HIGH-DEFINITION DISCOVERY TO GO INTERNATIONAL
By Adnews Staff
Discovery Communications of Silver Spring, MD is preparing to extend its high definition television services outside of the US for the first time. The company plans to offer the network, called Discovery HD Theater, in international markets where HDTV already has a presence, including Canada, Mexico, Korea, China, Japan, Germany and the UK. It will be packaged as a stand-alone channel or in blocks of programming. The service debuted in the US in June of 2002. It carries high definition programming from various properties owned by the company, including Discovery Channel, TLC, Travel Channel and Animal Planet. "Discovery Communications is positioned to lead the HD programming arena internationally given the universal appeal of Discovery's brand, our proven expertise in launching international networks and our tradition of providing visually rich content to our viewers throughout the world," said Judith McHale, president of Discovery.