Discovery Communications and Random House to Create Discovery Channel Books

Posted on September 2, 1998

Discovery Communications, Inc. and Random House, Inc. have entered into an agreement to establish a new book publishing imprint, Discovery Channel Books. The announcement was made by Michela English, president of Discovery Enterprises Worldwide, and Walter Weintz, President of the Random House Information Group.

Under the agreement, Discovery Channel Books will operate as an imprint within the Random House Information Group. Discovery Channel Publishing, a division of DCI, will create editorial content for new nonfiction titles in the categories of nature, science, technology, adventure, exploration, and how-to. Random House will handle production, sales, and subsidiary rights. The imprint will encompass titles related to Discovery Channel programming initiatives, as well as viewers' interests, emphasizing books that can stand alone and enjoy both frontlist and backlist sales.

The first title to be released under the imprint will be Cleopatra's Place, published in conjunction with the upcoming Discovery Channel special, documenting the discovery and exploration of the underwater remains of Cleopatra's sunken palace by famed underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio.

Ms. English said: "Our research indicates that Discovery's viewers are more likely than the average U.S. adult to purchase and read books, and that, as consumers, they see books as a natural extension of Discovery's networks, including Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel (TLC), Animal Planet, and Travel Channel. Our partnership with Random House is the perfect way to leverage this demand with our viewers, and it is an important facet of an integrated strategy of marketing our content across various media."

Discovery Channel Publishing was founded in 1997 to extend the brand into books both domestically and in the international market. It publishes books in three categories: adult nonfiction, travel, and children's books. In addition to distributing and selling through the retail channel, Discovery Channel Publishing will leverage Discovery's various distribution channels, marketing the books through its Discovery Channel and The Nature Company stores, on Discovery's website, and through Discovery Channel Catalogs and direct mail.