Audio Video News

As promised last April, Discovery Communications launched their new 24-hour 1080i high definition television (HDTV) network, called Discovery HD Theater, last week. The network has been launched on HD platforms recently rolled out by EchoStar Communications on its Dish Network satellite TV service nationwide, AT&T Broadband's greater Chicago market (where plans are set to launch HDTV service later this summer), and in numerous other markets serviced by cable providers Charter and Cox.

Discovery says the new network features fiction and non-fiction HDTV programming in all categories of entertainment normally covered by the broadcaster, including nature, history, world cultures, geographic exploration, science, education, travel and vacation planning, world news and events, children's education and entertainment, health and medicine, and how-to programming in the areas of home, hobbies, and cooking.

Discovery's John S. Hendricks says, "Ever since the Discovery Channel launched 17 years ago, audiences have looked to us to lead the way in offering the highest-quality content. It's fitting that we pioneer the rollout of a product that helps viewers explore the world around them in clearer, more illuminating detail than ever before, and that also supports operators in their important efforts to introduce this service to the great benefit of their subscribers."

The network says it will provide continuous 24-hour HDTV programming repeated in three-hour blocks, and presented in a theatrical format, with limited commercial interruptions. Programs less than 30 minutes long will have no commercial breaks—instead they will be preceded and followed by commercial messages from the channel's presenting sponsors. Programs longer than 30 minutes will contain intermissions. Discovery reports it currently has more than 110 high definition programming hours available to be scheduled, and will more than triple its library by the end of 2003.

Discovery says it will promote its HD Theater in its chain of retail outlets, called Discovery Channel Stores, across the United States, through a marketing partnership with Dish Network. Dish Network will deliver a live feed of the Discovery HD Theater signal in these stores while showcasing Dish Network HD equipment and services, beginning this summer.

Dish Network's Michael Schwimmer explains that his customers can receive high definition channels using the company's Model 6000 receiver and add the new Discovery HD Theater channel for an additional fee of $7.99/month. "With this programming and retail store partnership, we are speeding the nation's adoption of digital and high definition television. We look forward to adding Discovery HD Theater to our list of satellite-delivered HD channels that include HBO, Showtime, CBS, and HD pay-per-view."