Discovery Communications has announced that it will launch its Animal Planet channel in high definition (HD) on 3 February. The new standalone HD service will roll out on the Canal Digital platform in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.
“We are committed to investing in new programming and services that serve the needs of affiliates around the world and enhance the viewing experience for consumers,” said Greg Ricca, President and CEO, Discovery Networks International.
Offering a standalone schedule and 100 percent 1080i HD content, Animal Planet HD will build on the strength of the brand by showcasing high quality wildlife and natural history entertainment in premium high-definition. Animal Planet HD will bring viewers even closer to the animal world with immersive programmes such as In Too Deep, which offers a look at some of the planet’s harshest climates; Pandemonium, profiling the battle to save one of the world’s most loved animals; and Groomer Has It, a tongue-in-cheek look at the primping and preening of man’s best friend.
Animal Planet HD joins Discovery HD, which offers a standalone schedule and premium 1080i HD content from Discovery’s extensive library of thousands of hours of high-definition programming. Launched internationally in 2005, Discovery HD rolled out on Canal Digital’s first HD tier in the Nordic region in October 2006.
