Zaslav's Pay Jumped to $52.4M in 2011

Discovery Communications CEO David Zaslav's pay rose 23% to $52.4 million in 2011 from the previous year, according to a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Zaslav's salary rose nearly 50% to $2.96 million in 2011 from $2 million. His stock awards were flat at $20 million and his option awards rose to $23.9 million from $15.4 million.

Total compensation for John Hendricks, who founded Discovery and now serves as chairman of the board, declined to $8.9 million in 2011 from $9.5 million.

Two of Discovery's other top execs have either left the company or are about to leave. Former COO Peter Liguori earned $4.8 million in 2011, down from $4.9 million in 2010. And outgoing CFO Brad Singer earned $4.2.9 million, compared to $4.1 the prior year.
.

Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.