Discovery (Australia and New Zealand)
Discovery is a television channel available on cable and satellite television in Australia and New Zealand. The Australian version of the US Discovery Channel was previously operated by XYZnetworks,[2] who also own the exclusive distribution rights for the channel.[1]
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Launched | July 1995 |
| Owned by | Discovery Asia-Pacific[1] |
| Picture format | 576i (SDTV 16:9) 720p (HDTV 16:9) |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Broadcast area | Australia New Zealand |
| Formerly called | Discovery Channel (1995-2020) |
| Replaced | Quest |
| Sister channel(s) | Animal Planet Choice TV Discovery Turbo Food Network Investigation Discovery Living TLC 9Rush HGTV |
| Timeshift service | Discovery +2 |
| Website | discoverychannel.com.au |
Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Foxtel | Channel 608 (SD/HD) Channel 640 (+2) Channel 268 (SD) |
| Sky (NZ) | Channel 070 (HD) |
| Cable | |
| Foxtel | Channel 608 (SD/HD) Channel 640 (+2) Channel 268 (SD) |
| Optus | Channel 608 |
| IPTV | |
| Foxtel Now | Channel 608 |
| Vodafone TV (NZ) | Channel 070 (HD) |
| Streaming media | |
| Foxtel Go | Channel 608 |
The channel was launched in July 1995, replacing the Quest documentary channel launched in April 1995 by XYZ.[3]
It initially provided documentary television programming focused primarily on popular science, technology, and history, but by the 2010s had expanded into reality television and pseudo-scientific entertainment.[4]
Discovery's most popular content includes Aussie Gold Hunters, Gold Rush, Deadliest Catch, and Fast N' Loud and annual event Shark Week. Programming is primarily focused on reality television series geared towards the topics of science, extreme living, and motoring.
Both Discovery and Discovery Turbo have timeshift channels, which rebroadcast programming 2 hours later on Foxtel.
Original Programming
- Aussie Gold Hunters (since 2016)
- Outback Opal Hunters (since 2018)
- Railroad Australia (since 2016)
- Saltwater Heroes (5 August 2015 – 26 August 2015)[5]
- Sydney Harbour Patrol (2016)[6]
- Aussie Lobster Men(since 2019)
- Dr Karl's Outrageous Acts of Science (since 2017)
- Abalone Wars (since 2012)
Shark Week
Shark Week is an annual, week-long TV programming block on Discovery, which features 24/7 shark-based programming around the first week of December. Not only is Shark Week the best week of the year, it's also one of the most important as it raises awareness about the increasing threat faced by our ocean's greatest predator at the hands of humans and the environment. Now in its 25th year in Australia, the event also highlights recent developments in shark science and reveals remarkable new insight into these magnificent and misunderstood creatures. [7]
References
- Foxtel. "Foxtel - Channel Shareholdings". Archived from the original on 18 May 2008.
- Channels :: XYZ Networks Archived 22 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- "Network News". Variety. 396 (7): pD5. 4 October 2004.
- "Discovery Channel". Wikipedia.
- "ET's Saltwater Heroes premieres Wednesday". Fishing World. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
- "Two new Australian productions for 2016 from Essential and WTFN". Media Week. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
- Discovery. https://www.discoverychannel.com.au/