Through a renewed joint venture between Discovery Communications and CTV, Discovery today announced the launch of three new channel brands in Canada – DISCOVERY WORLD HD, INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY (ID) and DISCOVERY SCIENCE – later this year. DISCOVERY WORLD HD will launch on Monday, August 2 and will be offered to viewers on a free preview basis (details below). Next, INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY (ID) will be available beginning Monday, August 30; followed by DISCOVERY SCIENCE on Monday, September 27.
With a fully-unique primetime schedule, DISCOVERY WORLD HD will showcase a beautiful and brilliant portrait of our world in vivid high definition. INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY (ID) will offer a compelling inside look at forensics, the paranormal and the fascinating human potential for good and evil; and DISCOVERY SCIENCE will explore the cool innovations, experiments and discoveries that shape our world.
“These distinct new brands, each with their own strengths and character, are proven success stories around the world,” said Paul Lewis, President and General Manager, Discovery Channel. “I am delighted that we can bring these new services to Canadians and offer viewers compelling new destinations for factual entertainment.”
DISCOVERY WORLD HD
LAUNCHING: Monday, August 2 / Free Preview Aug. 2-Sept. 1*
**Rebrand of Discovery HD**
Available in more than one million homes, DISCOVERY WORLD HD is Canada’s premiere destination for extraordinary and exclusive content to bring audiences even closer to their world. With breathtaking landscapes, fascinating people and incredible stories from around the world, DISCOVERY WORLD HD offers an unparalleled sensory experience that explores life’s most amazing journeys. With awe-inspiring imagery and expansive detail, DISCOVERY WORLD HD reveals the wonders of the world – past and present – with themes ranging from culture, science and natural history to travel and lifestyle.
DISCOVERY WORLD HD will be a Canadian leader in high-definition programming, featuring 100% unique programming in primetime. This fall, in a groundbreaking, fully immersive experience, follow the doomed, the brave and the survivors in the epic television event LAST DAY OF THE DINOSAURS. Also this season, explore the cosmos in THROUGH THE WORMHOLE WITH MORGAN FREEMAN; experience the isolated beauty of the world’s biggest ocean with the BBC series SOUTH PACIFIC; and original Canadian series SAVAGED: WITH DAVE SALMONI reveals how to survive an animal attack.
(*Note: Participating television service providers will make DISCOVERY WORLD HD available to their customers during the free preview period).
INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY
LAUNCHING: Monday, August 30
**Replaces Court TV**
Launched in the U.S. in January 2008, INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY (ID) is the #1 non-sports cable channel in America for growth in all key demos¹. When INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY comes to Canada, it will bring justice to television. The new channel offers arresting entertainment that delivers remarkable insight into the real-life world of investigation, exploration of the latest forensic analysis and true stories that piece together the dramatic puzzles of human nature. INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY expands on these themes by touching on some less common areas of investigation, including the paranormal and modern mysteries.
This fall, renowned journalist Paula Zahn examines headline-grabbing criminal investigations in ON THE CASE WITH PAULA ZAHN. Also, explore the fascinating criminal mind with the premiere of PRISON WIVES, which profiles men and women who have fallen in love – and remain devoted to each other – despite one spouse serving time behind bars; and I (ALMOST) GOT AWAY WITH IT which follows the lives of criminals on the run.
DISCOVERY SCIENCE
LAUNCHING: Monday, September 27
**Replaces Discovery Civilization**
If it’s a big idea, you’ll find it on DISCOVERY SCIENCE! Amazing viewers with cool innovations, ingenious breakthroughs and the latest consumer gadgets, Discovery Science explores the field’s past, present and future. Taking things apart, peering inside and putting things together in new and unexpected ways – DISCOVERY SCIENCE celebrates the trials, errors and scientific events that change the world forever. Exploring the quirky side of technology, human progress, scientific discoveries and the people behind them, DISCOVERY SCIENCE is where cool and curiosity meet.
Invisibility cloaks, teleportation and time travel? SCI FI WITH MICHIO KAKU poses the idea that science fiction may not be so far from science fact. And at the intersection of art and science, SCIENCE OF THE MOVIES breaks down famous movie scenes to reveal how each sequence was strung together. Also this season, METEORITE MEN goes on a thrilling hunt for meteors, ancient alien artifacts from distant worlds.
About Discovery Brands in Canada
A joint venture between CTV (Canada) and Discovery Communications Inc. (DCI) operates five Discovery-branded channels in Canada. Including three new brands launching in 2010, this portfolio represents the best and boldest factual entertainment in the world. Available in over 180 countries, DISCOVERY CHANNEL launched in Canada in 1995 and is now available in more than eight million homes. Launched in 2001, ANIMAL PLANET captures the drama and compelling characters of the animal kingdom, from the most perilous encounters with nature’s fiercest predators to the pets we bring into our own family. Three brands coming to Canada in 2010 include DISCOVERY WORLD HD, which will offer exclusive content and an unparalleled sensory experience exploring the beauty and richness of life’s most incredible journeys; INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY which will bring justice to television with a deeper look into the world of crime, forensics, paranormal investigation and modern mysteries; and DISCOVERY SCIENCE which will explore the quirkier side of technology, human progress, scientific discoveries and the people behind them.
¹ The Nielsen Company, NHI Calendar, Live +SD data, Time-Period Dayparts (Prime (M-Sun 8-11p)), 12/28/09-03/28/10 vs. 12/29/08-03/29/09.
