Core’s Graboff resurfaces at Discovery

Ex-Core Media Group president Marc Graboff has joined pay TV giant Discovery Communications.

Graboff (pictured left) will be president, global business and legal affairs, production management and studios – a role that includes the duties of former Discovery Studios chief Eileen O’Neill, whose exit was revealed last month.

Among Graboff’s duties are day-to-day management of acquisition, development and programming production for all Discovery channels and digital networks worldwide, and oversight of UK-based production businesses Betty, Raw and All3Media.

Graboff will join Discovery in April, just before O’Neill leaves the business after 25 years.

Meanwhile, Lee Bartlett (below, right), who was executive VP, global production management, business and legal affairs, has been promoted to president of Discovery Studios.

The former ITV Studios exec will report to Graboff. He will oversee a variety of duties, including day-to-day management of Betty and Raw and will be Discovery’s primary liaison for All3Media and chairman of its board.

Graboff left Core in September 2014 as the rights management production company was in the process of merging with Endemol and Shine Group to create the world’s largest production group outside of the US studios.

Before that, he was at NBCUniversal, where held posts including president, west coast business operations for NBCU Television Entertainment. He also worked in business positions for CBS.

In the new post, Graboff will be based in LA and report to Bruce Campbell, Discovery’s chief development and digital media officer and general counsel.

“Content production and acquisition are top areas of focus for Discovery, and in Marc we’ve added one of the industry’s most well-respected dealmakers and business strategists to guide our next phase of growth,” said Campbell.

“Our acquisitions of Betty, Raw and All3Media, along with the increased investment behind Discovery Studios, present a tremendous growth opportunity as viewers’ appetites and our networks’ needs for more engaging original content increase globally. I look forward to Marc and Lee’s leadership across this critical part of our business.”