Through a spokesman, Mr. Zaslav declined to comment.
That represents a significant departure from his previous approach: Mr. Licht was appointed by Mr. Zaslav personally, without talking to any other candidates except Mr. Licht, according to two people with knowledge of his selection.
He has engineered a series of audacious mergers that have catapulted him to the highest echelons of the media industry.
Discovery and CNN have been the topic of occasional speculation in the media industry as potential acquisition targets.
But Mr. Zaslav told employees emphatically in a town hall last year that the company and its divisions were not for sale.
Persons:
Zaslav, Licht’s, Licht
Organizations:
CNN, Discovery, Scripps Networks Interactive, Warner Bros . Discovery