• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, August 2, 2006

Judith McHale, the executive who helped spearhead Discovery's growth during the last two decades from a single network to a global player with a vast portfolio, is stepping down as President-CEO of Discovery Communications.

McHale will continue in her role until Dec. 1. During this time, Discovery plans to select a new top executive and use McHale to help with the transition. The search for a replacement will include both internal and external candidates, Discovery said. Company founder and chairman John Hendricks will lead the search committee, which will also include representatives from shareholders Discovery Holding Co., Advance/Newhouse Communications and Cox Communications.

McHale says she plans to become involved in public interest work; she will continue to play a role in Discovery's education initiatives.

Her departure comes at a time of some uncertainty at the company, amidst a possible slowdown in the cable programming business overall. Prime-time ratings in the adult 18-to-49 demo were down last season at the Discovery and Animal Planet networks, and flat at TLC and Travel Channel. Also, first-quarter ad revenues were down 6 percent for the U.S. networks, and the stock price for the Discovery Holding Co.--a 50 percent owner led by John Malone--is trading just above a 52-week low.

Nevertheless, McHale's tenure among top management at the company will be remembered for an era of spectacular growth. After joining the company as general counsel in 1987 from MTV Networks, McHale rose to President-COO in 1995 and ascended to President-CEO in 2004.

Discovery now operates in 170 countries, and McHale was involved in the acquisitions of TLC and the Travel Channel, the launches of Animal Planet and Discovery Health, and the formation of strategic partnerships with the BBC and New York Times Co.

"When I first came to Discovery, we were a small company with great ambitions," McHale says. "Today we are the leading provider of factual media in the world, with over 100 networks distributed to over one billion subscribers in 170 countries."

"Throughout her distinguished career at Discovery, Judith has made an unparalleled contribution towards making Discovery the phenomenal business success and force for good it has become," says Hendricks. "The Discovery brand and our services around the world are more respected and acclaimed than ever."