Back to Discovery Communications Reviews
Discovery Communications – “Despite many growing pains, Discovery is great place to work”
Aug 23, 2008
2008-08-23 07:01 PDT
Details
Pros
Discovery has great brands that most people love. The work is often challenging and rewarding. Despite Discovery's strength, there are many areas that it needs to development, particularly in the digital space. This presents tons of opportunity for those who work hard and are good at what they do. Most people are relatively easy to work with, and there is very little office politics or drama.
Cons
Because the culture is less cut throat than other places, people remain in positions even if their performance is mediocre or poor. While I like the more laid back environment, I do think there needs to be more accountability. Zaslav has introduced a culture of accountability at the senior executive level, but it has just beginning to make its way to the rest of the ranks.
Advice to Senior Management
Continue the trend of getting more focused around company and department goals.
Helpful Review?
Yes |
No
by John:
Gutting your core longtime workforce, the true DNA of DCI, will have consequences. Tenure will become much shorter for staff as the company goes public. One bad quarter, more layoffs. Paycuts to senior management? Unthinkable. The reality is that DCI is in an ever increasing fragmented marketplace. The ratings for their programming have never significantly changed and they have become very me too. Were it not for the annoying bugs that every net places on the screen in the corner, you wouldn't know what channel you are watching.
Culture of accountability?! What's in the coffee in Silver Spring these days? Zaslav's splashy move of hiring a new GM for TLC lasted all of a year before he pulled the plug. Guess that move to LA didn't provide the results he needed to convince investors of his competence. That move alone should raise red flags. He is in over his head, and the accountability for decisions will not be with him. It is typical chickensh*t leadership from yet another young CEO that is in diapers.
This was once a great company. They will be able to attract people for a few more years with that alone. But don't kid yourself. It is the ultimate back stabbing company. When you cut people based on the salary they make and how many unvested shares in the company they have (just look at last April 2007- the amount of shares they were able to bring back under control by cutting people whose performance was not poor, but simply made based on $$$).