Henrik Ravn as president and MD of its newly formed Nordic channels division, now called SBS Discovery Media.

Since 2009, Ravn has been running the 12-channel SBS Nordic portfolio that used to be part of ProSiebenSat.1 Group, acquired last year by DCI. The SBS channels have now been combined with DCI’s pay channels into one group.

He is joined in the new group by Christian Kemp as CEO of Denmark, Jonas Sjögren as CEO of Sweden/Finland, Harald Strømme as CEO of Norway, Hans van Rijn as business development director, Eivind Landsverk as programming and content director, and Quinton Holland as chief financial officer.

Jan Andreassen, who used to run Discovery’s Nordic business, will be “a key member of the integration team,” said DCI, working with Ravn and the senior management to advise on operational and strategic issues.

DCI’s deal with ProSiebenSat.1 Group, reported by C21 last year, adds 12 TV channels to the eight the company already operates in the Nordic region.

“The formation of SBS Discovery Media solidifies Discovery’s long-term growth in some of the most well-penetrated and stable TV markets in the world, while also expanding Discovery’s brand portfolio by adding scripted entertainment programming to the company’s suite of genres,” said David Zaslav, president and CEO of DCI.

“This acquisition, along with the recent announcement of Discovery’s equity stake in Eurosport, is a continuation of a 25-year strategy of investing internationally to build the most extensive global footprint in media and extending our presence in key markets to support long-term growth and diversify the company’s offerings.”