Discovery Ups Robert Scanlon to Velocity GM

Robert S. Scanlon is moving up at Discovery Communications.

The senior vp has been promoted to general manager, Discovery announced Monday. With the move, Scanlon will now oversee programming, development, production, marketing and communications at the network. He’ll continue to report to Marjorie Kaplan, group president of Animal Planet, Science Channel and Velocity.

Since starting as senior vp in October 2011, Velocity has become one of the fastest-growing cablers. Its second quarter marked the highest period in primetime and total day delivery for total adults 18-49, men 25-54, total viewers, men 18-34 and men over 18.

Velocity’s original series Fantomworks, Dallas Car Sharks and What’s in the Barn? helped fuel Velocity’s move to No. 46 in the men aged 25-54 demo — up 22 slots and out-delivering NBA-TV, MLB Netowork and the Golf Channel, all of whom have larger subscriber numbers.

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Also key among Velocity’s recent growth have been series Overhaulin’, Chasing Classic Cards and the record-breaking special Space Jump Live, which Velocity and Discovery Channel earned a sports Emmy.

Next up for the cabler is Patrick Dempsey: Racing Le Mans, a four-part miniseries chronicling the Grey’s Anatomy star’s competition in one of auto racing’s oldest and most challenging events.

“Bob’s leadership, strategic thinking and industry expertise have been instrumental in Velocity’s rapid ascent over the past year and a half,” Kaplan said. “Few executives embody their brands better or more completely than he does. Bob is the quintessential ‘Velocity Man.’”

E-mail: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit