New high definition Discovery Channel to launch this year
By Adnews Staff
CTV Specialty Television of Toronto and US-based Discovery Communications have received a license from the CRTC to launch a high definition specialty channel called Discovery HD. According to the two companies, the channel will be Canada's first 24-hour high definition specialty service. The channel is expected to go into operation before the end of the year. "Discovery's long-standing tradition of using spectacular imagery to bring viewers closer to their world lends itself naturally to the high-definition format and makes Discovery HD the gold standard in High Definition programming," said Dawn McCall, president of Discovery Networks International. The channel will carry a variety of science, technology, nature and adventure programming intended to maximize the potential of the high definition format. This stand-alone channel will replace the company's existing Discovery HD simulcast service, which was launched in 2003.