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Tag: Discovery US

  • Discovery US to pay tribute to late host Steve Irwin

    Discovery US to pay tribute to late host Steve Irwin

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster Discovery will pay tribute to the late host Steve Irwin. Irwin the channel acknowledges was instrumental in building Animal Planet into a global brand.

    Irwin hosted Crocodile Hunter on Animal Planet. As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com Irwin died a few days ago in Australia while filming a segment for a TV show on the Great Barrier Reef. He died from a stingray barb.

    Animal Planet in the US is airing special tribute programming. This will highlight Irwin’s background, including his early days as the Croc Hunter, and his passion for wildlife and his family. On 10 September, Animal Planet US plans to air an all-day marathon tribute featuring the Best of the Croc Hunter. Animal Planet International in markets around the world will provide the same programming.

    To honour Irwin Discovery will rename the garden space in front of its world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, the Steve Irwin Memorial Garden.

    Discovery founder and chairman, John Hendricks said, “Steve was a larger than life force. He brought joy and learning about the natural world to millions and millions of people across the globe. He was a true friend to all of us at Discovery Communications. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Terri, Bindi and Bob Irwin as well as to the incredible staff and many friends Steve leaves behind.”

    Discovery CEO and president Judith McHale said, “I don’t think we will ever get over the loss of Steve Irwin, a human being of enormous feeling and irrepressible enthusiasm and dedication to everything he touched.”

    Discovery International president Dawn McCall, said, “Rarely has the world embraced an animal enthusiast and conservationist as they did Steve Irwin. Steve’s passion for animals and leadership in conservation awareness leaves a powerful and lasting legacy across the globe.”

  • Discovery US launches a consumer mobile site

    Discovery US launches a consumer mobile site

    MUMBAI: US media firm Discovery Communications has launched its US direct-to-consumer mobile website.

    This allows consumers to download wallpapers, ring tones, podcasts and other special features directly to their cell phones through the mobile URL at www.discoverymobile.com.

    Discovery’s fans can now personalise their cell phones with a wide assortment of ring tones including nearly 30 different animal sounds and Animal Planet’s Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin saying “G’Day Mate.” Additionally, consumers can choose from wallpapers ranging from over a dozen kinds of sharks to tattoos from TLC’s hit series Miami Ink.

    Highlighting both current hit shows as well as programming genres that viewers have come to know and love from Discovery such as nature, science, exploration and animals, the mobile website also offers previews, scheduling information and short-form video clips.

    Discovery executive VP strategy and development Don Baer says, “Our new mobile portal is the latest example of our strategy to expand the Discovery universe and provide consumers with informative and entertaining content and useful features when and where it fits their lifestyles”.

    Designed to complement its television networks by strengthening viewers’ loyalty as well as attracting new audiences to Discovery’s brands, the mobile portal offers programming extensions that consumers can use while on-the-go. The features range from recipes and corresponding grocery lists from TLC’s new series Take Home Chef to fashion tips from the hosts of What Not To Wear. Pregnancy calendars, health tips and smoking cessation guides related to Discovery Health will also be added in the near future.

    Discovery senior VP, new media Clint Stinchcomb, says, “Whether it’s a busy parent trying to feed the kids or a teenager looking to put a personal touch on their cell phone, our mobile portal is a way for consumers to simplify, enhance and enjoy their lives with Discovery features at their fingertips.”

    Features on Discovery’s new mobile portal also include:

    • Downloadable ring tones, wallpaper and podcasts from Discovery favorites such as Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, TLC’s Miami Ink and Animal Planet’s The Crocodile Hunter, as well as over two dozen animal sounds and a variety of breathtaking nature scenes from around the globe, among others. The cost per download is $1.99.

    • Discovery News text reports offering information in the areas of science, nature, health, travel, all things about planet earth and current affairs. Updated daily, Discovery News offers perspective and commentary from multiple sources including the company’s in-house development and editorial team and Associated Press Television News.

    • Fan sites where consumers can view exclusive video clips, learn more about on-air personalities and access program schedules.

    • Short-form spotlights of shows from Discovery’s entire family of U.S. networks offering program descriptions and scheduling information.

    Discovery’s mobile portal can be accessed from any US network through the mobile URL at discoverymobile.com. The company will also introduce Discovery Mobile, a dedicated, 24-hour mobile programming network designed specifically for portable platforms available through mobile carriers this quarter. Updated weekly, Discovery Mobile will push content to consumers such as original made-for-mobile series, abbreviated versions of Discovery’s most popular programs, never before seen footage, one-of-a-kind extras and user-generated content.

    The launch of the US mobile portal builds on Discovery’s strong foundation of success in the international mobile marketplace where it has already launched a direct-to-consumer mobile portal in the UK. Discovery Mobile is available in nine countries. The company also has a global partnership with Nokia, which carries customized Discovery content on its newest and most sophisticated devices.

    This announcement follows a series of new media initiatives Discovery has recently unveiled. Discovery has been launching new services and working with strategic partners to bring its high-quality, informative and entertaining content to consumers wherever they are and whenever they want it.

    Discovery says that it is the first media company to provide its world-class video content on Google Earth, the revolutionary satellite imagery-based mapping product, and the first nonfiction programmer to offer video content through the iTunes music store. Discovery also launched the first of its U.S. broadband channels: Discovery Channel Beyond, TLC Beyond, Travel Channel Beyond and Animal Planet Beyond, as well as the new TURBO broadband channel.

  • Discovery US president McHale to step down in December

    Discovery US president McHale to step down in December

    MUMBAI: Discovery US president and CEO Judith A. McHale is stepping down as of 1 December to participate more directly in discussions related to domestic and global issues.
    Discovery founder and chairman John S. Hendricks announced that McHale will play an on-going special role advising him on all of Discovery’s education business initiatives and will continue to serve in a voluntary capacity as the chairman of the Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership.

    Hendricks says, “Judith McHale is one of the world’s most talented executives, a media pioneer who has become a thought leader on so many issues that concern our nation and our planet.

    “Throughout her distinguished career at Discovery, Judith has made an unparalleled contribution towards making Discovery the phenomenal business success and force for good it has become. The Discovery brand and our services around the world are more respected and acclaimed than ever. Ratings and revenues are up. Our education initiatives have launched and are a key part of our future success and our multiplatform strategy is propelling Discovery as an industry leader.

    “With this strong foundation in place, Judith has decided this is an advantageous time to pursue her public affairs interests. She has my full support and best wishes as she embarks on this new course. On behalf of the entire Discovery family, I know we all will miss her leadership, creativity and passion for our business. I, nevertheless, look forward to continuing our partnership as she helps with Discovery’s crucially important education businesses that she helped to spearhead” .

    McHale says, “I am enormously proud of all that we at Discovery have achieved together. When I first came to Discovery, we were a small company with great ambitions. Today, we are the leading provider of factual media in the world with over 100 networks distributed to over one billion subscribers in 170 countries. In addition, we have expanded our efforts to reach consumers with the trusted knowledge-based products and services they need to help navigate this increasingly complex world.

    “I have been truly privileged and honoured to have been part of such an amazing organisation with incredibly dedicated and creative people. In particular, we have had an extraordinary group of shareholders who have always been supportive of all our efforts. Their unflinching support of quality programming and services is rare in today’s media marketplace.

    “As hard as it is to leave this outstanding company I believe passionately that we all have an obligation to participate fully and actively in the civic life of the communities in which we live. Today, as a global society, we face enormous social and political challenges. Throughout my life and career, I have tried to do what I could to confront and understand these issues. Now I want to become more directly involved in working with others to find solutions.”

    Discovery will conduct a search of both internal and external candidates for a new CEO to succeed McHale. Discovery’s shareholder representatives from Discovery Holding Company, Advance/Newhouse Communications and Cox Communications will serve on the Discovery CEO Search Committee, which John Hendricks will chair.

    Hendricks adds, “With Judith’s fulltime leadership until 1 December, I am confident that Discovery can accomplish a seamless leadership transition. At Discovery, we have built a very special leadership team of some of our industry’s leading executives in all the key aspects of our business. It is a priceless opportunity for someone to lead this team of outstanding professionals.”

  • Discovery US enhances its online news service

    Discovery US enhances its online news service

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster Discovery has enhanced its Discovery News service to include daily video webcasts, featuring breaking news in areas of increasing concern for consumers

    As the first major feature of these video webcasts, Discovery News has broken a story from Montana, where Jack Horner, renowned paleontologist and chief curator of the Museum of the Rockies discovered the fossil of a baby triceratops skull, only the sixth ever found. 

    Horner says, “Over the years people have been out here in the Hell Creek formation collecting dinosaurs and almost all that’s been collected are adults. The best thing about this little triceratops is that it is actually a baby. This is probably one of the best baby triceratops skulls
    ever found.” Horner says that the baby triceratops discovery is significant as younger
    fossils can answer many questions about the growth and development of triceratops

    The broadcaster says that the discovery reflects the type of subjects to be explored on the new
    Discovery News webcast. The news service will provide consumers fast, in-depth and relevant information in the areas of science, nature, health, travel, all things about planet earth and current affairs.

    Discovery senior executive VP for strategy and development Don Baer says, “Expanding Discovery News into broadband video taps into the public’s confidence in our ability to bring them trusted and timely factual information about some of the most important topics in the world.

    “To have landed an exclusive story of the magnitude of Jack Horner’s find, and right in the sweet spot of our core DNA of content
    strength demonstrates Discovery’s ability to cover breaking real-world news
    while expanding ways consumers count on Discovery to bring them the whole
    world.”

    Discovery News Broadband and Narrowband Features Updated daily with original short-form video that is searchable for consumers at any time, Discovery News says that it offers cutting-edge perspective and commentary from multiple video sources. The company is tapping an in-house development and editorial team.

    It has also announced an agreement for video
    content from Associated Press Television News. Other news organisation partnerships, as well as the cultivation of new journalists and
    personalities, will be announced in the coming weeks. Stories running on the video player include a segment on the recent flooding of the
    National Archives and the road to reopening its doors.

    In conjunction with the launch of the daily video news webcast, Discovery says that it has has more than doubled the amount of coverage of text-based news on its narrowband site discoverychannelnews.com, which now features 10 genre-specific subject pages across the company’s core content areas.

    Stories currently on the Discovery News text website that reflect topics of particular interest to Discovery viewers include a report on a new study related to global warming and a piece about a species of shark in danger of
    extinction, among many others.

  • Discovery US gets 12 Parents Choice Awards

    Discovery US gets 12 Parents Choice Awards

    MUMBAI: Discovery US received 12 awards at the 2006 Parents’ Choice Awards a few days ago.

    Discovery Kids received eight awards and Animal Planet garnered four awards. The Parents’ Choice Awards for children’s television recommend programming that helps children learn and grow.

    Discovery Kids’ Peep And The Big Wide World was honoured with a Parents’ Choice Gold Award for the second year in a row. Paz took home a Parents’ Choice Silver Award and Toddworld garnered a Parents’ Choice Recommended Award.

    Animal Planet’s Buggin’ With Ruud garnered a Parents’ Choice Silver Award. A Panda Is Born received a Parents’ Choice Recommended Award.

    Established in 1978, the Parents’ Choice Foundation is the nation’s oldest nonprofit guide to quality children’s media and toys. The Parents’ Choice Awards Committees, composed of moms, dads, teachers, performing artists, librarians and kids themselves, search out and recommend products that help kids grow—imaginatively, physically,morally and mentally.

  • Discovery US launches broadband educational video service

    Discovery US launches broadband educational video service

    MUMBAI: Discovery Education a division of Discovery US has announced the launch of Cosmeo. This is a new homework help tool. Designed for a generation that lives online, Cosmeo harnesses the power of broadband and media to help kids achieve academic breakthroughs. Discovery says that Cosmeo is the only comprehensive digital library that includes easy to digest homework help, interactive learning games and more than 30,000 video clips that are correlated to grade level and state curriculum standards. The intuitive interface allows kids in grades K through 12 across the 50 states to instantly reference video clips and other learning tools for any required assignment in all key subject areas.

    Discovery founder John Hendricks says, “For more than 20 years, Discovery has been committed to providing knowledge that satisfies human curiosity across any platform. Cosmeo is the latest extension of this commitment and we believe has the potential to revolutionise how our children learn and process information today. Cosmeo will bring the world to students at the click of a mouse and will allow them to continue their learning experience at home and improve their performance at school.”

    Cosmeo is built on the success of Discovery’s united streaming service, the most widely used educational video streaming resource for schools, reaching more than 70,000 schools and teaching more than 30 million students. The award-winning service has been scientifically proven to increase student achievement. Cosmeo builds upon united streaming’s proven technology and content and engages students in a way that makes learning fun.

    Discovery US president and CEO Judith McHale says, “Cosmeo is the first educational tool to teach today’s kids in the way they learn best. This online product meets them where they’re spending most of their time and is helping to define how they learn today. Cosmeo also gives parents a terrific window into their kids’ education and the ability to participate in their progress at school like never before. We sense families across the United States will find a real benefit in, for example, the WebMath section, which offers a full spectrum of math learning — from third-grade multiplication tables to advanced calculus — with easy-to understand, step-by-step solutions.”

    The product features include:

    30,000 educational videos that make complex topics easier to understand and retain;
    Search tools that instantly locate information by subject, grade level, and keyword – something no other search engine can do;
    Over 15,000 interactive quizzes and 200 subject-related Brain Games, all supported by videos;
    20,000 high-resolution digital photos and 2,300 clip art images available for school projects;
    Digital encyclopedia with access to over 27,000 research articles, soon to be expanded;
    WebMath equation solver detailing step-by-step explanations to most math problems; and much more.