Discovery Communications LLC (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 operations offering 29 network entertainment brands on over 100 channels in over 170 countries in 33 languages for over 1.5 billion subscribers around the globe.[1] Discovery Communications is based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Image File history File links Discovery_Communications. ... A subsidiary, in business, is an entity that is controlled by another entity. ... Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCa, NASDAQ: DISCb) is a company headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, that oversees and manages Ascent Media Group, Inc. ... Not to be confused with Silver Springs. ... John S. Hendricks (March 29, 1952)[1] is the founder and chairman of Discovery Communications, a broadcasting and film production company which owns the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet cable networks, among other ventures. ... Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and/or video signals which transmit programs to an audience. ... This article is about a U.S.-specific corporate form; for a general discussion of entities with limited liability, see corporation. ... For the band, see Big Brother and the Holding Company. ... Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCa, NASDAQ: DISCb) is a company headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, that oversees and manages Ascent Media Group, Inc. ... A website (alternatively, web site or Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. ... Discovery Channel is a cable and satellite TV channel founded by John Hendricks which is distributed by Discovery Communications. ... Not to be confused with Silver Springs. ...

DCI both produces original programming and acquires content from producers worldwide. This non-fiction programming is offered through DCI's 28 network entertainment brands, including Discovery Channel, TLC (The Learning Channel), Animal Planet, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids and a family of digital channels. DCI also distributes BBC America, BBC World, and Travel Channel to cable and satellite operators in the United States. Discovery Channel is a cable and satellite TV channel founded by John Hendricks which is distributed by Discovery Communications. ... TLC (The Learning Channel) is a cable TV network in the US and Canada, that carries a variety of informational and reality-based programming. ... Animal Planet, launched in 1996, is a cable and satellite television network co-owned by Discovery Communications, Inc. ... Discovery Health Channel (or DHC), launched on August 2, 1999, is a U.S. cable television network dedicated to programming that highlights various aspects of health and wellness (and unwellness as well). ... Discovery Kids Channel is a digital cable television channel, owned by Discovery Communications (see Discovery Channel) with programming for education of children. ... BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, which was launched on March 29, 1998, available on both cable and satellite. ... World News bulletins form the main part of the channels daily schedule. ... The Travel Channel is a cable television network that features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. ...

Corporate governance

Discovery Communications headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Silver Spring is the name of several places in the United States of America: Silver Spring, Maryland Silver Spring, Pennsylvania These are distinguished from places named Silver Springs. ... Official language(s) None (English, de facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Largest metro area Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,407 sq mi (32,133 km²)  - Width 101 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37° 53′ N to 39° 43′ N...

Officers

Judith A. McHale is the former President and Chief Executive Officer. On Thursday, November 16, 2006, Discovery Communications announced that NBC Universal executive David Zaslav will be the next president and CEO.[2] NBC Universal is a media and entertainment conglomerate formed in May 2004 by the combination of General Electrics NBC with Vivendi Universal Entertainment, part of Vivendi Universal. ...

Then in February 2007, the newly appointed CEO David Zaslav ordered a restructuring of the top executives. The executives leaving include: Billy Campbell, former president of Discovery Networks U.S.A., Dawn McCall, former president of Discovery Networks International, Maureen Smith, former prexy general manager of Animal Planet and David Abraham, former president and general manager of TLC. February 2007 is the second month of the year. ...

Zaslav hired Greg Ricca to run Discovery Networks Intl. as president and CEO. He promoted Mark Hollinger to president of global businesses and Operations, Marjorie Kaplan to prexy general manager of Animal Planet Media and Discovery Kids Media, and Jane Root to prexy general manager of the Discovery Channel and the Science Channel. [3]

Ownership

DCI's ownership consists of three shareholders:

• Discovery Holding Company (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB)
• Advance/Newhouse Communications[4] which is affiliated with Advance Publications
• John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.

Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCa, NASDAQ: DISCb) is a company headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, that oversees and manages Ascent Media Group, Inc. ... Advance Publications is an American media company owned by the descendants of S.I. Newhouse. ... John S. Hendricks (March 29, 1952)[1] is the founder and chairman of Discovery Communications, a broadcasting and film production company which owns the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet cable networks, among other ventures. ...

Spin-off and restructuring

On December 13, 2007, Discovery Communication's parent, Discovery Holdings, announced that it plans combine Discovery Communications with its other subsidiary, Advance/Newhouse Communications, into a new holding company [5]. The new company will operate under the name Discovery Communications. The new stock is expected to begin selling in the third quarter of 2008 [6]. As a part of the plan, Discovery Holdings will spin-off its remaining Ascent Media business to share holders in a separate IPO. is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

Divisions

DCI operates its businesses in four groups: Discovery Networks U.S., Discovery Networks International, Discovery Commerce, and Discovery Education.

Discovery Networks U.S.

Discovery Networks U.S. operates 12 English-language channels, three Spanish-language channels [7] 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." All of the channels are in the process of being overhauled and "made over".[8] Many channels already have new logos such as the Science Channel, and Animal Planet to follow in February 2008. [9] BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, which was launched on March 29, 1998, available on both cable and satellite. ...

The division's channels include:

• Animal Planet
• BBC America
• Discovery Channel
• Investigation Discovery
• Discovery en Español
• Discovery Health Channel, to relaunch in 2009 as OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a 50-50 joint venture with Harpo Productions.
• Discovery Kids
• FitTV
• HD Theater
• The Military Channel
• Planet Green
• Crown Media Holdings
• The Science Channel
• TLC

Animal Planet, launched in 1996, is a cable and satellite television network co-owned by Discovery Communications, Inc. ... BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, which was launched on March 29, 1998, available on both cable and satellite. ... Discovery Channel is a cable and satellite TV channel founded by John Hendricks which is distributed by Discovery Communications. ... Discovery en Espanol is the Spanish language version of the Discovery Channel. ... Discovery Health Channel (or DHC), launched on August 2, 1999, is a U.S. cable television network dedicated to programming that highlights various aspects of health and wellness (and unwellness as well). ... The sign in front of Oprah Winfreys Chicago based Harpo Studios. ... Discovery Kids Channel is a digital cable television channel, owned by Discovery Communications (see Discovery Channel) with programming for education of children. ... FitTV is a digital cable channel of Discovery Communications. ... HD Theater is a high-definition television network from Discovery Communications Inc. ... The Military Channel is a recent addition to the Discovery Channel group of programming options. ... Crown Media (NASDAQ: CRWN) is a United States media production company controlled by Hallmark Cards. ... The Science Channel is a television channel spin-off from the Discovery Channel, which features only science-related television shows. ... TLC (The Learning Channel) is a cable TV network in the US and Canada, that carries a variety of informational and reality-based programming. ...

Former channels

• Travel Channel - Sold to Cox Communications in 2007.
• Discovery Home, re-launched in June 2008 as Planet Green, an environmentally-focused channel.

In 2006, Discovery moved to expand its reach beyond traditional TV with the launch of several new businesses including Discovery Travel Media, Discovery Health Media, and Animal Planet Media Enterprises. Also in 2006, Discovery began providing video segments to Google Earth to help users explore U.S. national parks and European cities. In 2007 Travel Media was sold to Cox Communications.[10] The Travel Channel is a cable television network that features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. ... Discovery Home is a television network on cable TV in the U.S. Run by Discovery Communications (which runs the Discovery Channel), it is the main competitor to HGTV. Discovery Home Channel Come and see our house. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In January 2006, Discovery announced that former ABC “Nightline” host Ted Koppel was joining the network as a managing editor, and would produce long-form journalism “examining major global topics and events.” January 2006 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accuses European nations of trying to complete the Holocaust by creating a Jewish camp Israel in the Middle East. ... Photo by Bob DAmico/ABC Ted Koppel, anchor of the ABC News program Nightline. ...

DCI fully owns and operates all of the above channels with the exception of the BBC channels and the Travel Channel.

All of DCI's U.S. networks are broadcast from the Discovery Television and Technology Center located in Sterling, VA.[11]

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 100 separate feeds in 35 languages with "channel feeds customized according to language needs and advertising sales opportunities."[12] Discovery Channel is a cable and satellite TV channel founded by John Hendricks which is distributed by Discovery Communications. ... Animal Planet, launched in 1996, is a cable and satellite television network co-owned by Discovery Communications, Inc. ...

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

• (1) the international Animal Planet channels, which are "generally 50-50 joint ventures with the BBC"[13]
• (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." Animal Planet, launched in 1996, is a cable and satellite television network co-owned by Discovery Communications, Inc. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... People+Arts is an arts television channel broadcasting to Spain, Portugal and Latin America. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ...

On January 10, 2006, the Discovery Networks International announced[14] 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. is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

As of January 2006,[15] Discovery International Channels included: January 2006 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accuses European nations of trying to complete the Holocaust by creating a Jewish camp Israel in the Middle East. ...

• 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 [16], 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 [17], Discovery Science Southeast Asia, Discovery Home and Health Southeast Asia, Discovery Real Time Asia, Discovery HD Japan
• UK/Ireland: Discovery Channel, Discovery Home & Health, Animal Planet, Discovery Real Time, Discovery Real Time Extra, Discovery Science, Discovery Civilisation, Discovery Travel & Living, Discovery Kids, Discovery Wings, Discovery Turbo
• 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 France, 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,Animal Planet 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 Discovery Travel & Living Brazil, Discovery Home & Health Latin America,Discovery Home & Health Brazil, Discovery Science, Discovery Civilization, Discovery Turbo
• CANADA: Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Civilization Channel, Discovery Health, Discovery Kids, Discovery HD

In the United Kingdom, Discovery broadcasts a bouquet of 14 channels (including timeshifts) on digital television. Discovery Channel is a cable and satellite TV channel founded by John Hendricks which is distributed by Discovery Communications. ... Discovery Home & Health is a television channel founded in the United Kingdom. ... Animal Planet, launched in 1996, is a cable and satellite television network co-owned by Discovery Communications, Inc. ... Discovery Real Time is a male oriented factual television channel produced by Discovery Networks Europe. ... Discovery Real Time is a male oriented factual television channel produced by Discovery Networks Europe. ... The Science Channel is a television channel spin-off from the Discovery Channel, which features only science-related television shows. ... Discovery Civilisation is a British TV channel devoted to documentaries regarding history and civilisations. ... Discovery Travel & Living is a channel from Discovery Communications. ... Discovery Kids Channel is a digital cable television channel, owned by Discovery Communications (see Discovery Channel) with programming for education of children. ... Discovery Wings is a TV channel devoted to documentaries regarding aircraft. ... Discovery Turbo is a British TV channel devoted to programming about cars, bikes, boats, and planes. ... Discovery Channel is a cable and satellite TV channel founded by John Hendricks which is distributed by Discovery Communications. ... Discovery Channel Canada is a Canadian cable specialty television channel devoted to science and nature programming. ... Animal Planet is a Canadian category 2 digital cable television channel owned by Bell Globemedia and Discovery Communications from the USA. The channel is devoted to animals. ... Discovery Civilization Channel is a Canadian category 2 digital cable television channel owned by Bell Globemedia in partnership with Discovery Communications with programming about the history of human civilization. ... Discovery Health is a Canadian English language category 1 digital cable specialty channel owned by Alliance Atlantis Communications and Discovery Communications. ... Discovery Kids is a Canadian category 2 digital cable television channel with educational prgramming for children such as Girlz TV, Popular Mechanics for Kids, Magic School Bus and more. ... Time shifting is the recording of television shows to some storage medium to be viewed at a time convenient to the consumer. ...

Discovery Commerce

Discovery Commerce operates a catalog and electronic commerce business (located at shopping.discovery.com[18]) offering lifestyle, health, science and education-oriented products, as well as products specifically related to programming on Discovery's networks. In addition, the e-commerce site serves as a licensing business that licenses Discovery trademarks and intellectual property to third parties for the purpose of creating and selling retail merchandise. The Discovery shopping website offers products similar to those previously sold in the Discovery Channel retail stores. Recently the Discovery Channel retail stores were closed, however, the products are still available online.

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." In April of 2006, Discovery Education acquired a premier assessment company, ThinkLink Learning, which is based in Nashville, Tennessee. Now called Discovery Education Assessments, the program is designed to help students improve on state standardized tests.

Discovery Education also sells DVD, VHS, CD-ROM, and Multimedia kits with the same content.

Other products include COSMEO -an online homework subscription help site, Discovery Health Connection, Discovery Science Connection and they recently purchased other video streaming companies.

They have two free services. One is their website, Discovery School and the other is a teacher community, the Discovery Educator Network, commonly referred to as the DEN.

Relationships/Rivalries

• National Geographic Channel
• PBS
• History Channel

The National Geographic Channel is a subscription television network that features documentaries produced by the National Geographic Society. ... PBS redirects here. ... The History Channel is a cable television channel, dedicated to the presentation of historical events and persons, often with frequent observations and explanations by noted historians as well as reenactors and witnesses to events, if possible. ...

References

• SEC filings by Discovery Holding Company[19], which holds 66% of Discovery Communications

Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCa, NASDAQ: DISCb) is a company headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, that oversees and manages Ascent Media Group, Inc. ...

See also

• Antenna Audio, acquired in 2006
• National Geographic Society
• A&E Television Networks

Antenna Audio is a company that produces audio tours and multimedia interpretation for many museums, art galleries and other clients around the world. ... This article is about the organization. ... A&E Television Networks is a media company that owns several TV networks on cable and satellite. ...

External links

• Discovery Communications website
• Discovery online store