Tag Archives: Discovery

ST launches Discovery nets in French

July 3, 2020NewsAmanda Turnbull, Discovery, Discovery Science, Heart of Darkness, Impact of Murder, Investigation Discovery, People Magazine Investigates, Reasonable Doubt, Someone You Thought You Knew, Space Launch: America Returns, StarTimes, Web of LiesGary

US media company Discovery has revealed that it will launch two of its channels, Investigation Discovery (ID) and Discovery Science, in French on pay TV operator StarTimes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Shows that will be aired on ID include Web of Lies, Heart of Darkness, Impact of Murder, Someone You Thought You Knew, Reasonable Doubt, People Magazine Investigates, series of stunts such as Summer Nightmares, Throwback Saturdays and ID documentaries.

On Discovery Science, viewers will be able to watch the most recent launch of SpaceX in the documentary Space Launch: America Returns, which takes audiences on the mission to take astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the ISS on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Other shows include an engineering stunt called Incredible Constructions, which follows the construction of the world’s incredible engineering projects, and Animals Stunt, unpacking the mystery behind remarkable and peculiar animal behaviour

Amanda Turnbull, VP and general manager for Discovery in Africa, the Middle East and Turkey, said: “We are dedicated to creating the highest quality content that informs, inspires and entertains and we are always looking for ways to expand on our offering, making it accessible to new audience

“With these channels, we will be able to meet the growing demands of French-speaking subscribers across the continent, while further deepening our long-standing relationship with StarTimes.”

Lily Meng, head of StarTimes Media Division, added: “We are pleased to take our partnership with Discovery one step further by making these two amazing channels available to Francophone families across Africa. We remain committed to enriching our bouquets with premium content so our subscribers can enjoy the best TV experience with StarTimes.”

Since its launch in 2008, ID has continued to grow in popularity across global audiences with its highest-ever ratings in EMEA for the first quarter of 2020. Discovery Science, which launched in 1996, has been working with StarTimes since 2015 and the current Discovery StarTimes bouquet includes Real Time, Discovery Family and ID in English.

tagged in: Amanda Turnbull, Discovery, Discovery Science, Heart of Darkness, Impact of Murder, Investigation Discovery, People Magazine Investigates, Reasonable Doubt, Someone You Thought You Knew, Space Launch: America Returns, StarTimes, Web of Lies

Discovery gives O’Neil senior role in Africa

March 20, 2020NewsAmanda Turnbull, Clare O’Neil, Discovery, Discovery Channel, Discovery Family, Food Network, HGTV, ID, Real Time, TLC, Travel ChannelGary

New York-based media giant Discovery has appointed Clare O’Neil as commercial director for the company in Africa.

Discovery has worked in Africa for 25 years and is a leading global content provider of factual entertainment with eight channels: Discovery Channel, HGTV, TLC, Food Network, ID, Discovery Family, Travel Channel and Real Time.

O’Neil, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the media and broadcasting industry, will be driving commercial growth for the company’s eight TV brands in the region.

Based in Johannesburg, she will be part of a larger contingent team in the Dubai office led by Amanda Turnbull, Discovery’s general manager for Middle East and Africa.

She started her career at the Argus Group and fulfilled multiple roles at M-Net, served as the commercial sales director at e.TV, general manager of television sales and non-executive director at the SABC and was CEO of The Broadcast Research Council from 2015 to 2018.

O’Neil said: “I have an unflagging passion and tested dedication to the media and broadcasting industry and I am extremely excited to embark on this new journey with Discovery. A big part of my role will be to focus on new advertising avenues and to ensure that our partners tap into our dynamic brand through the opportunities that exist across the eight channel verticals.”

Turnbull said: “We are investing in local expertise with this appointment and view it as a firm statement of intent and commitment and an important step forward in bringing the right balance between local and global, while unlocking opportunities beyond the traditional broadcast scope.

“With the addition of Clare, our Johannesburg team brings deep broadcasting and media expertise and I look forward to extending our business footprint within Africa through valuable partnerships in the free-to-air and digital space via collaboration and aggregation.

“This could mean using a broadcaster’s expertise and heritage or building an audience in a new area by collaborating with a partner and using their platform to bring content to life and package it in new and creative ways.”

tagged in: Amanda Turnbull, Clare O’Neil, Discovery, Discovery Channel, Discovery Family, Food Network, HGTV, ID, Real Time, TLC, Travel Channel

Discovery’s Real Time joins DStv, GOtv

July 16, 2019NewsAmanda Turnbull, Discovery, DSTV, GOtv, MultiChoice, Real Time, Yolisa PhahleGary

Pay TV company MultiChoice has added Discovery’s entertainment channel Real Time to its DStv and Gotv services to be aired all over the continent.

Rolling out today, Real Time features programmes that depict real-life stories, crime, medicine and nature.

According to Amanda Turnbull, VP and general manager for Discovery in Africa and the Middle East, Discovery will be offering world-class content to more African viewers including a personalised channel targeted at the modern African woman and her family.

She said: “Discovery is incredibly excited to present Real Time to a broader audience in the market and to further diversify and expand the brand’s local portfolio offering.”

Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice’s CEO of general entertainment, said: “MultiChoice is excited to welcome the new channel which will give viewers access to a wide variety of entertaining television shows from Discovery.”

Real Time was recently added to DStv for its subscribers in South Africa, to the Chinese StarTimes in Africa and also to the StarTimes StarSat brand in South Africa.

tagged in: Amanda Turnbull, Discovery, DSTV, GOtv, MultiChoice, Real Time, Yolisa Phahle