Jim Louderback, g.m. of Discovery Digital Networks, is leaving the company two years after the cable programmer bought web-video startup Revision3, where he had been CEO.
Louderback announced that he is leaving Discovery Communications in a post on his personal blog Monday to take time off and write a book about being a first-time CEO. Discovery in 2012 acquired Revision3, specializing in content about technology and videogames, that he had run since 2007, in a deal reportedly worth $30 million to $40 million.
“It’s been a great run, both personally and professionally,” Louderback wrote. “But seven years is long enough for just about anything. I guess you could say I got the itch. But it’s not yet an itch to do anything — more of a desire to (do) nothing.”
A Discovery rep confirmed Louderback’s departure and said Colin Decker, Discovery Digital Networks group operating officer, now will be leading the unit. “Jim has been valued member of the family since joining Discovery with the acquisition of Revision3, and we wish him all the best on his next chapter,” the rep said.
The Discovery Digital Networks group’s properties include Revision3.com, Animalist.com, TestTube.com, PhillyD.tv and Sourcefed.com, and its content also is distributed via YouTube, Apple’s iTunes, and 40-plus other partners and devices. In May 2013, Louderback led Discovery’s deal to buy the production company and channels of popular YouTuber Phil DeFranco.
In his blog post, Louderback said his book for newbie CEOs will detail “all the dumb things I did as a way to help them avoid making the same mistakes… I plan on writing an hour a day — and then goofing off for the next 23.” He’s posted the first chapter on his blog.
Prior to Revision3, Louderback worked at Ziff-Davis’ TechTV, PC Magazine and ExtremeTech.com. He started his career at JPMorgan Chase, and has also done work for Pepsi, National Semiconductor and Citibank.
