Discovery Channel (often referred to as simply Discovery) is a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
joint venture
A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four reasons: to acce ...
between
Bell Media
Bell Media Inc. (French: ) is a Canadian company formed by the amalgamation of several companies.
Establishment (2011–13)
On December 9, 2011, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan announced the sale of its majority stake in Maple Leaf Sports ...
Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at 230 Park Avenue South in New York City. It was formed after the spin-off of WarnerMedia by AT&T, and its merger with Di ...
(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
9 Channel Nine Court (alternatively known as the CTV Toronto Studios, CFTO-TV Studios, Glen Warren Studios or Bell Media Agincourt and temporarily known as 9 Dave Devall Way)Agincourt neighbourhood of Scarborough in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most pop ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
.
History
Licensed by the
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC; french: Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes, links=) is a public organization in Canada with mandate as a regulatory agency for broadcasti ...
(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
CTV may refer to:
Television
* Connected TV, or Smart TV, a TV set with integrated internet
North America and South America
* CTV Television Network, a Canadian television network owned by Bell Media
** CTV 2, a secondary Canadian televisio ...
Inc. to acquire voting interest in NetStar Communications Inc. CTV renamed the company CTV Speciality Television Inc.
A
high definition
High definition or HD may refer to:
Visual technologies
*HD DVD, discontinued optical disc format
*HD Photo, former name for the JPEG XR image file format
*HDV, format for recording high-definition video onto magnetic tape
* HiDef, 24 frames-pe ...
simulcast feed of Discovery Channel that broadcasts in the 1080i resolution format was launched on August 15, 2003. The feed would later be shut down on December 19, 2005, and be replaced by a separate category 2
digital cable
Digital cable is the distribution of cable television using digital data and video compression. The technology was first developed by General Instrument. By 2000, most cable companies offered digital features, eventually replacing their previo ...
specialty channel
A specialty channel (also known in the United States as a cable channel or cable network) can be a commercial broadcasting or non-commercial television channel which consists of television programming focused on a single genre, subject or target ...
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.
In November 2015, Bell Media announced Discovery Channel Canada's first original scripted drama, the
Jason Momoa
Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa (; born August 1, 1979) is an American actor. He made his acting debut as Jason Ioane on the syndicated action drama series '' Baywatch: Hawaii'' (1999–2001), which was followed by portrayals of Ronon Dex on the ...
-fronted ''
Frontier
A frontier is the political and geographical area near or beyond a boundary. A frontier can also be referred to as a "front". The term came from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"—the region of a country that fronts ...
'', chronicling the
North American fur trade
The North American fur trade is the commercial trade in furs in North America. Various Indigenous peoples of the Americas traded furs with other tribes during the pre-Columbian era. Europeans started their participation in the North American fu ...
. The series was picked up internationally by
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a ...
.
Programming
In addition to shows acquired from its American 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
The ''Daily Planet'' is a fictional newspaper appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with Superman. The newspaper was first mentioned in ''Action Comics'' #23 (April 1940). The ''Daily Planet'' build ...
'', and its own domestic version of '' Cash Cab''. Several programs produced by the Canadian Discovery Channel (such as ''
How It's Made
''How It's Made'' (''Comment c'est fait'' in French) is a Canadian documentary television series that premiered on January 6, 2001, on the Discovery Channel in Canada and the Science Channel in the United States. The program is produced in t ...
'') have also aired on the U.S
Science Channel
Science Channel (often simply branded as Science; abbreviated to SCI) is an American pay television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The channel features programming focusing on science related to wilderness survival, engineering, man ...
.
Since 2018, enabled by the 2015 retirement of CRTC genre protection rules which mandated that it predominantly air factual programming, the channel has added reruns of scripted series from other Bell Media networks that contain scientific themes, such as ''
The Big Bang Theory
''The Big Bang Theory'' is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom served as executive producers on the series, along with Steven Molaro, all of whom also served as head writers. It premiered on CBS ...
'',
Bones (TV Series)
''Bones'' is an American crime procedural comedy-drama television series created by Hart Hanson for Fox. It premiered on September 13, 2005, and concluded on March 28, 2017, airing for 246 episodes over 12 seasons. The show is based on forens ...
* ''A Cut Above''
*'' Against All Odds''
*''Acorn the Nature Nut''
*''Aerospace''
*''
Airshow
An air show (or airshow, air fair, air tattoo) is a public event where aircraft are exhibited.
They often include aerobatics demonstrations, without they are called "static air shows" with aircraft parked on the ground.
The largest air show ...
''
*''
Alien Mysteries
''Alien Mysteries'' is a Canadian UFO documentary series featuring eyewitness testimony that is produced by Exploration Production Inc. for Discovery Channel (Canada). ''Alien Mysteries'' showcases the real-life stories of ordinary people who cla ...
''
*''Beastly Countdown''
*''
Beyond Invention
''Beyond Invention'' is an 8-part documentary television series that premiered on February 12, 2004, on Discovery Channel Canada and, , airs on the Science Channel.
The series was produced by Mystique Films in partnership with Gryphon Product ...
''
*''Birth of a Sports Car''
*''Bitchin' Rides''
*''
Blood, Sweat & Tools
''Blood, Sweat & Tools'' was a Canadian television series that aired on Discovery Channel hosted by Helder Brum, Rob Koci and Hillary Manion, who also acted as the challenge judges and expert advisers to the contestants.
Format
The series is the ...
''
*''
Blueprint for Disaster
''Blueprint for Disaster'' is a Canadian documentary television series that premiered in 2004 on Discovery Channel Canada. Produced by Temple Street Productions, the program investigates why and how various disasters have happened. Toronto-base ...
Canada's Worst Handyman
''Canada's Worst Handyman'' was a Canadian television series that aired on Discovery Channel Canada from March 13, 2006 to June 13, 2011. Based on a one-off 2004 episode of ''Britain's Worst DIYer,'' the show was produced by Proper Television, who ...
Daily Planet
The ''Daily Planet'' is a fictional newspaper appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with Superman. The newspaper was first mentioned in ''Action Comics'' #23 (April 1940). The ''Daily Planet'' build ...
'' (formerly ''@discovery.ca'') (cancelled in 2018 as the result of Bell Media layoffs)
*'' Dangerous Flights''
*'' Doctor*Ology''
*''
Don't Drive Here
''Don't Drive Here'' was a reality television series. It aired on Discovery Channel Canada and was hosted by Andrew Younghusband. The series was a follow-up to '' Canada's Worst Driver''. In August 2015, it was announced that the show had not be ...
Forensic Factor
''Forensic Factor'' is a Canadian true crime docuseries, which airs on Discovery Channel Canada, Sun TV, and the Justice Network. The series, which utilizes an anthology format, features forensic
Forensic science, also known as criminalisti ...
''
*''
Frontier
A frontier is the political and geographical area near or beyond a boundary. A frontier can also be referred to as a "front". The term came from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"—the region of a country that fronts ...
''
*''Frontiers of Construction''
*''Great Canadian Parks''
*''
Guinea Pig
The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig (''Cavia porcellus''), also known as the cavy or domestic cavy (), is a species of rodent belonging to the genus '' Cavia'' in the family Caviidae. Breeders tend to use the word ''cavy'' to describe the ...
How It's Made
''How It's Made'' (''Comment c'est fait'' in French) is a Canadian documentary television series that premiered on January 6, 2001, on the Discovery Channel in Canada and the Science Channel in the United States. The program is produced in t ...
''
*''
Insectia
''Insectia'' is a Canadian nature documentary program that premiered on the Discovery Channel on February 4, 1999. The show's host, Georges Brossard, explains the life of insect
Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod inverte ...
Jetstream
Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow, meandering air currents in the atmospheres of some planets, including Earth. On Earth, the main jet streams are located near the altitude of the tropopause and are westerly winds (flowing west to east). ...
''
*''
Junk Raiders
''Junk Raiders'' is a Canadian reality television series that debuted in 2009 on The Discovery Channel and ION Life. The series follows the titular Junk Raiders, a team of professionals who attempt to renovate a designated space over a short per ...
''
*''
Junk Raiders 2
''Junk Raiders 2'' is the second season of the Canadian reality television series that airs on The Discovery Channel and ION Life. The series follows the titular Junk Raiders, a team of eight professionals as they attempt to renovate a site ...
''
*''Last Car Standing''
*''
Licence to Drill
''Licence to Drill'' is a documentary television series produced by the Montreal-based Pixcom for Discovery Channel Canada. The series documents the activities of two teams of natural gas drillers in the Canadian North in the winter of 2008.
For ...
''
*''Licence to Drill: Louisiana''
*''Manufactured''
*''
Mayday
Mayday is an emergency procedure word used internationally as a distress signal in voice-procedure radio communications.
It is used to signal a life-threatening emergency primarily by aviators and mariners, but in some countries local organi ...
''
*''
Mega Builders
''Mega Builders'' is a documentary television series appearing on the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by War ...
''
*''MegaSpeed''
*''Mega World''
*Mean Machines'' (UK IWC Media coproduction)
*''Mean Green Machines''
*''Mighty Planes''
*''
Mighty Ships
''Mighty Ships'' is a documentary television program produced by Exploration Production Inc. in Canada and aired on Discovery Channel Canada and also broadcast around the world. Each episode of the series follows a particular sea-going vessel a ...
Naked Science
''Naked Science'' is an American documentary television series that premiered in 2004 on the National Geographic Channel
National Geographic (formerly National Geographic Channel; abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo or Nat Geo TV) is an A ...
'' (UK
Pioneer Productions
Pioneer Productions is a British television production company based in London, United Kingdom, specialising in scientific and other documentary productions.
History
Founded in 1988, by Nigel Henbest, Heather Couper and Stuart Carter, Pioneer ...
coproduction)
*''Nature of the Beast''
*''
Never Ever Do This At Home
''Never Ever Do This at Home'' is a comedy-reality TV show that airs on Discovery Channel (Canada). Based on Ikke gjør dette hjemme, the show features hosts Teddy Wilson and Norm Sousa, who ignore the warning labels on a variety of household it ...
''
*''On the Run''
*''Out in the Cold''
*''
Patent Bending
''Patent Bending'' is a Canadian reality television series that premiered August 22, 2006, on the Discovery Channel. The series is based on building some of the weird, fantastical ideas inventors have patented over the last century. Once physica ...
Qubit
In quantum computing, a qubit () or quantum bit is a basic unit of quantum information—the quantum version of the classic binary bit physically realized with a two-state device. A qubit is a two-state (or two-level) quantum-mechanical system, ...
Star Racer ''Star Racer'' is a reality-genre TV show which originally aired on Discovery Channel Canada
Discovery Channel (often referred to as simply Discovery) is a Canadian specialty television channel owned by CTV Speciality Television Inc. (a joint ve ...
''
*''Superships''
*''The Body Machine''
*'' The Exodus Decoded''
*'' The Sex Files''
*''The World's Strangest UFO Stories''
*''Ultimate Cars'' (UK IWC Media coproduction)
*''Ultimate''
*''Vegas Rat Rods''
*''White Hot Winter''
*''What's That About?''
*''You Asked For It''
See also
*
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. , Discovery Chan ...
(US)
*
Science Channel
Science Channel (often simply branded as Science; abbreviated to SCI) is an American pay television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The channel features programming focusing on science related to wilderness survival, engineering, man ...
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tota ...