American capitalism at it’s finest:

Discovery announces buyouts, possible layoffs

Discovery Communications, the Silver Spring-based television programming company, has announced a round of voluntary buyouts that may lead to layoffs as the cable giant looks to cut costs by the end of September.

“If it is not going to nourish audiences or help us grow long term, we are attacking it,” chief executive David M. Zaslav said in a Thursday morning call with investors. “The ultimate goal is to maximize growth.”

Discovery, which oversees 14 channels including TLC and Animal Planet, declined to say how many jobs would be affected. The company employs 1,500 people locally and more than 7,000 worldwide. It is one of Montgomery County’s largest employers.

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Two years ago, Zaslav was the country’s highest-paid executive, with total compensation of $156.1 million, including $11 million in cash and $145 million in stocks and options, according to company filings with the SEC. In 2015, Zaslav was paid $32.38 million.

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Last quarter, the company’s Discovery Channel had eight of the top 10 unscripted shows on cable, led by “Gold Rush,” “Fast N Loud” and “Alaska Bush People,” Zaslav said. Its Investigation Discover channel, which includes shows such as “Murder Among Friends” and “Evil Stepmothers,” was ranked second among female viewe

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How to become the highest paid exec in this country: feed the never satiated appetite for idiocy while taking away the jobs of your employees.