Discovery Channel (UK TV channel)

Discovery Channel
Launched	1 April 1989
Owned by	Discovery Networks Western Europe
Picture format	16:9, 576i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV)
Audience share	0.2% 0.1% (+1) 0.0% (HD) (June 2011, BARB)
Slogan	"TV Worth Watching."
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Broadcast area	Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Sister channel(s)	Animal Planet Discovery HD Discovery History Discovery Home & Health Discovery Real Time Discovery Science Discovery Shed Discovery Travel & Living Discovery Turbo DMAX Investigation Discovery Quest
Timeshift service	Discovery Channel +1
Website	www.discoveryuk.com
Availability
Terrestrial
Top Up TV	Programmes available on-demand
Satellite
Sky	Channel 520 Channel 521 (+1) Channel 520 (HD)
Cable
Virgin Media	Channel 212 Channel 213 (+1) Channel 214 (HD)
Smallworld Cable	Channel 520 Channel 521 (+1)
IPTV
BT Vision	Programmes available on-demand
Freewire	Channel 180

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.

It first became available in the UK on April 1, 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 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 May 22, 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 April 1, 2010.^[3] From June 30, 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 June 25, 2007.^[4] It was replaced by Discovery Science +1 on April 21, 2008.

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.^[5][6]

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)
• Wheeler Dealers

References

1. ^ http://corporate.discovery.com/pdf/timeline/
2. ^ "Discovery Maps Out Its Digital Bskyb Services". The Hollywood Reporter. August 19, 1998. http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4797847-1.html. 
3. ^ "Virgin Media customers to get Discovery HD channel and more HD programmes on demand". Virgin Media. 2010-02-10. http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=205406&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1385942&highlight=. 
4. ^ "Discovery launches second timeshift service". The Airwaves. June 25, 2007. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110724095309/http://www.theairwaves.net/index.php/channelnews/2914-discovery-launches-second-timeshirt-service. 
5. ^ Discovery Channel UK - Current Idents (2011)
6. ^ Discovery Channel UK - Current Bumpers (2011)

External links

• Discovery Channel UK
• Discovery Channel Live