Discovery Inc.
Discovery, Inc. was the US media company behind the Discovery Channel, which launched in 1985. It merged with AT&T's WarnerMedia on 8 April 2022 and was renamed Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
Industry: Media and entertainment | Location: New York, United States | Founded: 1982
About Discovery Inc.
Discovery, Inc. was an American media company built around the Discovery Channel, which began broadcasting on 17 June 1985. John Hendricks founded the business, which was first known as the Cable Educational Network and later as Discovery Communications. It became Discovery, Inc. in 2018 and, at the time of its merger, listed 230 Park Avenue South in New York as its headquarters.
Hendricks stepped down as chief executive in 2004 and stayed on as chairman. On 20 March 2014 the company announced that he would retire as chairman and director after the annual meeting on 16 May 2014. David Zaslav was president and chief executive at that time and, according to Wikipedia, had held the post since November 2006.
Wikipedia records that the 2018 acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive added Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel, and that Discovery launched its discovery+ streaming service in the United States on 4 January 2021. Its shares traded on Nasdaq under the tickers DISCA, DISCB and DISCK.
Discovery completed its merger with WarnerMedia, the media business of AT&T, on 8 April 2022. The deal was structured as a Reverse Morris Trust: WarnerMedia was distributed to AT&T shareholders and combined with Discovery, leaving AT&T shareholders with 71 percent of the combined company and Discovery's earlier shareholders with 29 percent. Discovery was the accounting acquirer, and it changed its name to Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Shares of the renamed company began trading on Nasdaq on 11 April 2022.
Discovery no longer exists as a separate company. In July 2025 Warner Bros. Discovery said it would split into two companies, Warner Bros. and Discovery Global, with Zaslav heading Warner Bros. On 6 October 2026, according to AFP, Paramount Skydance completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, valuing it at $110 billion; the combined company was renamed Skydance.