Discovery Science is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc. (a joint venture between Bell Media and ESPN Inc.) in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery airing science-related programming.
History
Discovery Science was licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on December 14, 2000 as Discovery Civilization Channel Canada.[1] The application was granted to CTV Inc., and was later transferred to its subsidiary, CTV Specialty Television Inc., in which ESPN owns a 20% interest. The channel was originally described in regulatory documents as "a national English-language Category 2 specialty television service dedicated to bringing the diverse people and cultures of the world to Canadian viewers. The service will be dedicated to exploring and understanding the roots of human development and learning from other cultures and traditions."[1]
The channel was launched on August 15, 2001 as Discovery Civilization Channel, with programming devoted to human civilization and history. The channel was intended to be a Canadian version of a U.S. channel of the same name, which was later reformatted and renamed as Discovery Times, and later became Investigation Discovery.
On June 4, 2010 CTVglobemedia announced that Discovery Civilization Channel would be rebranded as Discovery Science on September 27, 2010,[2] focusing on science-related programming.
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 brands include Discovery Channel and spinoffs such as Discovery Science, the existing Canadian versions of which were managed by Bell.[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 which, according to Rogers, would—if granted—prevent the latter from operating any linear TV channels under the brands previously operated by Bell for the first two years of its contract.[6]
HD feed
On June 17, 2011 Bell Media announced that it would launch Discovery Science HD, a high definition (HD) simulcast of the standard definition feed, by the end of 2011.[7] The channel was launched on December 15, 2011 on Bell Fibe TV and on September 11, 2012 on Telus Optik TV.[8] Shaw Direct began using it on August 8, 2018.
International distribution
- Jamaica – distributed on Flow Cable systems.[9]
- Bahamas – distributed on Cable Bahamas systems.[10]
- Trinidad and Tobago – distributed on Flow Cable systems.[11]
- Brazil – distributed on NET systems.[citation needed]
- Chile – distributed on VTR Digital Cable systems.[12]
- Mexico – distributed on Cablevision
References
- ^ a b Decision CRTC 2000-553; CRTC; 2000-12-14
- ^ Discovery to Launch Three New Channel Brands In Canada Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, CTV press release, June 4, 2010
- ^ Thiessen, Connie (June 10, 2024). "Rogers scoops Warner Bros. Discovery rights from Corus and Bell". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ "Rogers announces licensing deals with NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery". CityNews.ca. June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ Faguy, Steve (June 10, 2024). "Rogers kneecaps Corus, stealing Canadian rights to HGTV and Food Network". Fagstein. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Thiessen, Connie (June 28, 2024). "Bell files injunction against Rogers in Warner Bros. Discovery content battle". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ Discovery Channel and Bell Media Factual Networks Announce Fall 2011 "Must See" Highlights Archived June 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine CNW 2011-06-17
- ^ Animal Planet HD, Investigation Discovery HD and Discovery Science HD Launch Today Bell Media press release 2011-12-15
- ^ Flow Cable channel lineup
- ^ Cable Bahamas channel lineup Archived August 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Flow Cable channel lineup Archived June 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ VTR Digital Cable channel lineup
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