Discovery Communications

Encyclopedia : D : DI : DIS : Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications Inc. (DCI) is an American global media and entertainment company that began as a single channel, the Discovery Channel, launched in 1985. Today, DCI has global operation offering 21 network entertainment brands on over 100 channels in over 160 countries in 33 languages for over 1.3 billion subscribers around the globe.[link] Discovery Communications is based in Silver Spring, Maryland.

DCI both produces original programming and acquires content from producers worldwide. This programming is offered through DCI's 21 network entertainment brands, including Discovery Channel, TLC (The Learning Channel), Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids and a family of digital channels. DCI also distributes BBC America and BBC World to cable and satellite operators in the United States.

Contents

1 Divisions

1.1 Discovery Networks U.S.
1.2 Discovery Networks International
1.3 Discovery Commerce, Education & Other

1.3.1 Discovery commerce
1.3.2 Discovery education

2 Officers
3 Ownership
4 References

Divisions

DCI operates its businesses in three groups: Discovery Networks U.S., Discovery Networks International and Discovery commerce, education and other."

Discovery Networks U.S.

Discovery Networks U.S. operates 13 channels and "provides distribution and advertising sales services for BBC America." According to SEC filings, the division "also operates web sites related to its channel businesses and various other new media businesses, including a video-on-demand offering distributed by various cable operators."

The division's channels include Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Fit TV and the following emerging networks: The Science Channel, Discovery Kids, The Military Channel, Discovery Home, Discovery Times, Discovery en Español and Discovery HD Theater.

DCI fully owns and operates all of the above channels with the exception of:

Animal Planet, in which "Discovery's shareholders, collectively, and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) each own 20%."

Some historical information on the channels:

The Learning Channel was purchased in 1991
FitTV was formerly The Health Network prior to its purchase by Discovery from Fox
The Science Channel was named Discovery Science until 2002
The Military Channel was formerly Discovery Wings
The Travel Channel was under the ownership of Landmark Communications (owners of The Weather Channel) until 1998
Discovery Times was created in 2002 as a joint venture with the New York Times Company
Discovery HD Theater is a high definition network launched nation-wide in 2002

Discovery Networks International

Discovery Networks International, or Discovery international networks offers "a portfolio of channels, led by Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, that are distributed in virtually every pay-television market in the world." The division offers over 85 separate feeds in 33 languages with "channel feeds customized according to language needs and advertising sales opportunities."

DCI owns most channels offered by Discovery Networks International, with the exception of:

(1) the international Animal Planet channels, which are "generally joint ventures in which the BBC owns 50%"
(2) People + Arts, which "operates in Latin America and Iberia as a 50-50 joint venture with the BBC"
(3) several channels in Japan and Canada, which "operate as joint ventures with strategically important local partners."

"As with the U.S. networks division, the international networks operate web sites and other new media businesses."

On January 10, 2006, the Discovery Networks International announced[link] a joint-venture with Spiegel TV and DCTF to provide global free-to-air television to more than 20 million households in Germany and neighboring countries. "The deal is subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals and the completion of closing conditions."

As of January 2006,[link] Discovery International Channels included:

ASIA/INDIA: Discovery Channel Southeast Asia, Discovery Channel Taiwan, Discovery Channel New Zealand, Discovery Channel Australia, Discovery Channel Japan, Discovery Channel Korea, Discovery Channel India, Animal Planet Southeast Asia, Animal Planet Taiwan, Animal Planet Australia/New Zealand, Animal Planet Japan, Animal Planet India, Discovery Travel & Living Southeast Asia, Discovery Travel & Living Taiwan, Discovery Travel & Living Australia/New Zealand, Discovery Travel & Living India, Discovery Science Southeast Asia, Discovery Home and Health Southeast Asia, Discovery Real Time Asia, Discovery HD Japan
UK: Discovery Channel/Discovery Channel, Discovery Home & Health/Discovery Home & Health, Animal Planet/Animal Planet, Discovery Real Time, Discovery Real Time Extra, Discovery Science, Discovery Civilisation, Discovery Travel & Living, Discovery Kids, Discovery Wings
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA (EMEA): Discovery Channel Benelux, Discovery Channel Europe, Discovery Channel Poland, Discovery Channel ME/Africa, Discovery Channel Turkey, Discovery Channel Nordic, Discovery Channel Sweden, Discovery Channel Denmark, Discovery Channel Italy, Discovery Channel France, Discovery Channel Germany, Discovery Channel Hungary, Animal Planet Benelux, Animal Planet Nordic, Animal Planet Europe, Animal Planet Poland, Animal Planet ME/Africa, Animal Planet Germany, Animal Planet Italy, Discovery Science Europe/ME, Discovery Science Italy, Discovery Civilisation Europe, Discovery Civilisation Italy, Discovery Civilisation ME, Discovery Real Time Italy, Discovery Real Time France, Discovery Travel & Living Europe, Discovery Travel & Living Italy,Discovery Geschichte
LATIN AMERICAN/IBERIA: Discovery Channel]] Latin America, Discovery Channel Venezuela, Discovery Channel Mexico, Discovery Channel Brazil, Discovery Channel Argentina, Discovery Channel Iberia (Spain/Portugal), Animal Planet Latin America/Brazil, Discovery Kids Latin America, Discovery Kids Brazil, Discovery Kids Mexico, People+Arts Argentina, People+Arts Latin America, People+Arts Iberia (Spain/Portugal), People+Arts Mexico, People+Arts Brazil, Discovery Travel & Living Latin America/Brazil, Discovery Home & Health Latin America, Discovery Science, Discovery Civilization, Discovery Turbo
CANADA: Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Civilization, Discovery Health, Discovery Kids, Discovery HD

Discovery Commerce, Education & Other

Discovery Commerce, Education & Other includes Discovery commerce and Discovery education

Discovery commerce

Discovery commerce "operates a chain of retail stores in the United States that offer lifestyle, health, science and education-oriented products, as well as products specifically related to programming on Discovery's networks." This division "also operates a catalog and electronic commerce business selling products similar to that sold in the Discovery Channel Stores, as well as a licensing business that licenses Discovery trademarks and intellectual property to third parties for the purpose of creating and selling retail merchandise."

Discovery education

Discovery Education is a division which offers "streaming educational video material into schools via the internet." Discovery education operates unitedstreaming, a "leading educational broadband streaming service in the United States."

Officers

Officers include:

Judith A. McHale, President and Chief Executive Officer, Discovery Communications.

Ownership

DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders:

Discovery Holding Company (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB)
Cox Communications, Inc.
Advance/Newhouse Communications[link] which is affiliated with Advance Publications
John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.

References

SEC filings by Discovery Holding Company[link], which holds 50% of Discovery Communications

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