Discovery Preps Freeview U.K. Service

LONDON, October 17: Discovery Communications has won a
digital terrestrial television slot with multiplex operator SDN, with plans to
launch a channel on Freeview next year.

The Discovery DTT offering will draw from Discovery’s vast
library, delivering factual, entertainment and lifestyle fare. The service will
also acquire scripted titles.

The new channel joins a Discovery Communications British
portfolio that spans 11 pay-TV channels on Sky, Virgin Media and other
platforms. “Our first international channel launched in the U.K. nearly 20
years ago and the company always has been ‘platform neutral’ in its
distribution strategy,” said David Zaslav, Discovery’s president and CEO. “Discovery Communications’ Freeview
channel will both complement and enhance our offerings and portfolio position
in the critical U.K. market.”

Dan Brooke, the managing director of Discovery Networks
U.K., added, “The U.K. now has the most competitive and diverse TV market in
the world and the launch of a Freeview channel is an important element in
expanding consumer reach. We have talked to Freeview viewers: they love our
programming, and once they have sampled it, we are confident they will want to
experience the richness and variety of our content on other media
platforms."

—By Mansha Daswani