Discovery & YouTube Enter Multiyear Distribution Partnership

Discovery and YouTube have signed a multiyear distribution agreement that will see the media company’s portfolio of brands become available on YouTube TV’s live-TV and on-demand subscription service.

Per the deal, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Animal Planet, Travel Channel and MotorTrend launched on YouTube TV on April 10, with OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network joining by the end of the year. In addition to the live channels, YouTube TV subscribers can access Discovery content through YouTube TV’s VOD service, with access to the nine networks’ watch apps and entire library of nearly 50,000 on-demand titles.

Programs now available to subscribers include Gold Rush, 90 Day Fiancé, Property Brothers, Chopped, Homicide Hunter, Crikey! It’s the Irwins and The Haves and Have Nots, among many others.

Eric Phillips, president of affiliate distribution at Discovery, said: “We are proud to partner with YouTube to deliver our beloved networks, talent and programming to YouTube TV subscribers. This agreement highlights how much viewers love our brands and the high value that passion has in the marketplace, and underscores YouTube TV’s commitment to offering high-quality programming to subscribers.”

“We’re thrilled to add the Discovery channels to YouTube TV, which has been a key ask from our subscribers,” said Lori Conkling, global head of partnerships for YouTube TV. “We launched YouTube TV to showcase the best of live TV through a simple and modern experience. Today’s announcement delivers on that promise as we continue to build a new way to experience your favorite TV shows.”