Discovery Channel (UK and Ireland)
| Discovery Channel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Launched | 1 April 1989 |
| Owned by | Discovery Networks Northern Europe |
| Picture format |
576i (16:9 SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Audience share |
0.30% 0.09% (+1) (September 2015, BARB) |
| Slogan | "TV Worth Watching." |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Broadcast area |
United Kingdom Ireland |
| Sister channel(s) |
Animal Planet Discovery HD Discovery History Discovery Home & Health Discovery Science Discovery Shed Discovery Turbo DMAX Investigation Discovery Quest TLC |
| Timeshift service | Discovery Channel +1 |
| Website | www.discoveryuk.com |
Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Sky (UK) |
Channel 520 (HD) Channel 521 (+1) Channel 561 (SD/HD) |
| Sky (Ireland) |
Channel 520 Channel 521 (+1) Channel 561 (SD/HD) |
| Cable | |
| Virgin Media (UK) |
Channel 250 Channel 251 (HD) Channel 252 (+1) |
| Virgin Media (Ireland) |
Channel 208 Channel 209 (+1) Channel 219 (HD) |
| WightFibre | Channel 75 |
| IPTV | |
| BT |
Channel 322 Channel 376 (HD) |
| Plusnet |
Channel 322 Channel 376 (HD) |
| Streaming media | |
| TVPlayer | Watch live (UK only) (TVPlayer Plus subscription required) |
| Virgin TV Anywhere (UK) | Watch live (UK only) |
| Virgin Media Horizon Go (Ireland) |
Watch live (Ireland only) Watch live (+1, Ireland only) |
| Now TV | Watch live (UK only) |
| Sky Go | Watch live (UK and Ireland only) |
Discovery Channel operated by Discovery Networks Western Europe produces an English speaking channel which targets the United Kingdom and Ireland. The channel's programming is based on programming produced by Discovery Networks Europe, Discovery Channel Canada and Discovery Channel from the US.
History
It first became available in the UK on 1 April 1989 when Discovery Channel Europe launched. It was the first extension of the Discovery Channel outside the United States.[1]
Prior to 1993, UK viewers could receive the channel from Intelsat satellites at 27.5° West. In July 1993, the Discovery Channel launched on the Astra 1C analogue satellite on the popular 19.2° East position where it used to broadcast only in the evening, starting at 4pm. On Astra, the daytime space was filled by CMT Europe until 1994, when TLC (later on Discovery Home & Leisure) moved there. Eventually, Discovery Home & Leisure would broadcast from the morning to 4pm when Discovery Channel took over and would broadcast for ten hours until 2am.
With the launch of Sky Digital in October 1998, Discovery Channel moved its start time to 8am, broadcasting for 18 hours per day. The time-shift channel, Discovery Channel +1, launched at the same time, as did several sister channels.[2] Analogue broadcasts were terminated in 2001.
On 22 May 2006, Discovery HD was made available on Sky as part of the Sky+ HD launch line up. It was also made available on Virgin Media's cable service on 1 April 2010.[3] From 30 June 2011 Discovery HD began to simulcast Discovery Channel in high-definition rather than use a separate schedule.
The channel briefly had a 90-minute timeshift, called Discovery Channel +1.5. It launched on 25 June 2007.[4] It was replaced by Discovery Science +1 on 21 April 2008.
An Irish advertising feed was launched in 2010. Sky Media Ireland operates the channel's output in terms of advertising, sponsorship and scheduling.[5]
On January 2011, Discovery Channel UK released its new look which places its emphasis on the D-globe logo. The project was created by DixonBaxi and Double G Studios.[6][7]
Programming
- MythBusters
- American Chopper
- Extreme Engineering
- How Do They Do It?
- How It's Made
- Deadliest Catch
- Storm Chasers
- Man vs. Wild (known as Bear Grylls: Born Survivor)
- Modern Top Ten
- Wheeler Dealers
- Coal
- Fifth Gear
- Bugs, Bites and Parasites
- X-Ray Mega Airport
References
- ↑ http://corporate.discovery.com/pdf/timeline/
- ↑ "Discovery Maps Out Its Digital Bskyb Services". The Hollywood Reporter. 19 August 1998.
- ↑ "Virgin Media customers to get Discovery HD channel and more HD programmes on demand". Virgin Media. 10 February 2010.
- ↑ "Discovery launches second timeshift service". The Airwaves. 25 June 2007. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
- ↑ O'Carroll, Tristan (1 December 2009). "Discovery appoints Sky Media for TV ad sales in Ireland". Media Week. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- ↑ Discovery Channel UK – Current Idents (2011)
- ↑ Discovery Channel UK – Current Bumpers (2011)
