Investigation Discovery

Investigation Discovery
Launched	1996
Owned by	Discovery Communications, Inc.
Picture format	480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV)
Headquarters	Silver Spring, Maryland
Formerly called	Discovery Civilization Network: The World History and Geography Channel (1996-1998) Discovery Civilization Channel (1998-2003) Discovery Times (2003-2008)
Sister channel(s)	Discovery Channel TLC Animal Planet OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Planet Green Discovery Fit & Health The Hub Military Channel Science Velocity
Website	http://www.investigationdiscovery.com
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV	Channel 285 Channel 1285 (VOD)
Dish Network	Channel 192 (SD/HD)
C-Band	AMC 11-Channel 614 (4DTV Digital)
n (Poland)	Channel 136
Cable
Available on many cable systems	Check local listings for channels
Verizon FiOS	Channel 123 (SD) Channel 623 (HD)
IPTV
AT&T U-verse	Channel 260 (SD) Channel 1260 (HD)

Investigation Discovery (commercially abbreviated and stylized as ID.) is a television network that is owned by Discovery Communications. The channel features documentary-style programming dealing with criminal investigations (primarily homicides), and other crime-related documentaries.

History

The channel launched in 1996 under the name Discovery Civilization Network: The World History and Geography Channel. It was one of four digital networks rolled out by Discovery Communications simultaneously in October 1996.^[1] Plans for the channel had surfaced in November 1994, when its working name was "Time Traveler".^[2]

In April 2002, New York Times Television and Discovery Communications announced a joint venture to run the Discovery Civilization Channel. By then, it was available in 14 million households. The partnership aimed to complement the historical shows, with programming about current events and contemporary history.^[3] In 2003, the channel was rebranded as Discovery Times, focusing more on American culture and programming pertaining to the well-being and culture of the people of America, as well as other miscellaneous programming. The previous name was described as "is a little off-message" by executives.^[4] The Discovery Civilization Channel has continued to exist as a digital cable specialty channel in Canada.

In April 2006, the New York Times sold its stake in Discovery Times back to Discovery Communications, ending its ownership in the channel.^[5]

Also in 2006, the network's on-air identity was rebranded by creative studio Trollback + Company. On January 27, 2008, Discovery Times was renamed "Investigation Discovery".^[6] The Discovery Civilization Channel has continued to exist as a digital cable specialty channel in Canada.

In addition to the television network, an Investigation Discovery website was also launched. Contributors to the website include crime writers David Lohr, Corey Mitchell, and Gary C. King.

The channel's simulcast Investigation Discovery HD is available on select Time Warner Cable and Comcast systems. In September 2009 testing on the Dish Network satellite system for Investigation Discovery HD had begun, and was rolled out before the beginning of 2010.

Programming

Current series

• Behind Mansion Walls
• Call 911
• Cold Blood
• Crime Scene University
• Dallas DNA
• Dateline
• Deadly Women
• Deranged
• The Devil You Know
• Disappeared
• Escaped
• The FBI Files
• FBI: Criminal Pursuit
• Forensic Detectives
• 48 Hours
• A Haunting
• I (Almost) Got Away with It
• I Married A Mobster
• Life of a Crime
• Mega Heist
• Most Evil
• The New Detectives
• Nothing Personal
• On the Case with Paula Zahn
• Personal Justice
• Real Interrogations
• The Real NCIS
• Twisted
• The Shift
• Stalked
• Stolen Voices, Buried Secrets
• Solved
• True Crime with Aphrodite Jones
• Unusual Suspects
• Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry?
• Wicked Attraction

International versions

Canada

Main article: Investigation Discovery (Canada)

Investigation Discovery is also available in Canada, via digital cable and satellite providers, the channel launched on August 30, 2010. Investigation Discovery is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (the parent company which also operates other Discovery-branded channels in Canada).

Europe

Main article: Investigation Discovery Europe

See also

• List of DirecTV channels
• List of Dish Network channels

Notes

1. ^ "Digital Play in the U.S. of A.". Realscreen. April 1, 1999. http://www.realscreen.com/articles/magazine/19990401/25107.html?page=3. 
2. ^ "Discovery plans launch of four newly created nets. (Discovery Communications Inc.)". Multichannel News. November 1994. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4895/is_199411/ai_n17979053/. 
3. ^ "The New York Times Company and Discovery Communications, Inc. Announce Joint Venture in Discovery Civilization Channel" (Press release). The New York Times Company. April 5, 2002. 
4. ^ "'Civilization' Seeks Current-Affairs Niche". Multichannel News. November 4, 2002. http://www.allbusiness.com/company-activities-management/board-management-changes/6242920-1.html. 
5. ^ "Discovery Times to Sell Stake". New York Observer. 2006-04-13. http://www.observer.com/node/32855. Retrieved 2008-01-27. 
6. ^ "Discovery Investigates". Long Island Newsday. 2008-01-26. Archived from the original on 2008-01-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20080129093635/http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-torchwood5550766jan26,0,5830607.column. Retrieved 2008-01-27. "Tomorrow, the Discovery Times digital channel morphs into Investigation Discovery. (ID, get it?) Premiere night features "Deadly Women" (tomorrow at 8 p.m.), about female killers, and a related episode of "48 Hours: Hard Evidence" (tomorrow at 9 p.m., all on ID). Read the new channel's case file at http://blogs.discovery.com/criminal_report" 

External links

• Official website
• The New York Times in Television - Contains a complete chronological history of the New York Times Television events, and a list of New York Times Television's series'.