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Discovery Channel (Canadian TV channel)

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Discovery Channel
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNationwide
Headquarters9 Channel Nine Court, Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerCTV Specialty Television, Inc.
(Bell Media-ESPN Inc.
(80% and managing partner)
Warner Bros. Discovery (20%)
Sister channelsAnimal Planet
Canal D
Discovery Science
Discovery Velocity
Investigation Discovery
History
LaunchedJanuary 1, 1995; 29 years ago (1995-01-01)
Links
WebsiteDiscovery Channel Canada

Discovery Channel (often referred to as simply Discovery) is a Canadian discretionary specialty television channel owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc. (a joint venture between Bell Media & ESPN Inc. that owns 80%) and Warner Bros. Discovery (which owns the remaining 20%).

Launched on January 1, 1995 by NetStar Communications, this channel is devoted to nature, adventure, science and technology programming. The channel is headquartered at 9 Channel Nine Court in the Agincourt neighbourhood of Scarborough in Toronto, Ontario.

Bell Media will lose the rights to the Discovery Channel brand and its U.S. programming at the end of 2024; the channel will rebrand as a Canadian version of USA Network on January 1, 2025. A new, separate Discovery-branded channel owned by Rogers Sports & Media will launch in Canada at the same time.

History

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Licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in 1994, Discovery Channel launched on January 1, 1995 under the ownership of NetStar Communications Inc.

On March 24, 2000, the CRTC approved a proposal by CTV Inc. to acquire voting interest in NetStar Communications Inc. CTV renamed the company CTV Specialty Television Inc.

A high definition simulcast feed of Discovery Channel that broadcasts in the 1080i resolution format was launched on August 15, 2003.[1] The feed would later be shut down on December 19, 2005, and be replaced by a separate category 2 digital cable specialty channel called Discovery HD Theatre.

On June 17, 2011, Bell Media announced that it would launch, for a second time, an HD simulcast feed of Discovery Channel; this feed was launched on August 18, 2011.[2]

Loss of Discovery rights, relaunch as USA (2024–25)

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On June 10, 2024, Rogers Sports & Media announced it had reached an agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) for Canadian rights to its lifestyle brands beginning in January 2025. Although not mentioned in Rogers' press release, multiple media outlets, including Rogers-owned CityNews, reported that the affected channels include Discovery Channel and other brands of the former Discovery Communications (pre-Scripps Networks Interactive merger) which had been managed by Bell in Canada. [3][4]

Bell subsequently said in a statement that it would "assert [its] rights", citing protections it had previously negotiated against the launch of direct competitor channels.[5] On June 19, Bell filed for an injunction against WBD supplying any Discovery programming to Rogers for at least two years after its own deal expires, claiming it was entitled to a "window to adjust" under its outgoing contract in the event of non-renewal.[6]

According to Rogers, the injunction requested by Bell would—if granted—prevent the company from operating any linear TV channels under the relevant brands during that timeframe, but would not affect other content rights.[7] Nevertheless, Rogers subsequently announced plans to launch its own channels under the Discovery and Investigation Discovery (ID) brands on January 1, 2025, along with on-demand distribution of content from other brands of the former Discovery Communications.[8] On October 8, 2024, Bell settled with WBD, agreeing to a renewal of its separate library deals with HBO and Warner Bros. for its Crave service, as well as co-production and international distribution pacts for Bell Media original programming, allowing Rogers' relaunch of the Discovery brands to proceed.[9]

On October 17, Bell Media announced it would relaunch the channel as a Canadian version of USA Network on January 1, 2025, as part of an agreement with Comcast's NBCUniversal which will also see Bell Media's version of ID relaunched under the similar Oxygen True Crime brand. The revamped channel will carry over select reality series that had been commissioned by Discovery Canada, while also airing past and present USA series (some of which were already airing on Bell channels), including Suits and The Traitors.[10] Due to CRTC genre regulation changes in 2015, Bell can make significant programming and brand changes of this type to an existing channel without regulator approval.[11] USA and Oxygen will mark Bell's second and third active channel partnerships with NBCUniversal, following the relaunch of Star! as E! in 2010; Comcast and Bell Media's predecessors were also co-owners of OLN from 1997 to 2008.[12]

Programming

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In addition to shows acquired from its U.S. counterpart, the Canadian Discovery Channel produced much of its own original programming through its Exploration Production group including its former flagship daily science news program, Daily Planet, and its own domestic version of Cash Cab.[13] Several programs produced by the Canadian Discovery Channel (such as How It's Made) have also aired on the U.S. Science Channel.

Since 2015, enabled by the 2015 retirement of CRTC genre protection rules which mandated that it predominantly air factual programming,[11] Discovery has made ventures into scripted entertainment programming with loose connections to history or STEM concepts. In November 2015, Bell Media announced Discovery Channel Canada's first original scripted drama, the Jason Momoa-fronted Netflix co-production Frontier, chronicling the North American fur trade.[14] In 2018, it began to devote portions of its schedule to reruns of police procedural series such as Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, and NUMB3RS.

Original series (aired both past and present)

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Over-the-Air Transmitters Now Broadcasting CTV High-Definition Signals in Toronto and Vancouver CTV 2005-08-17
  2. ^ Discovery Channel and Bell Media Factual Networks Announce Fall 2011 "Must See" Highlights CNW 2011-06-17
  3. ^ Thiessen, Connie (June 10, 2024). "Rogers scoops Warner Bros. Discovery rights from Corus and Bell". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  4. ^ "Rogers announces licensing deals with NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery". CityNews.ca. June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  5. ^ Faguy, Steve (June 10, 2024). "Rogers kneecaps Corus, stealing Canadian rights to HGTV and Food Network". Fagstein. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Hudes, Sammy (July 2, 2024). "Bell files injunction seeking to block Rogers from broadcasting Warner Bros. content". The Canadian Press. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  7. ^ Thiessen, Connie (June 28, 2024). "Bell files injunction against Rogers in Warner Bros. Discovery content battle". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  8. ^ Thiessen, Connie (August 28, 2024). "Rogers outlines plans to launch new channels". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Whittock, Jesse (2024-10-08). "Bell Expands Warner Bros Discovery Pact For HBO & Max Content And Ends Legal Action Over Rogers Deal". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  10. ^ Bell Media (October 17, 2024). "Bell Media Brings Powerhouse Brands USA Network and Oxygen True Crime to Canada" (Press release). Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (March 12, 2015). "Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-86". Retrieved May 12, 2018. (paragraph 254)
  12. ^ CTVglobemedia (November 1, 2010). "CTV and Comcast International Media Group Partner to Bring E!, World's Top Entertainment Brand, Back To Canada" (Press release). Archived from the original on March 22, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "Bell Media cancels shows 'Daily Planet' and 'Innerspace,' lays off 17 positions". The London Free Press. 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  14. ^ "Netflix Picks Up Canadian Period Action Series 'Frontier' Starring Jason Momoa". Deadline. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  15. ^ David, Greg (July 24, 2022). "Discovery reveals the 12 carvers competing in the all-new series A Cut Above, beginning August 8". TV, eh. Retrieved July 29, 2022 – via Bell Media.
  16. ^ "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on 2012-04-15. Retrieved 2006-02-17.
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