Discovery Channel Europe

Discovery Channel Europe is the Pan-European version of the Discovery Channel.

Over the years, the Discovery Channel has been split into many different channels for specific regions. Most language regions in Western Europe now have their own versions of the channel, and the Pan-European is therefore now mostly available in countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

The channel is broadcast from the United Kingdom and holds an Ofcom licence. The channel was registered as "Discovery Channel Europe" up until August 2006, when it changed its name to "Discovery (Central & Eastern Europe inc. Russia)".

Discovery Channel Europe was launched from the UK in 1989. It launched on the Astra satellite in 1993. Eventually it split into different channel for different markets, such as Discovery Channel Benelux, Discovery Channel UK and Discovery Channel Nordic. Some of the countries that still receive the European version are Cyprus, Greece, Malta, the Balkans, the Baltic states and Israel.

Discovery Channel (Netherlands)

Discovery Channel is a Dutch television channel. Its primary target is men aged 25–39.

Cable television has a very high penetration in the Netherlands, and the Discovery Channel is available on virtually every platform. It has enjoyed relatively high ratings for several years; in 2003 it had 1.5 percent share of all viewing, which had risen to 1.8 percent in 2008.

The Dutch Discovery Channel distinguishes itself from other versions by having broadcast live sports events. In late November it broadcast three matches from the Eredivisie. The highest rated of these matches was seen by 805,000 viewers.

In August 2009 the channel switched to the 16:9 widescreen format.

In May 2012 Discovery Networks Benelux launched a HD simulcast of Discovery Channel in the Netherlands, replacing Discovery HD Showcase and was first introduced by UPC Netherlands.

Animal Planet and TLC are also widely available in Netherlands. Investigation Discovery, Discovery World and Discovery Science are available in the Netherlands as well, but they are only distributed as part of bonus packages.

Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel (formerly The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply "Discovery") is an American basic cable and satellite television channel (which is also delivered via IPTV, terrestrial television and internet television in other parts of the world) that is the flagship television property of Discovery Communications, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. As of June 2012, Discovery Channel is the third most widely distributed cable channel in the United States, behind TBS and The Weather Channel; it is available in 409 million households worldwide, through its U.S. flagship channel and its various owned or licensed television channels internationally.

It initially provided documentary television programming focused primarily on popular science, technology, and history, but in recent years has expanded into reality television and pseudo-scientific entertainment. Programming on the flagship Discovery Channel in the U.S. is primarily focused on reality television series, such as speculative investigation (with shows such as MythBusters, Unsolved History, and Best Evidence), automobiles, and occupations (such as Dirty Jobs and Deadliest Catch); it also features documentaries specifically aimed at families and younger audiences.

Discovery Channel (UK and Ireland)

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.

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.

Discovery Channel Norway

Discovery Channel Norway is a Norwegian television channel.

Norway is one of the Discovery Channel's strongest markets and the channel regularly has an overall share of viewing of about two percent. It is most popular among younger men.

Discovery Channel used to have one feed covering all four Nordic countries. Special feeds have been launched for Discovery Channel Denmark in 2001 and Discovery Channel Sweden in 2003. Norway and Finland received "Discovery Channel Nordic" until September 1, 2007, when the channel was split into Discovery Channel Norway and Discovery Channel Finland. At the same date, the channels launched in the digital terrestrial network in via RiksTV in Norway and PlusTV in Finland.

Discovery Networks also offer Animal Planet, Animal Planet HD, Discovery HD, Discovery Science, Discovery World and Discovery Travel & Living in Norway.

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