Animal Planet is an Indian pay television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery India for the Indian subcontinent, launched on 29 March 1999 as the Indian version of the American counterpart. It is available in three languages including Hindi, English and Tamil. The channel can be viewed on digital cable and satellite television in India. The channel is also available on its OTT services Discovery Plus.[3]
 | |
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Indian subcontinent |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Hindi English Tamil |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to 576i for the SD feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery India |
| Sister channels | See List of channels owned by Warner Bros. Discovery India |
| History | |
| Launched | 29 March 1999[1][2] 23 July 2014 (HD) |
| Links | |
| Website | Animal Planet India |
| Availability - Available on all major Indian DTH & Cables. | |
| Terrestrial | |
| DVB-T2 (India) | Check local frequencies |
| Streaming media | |
| Discovery+ (India) | SD & HD |
| Jio TV (India) | SD & HD |
| Amazon Prime Video (India) | SD & HD |
The channel launched on 29 March 1999.[2] The launch was delayed by a few months.[4] A Hindi language feed was introduced on 1 April 2008.[5][6] The High Definition version was launched on 23 July 2014 along with TLC HD.[7]
History
edit
On 3 February 2008, Animal Planet underwent a major revamp in its programming and branding. The new lineup placed a larger focus on series portraying animals as "characters" in their own right, and more "aggressive" and story-based entertainment series targeting mature viewers 13–49 (such as Escape to Chimp Eden and the reality documentary series Whale Wars), as opposed to traditional nature documentaries and family viewing. The network also adopted a new logo, replacing its previous "elephant and globe" emblem with a stylized wordmark, and the new slogan "Same Planet, Different World". Network president Marjorie Kaplan explained that Animal Planet had been too "soft" and family-oriented, and that it was aiming to be "more aggressive and tapping into the instinctual nature of compelling animal content."[8][9][10]
In April 2010, Animal Planet introduced a new slogan and marketing campaign, "Surprisingly Human," as an evolution of the 2008 rebranding. The slogan reflected Animal Planet's increasing number of personality-based series following animal-related investigations and occupations, such as River Monsters.[11]
In April 2012, Animal Planet's entertainment-oriented direction was criticised after it broadcast Mermaids: The Body Found—a fictional documentary suggesting that mermaids were real. Despite its fictitious content, the documentary was widely viewed, and a follow-up entitled Mermaids: The New Evidence set an all-time ratings record for the channel.[12][13]
On 16 July 2019, a Tamil audio track was added
| Text and/or other creative content from Animal Planet was copied or moved into Animal Planet (Indian TV channel). The former page's history now serves to provide attribution for that content in the latter page, and it must not be deleted as long as the latter page exists. |
Programming
editAdditions to the channel in the late 2000s, such as Meerkat Manor and Orangutan Island, reflected its shift toward "predation programming" and more immersive storytelling. Animal Planet intended the new direction to help revitalize stagnating ratings, after primetime viewership of the network dropped by 9% in 2007.[10] Animal Planet added pseudo-scientific documentary, reality television, and sitcom shows to its line-up.[citation needed]
Animal Planet is also well known for the Puppy Bowl, an annual special featuring puppies at play inside an American football-themed setting. The special airs on the afternoon prior to the NFL's Super Bowl, and was originally narrated by commentator and NFL Films narrator Harry Kalas before his death.[14]
On 29 October 2022, months after the merger of Discovery, Inc. and WarnerMedia into Warner Bros. Discovery, it was announced that Pit Bulls & Parolees would air its final season,[15] while other shows like Lone Star Law and Louisiana Law moved to Discovery Channel. With the exception of Puppy Bowl XIX that aired on the network 12 February 2023,[16] the latest programming moves left Animal Planet to air reruns of the network's programming as well as other shows from other Discovery properties pre-WBD merger.
| Text and/or other creative content from Animal Planet was copied or moved into Animal Planet (Indian TV channel). The former page's history now serves to provide attribution for that content in the latter page, and it must not be deleted as long as the latter page exists. |
Animal Planet HD
edit| Country | India |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Indian subcontinent |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Hindi English Tamil |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery India |
| Sister channels | See List of channels owned by Warner Bros. Discovery in India |
| History | |
| Launched | 23 July 2014 |
| Former names | Animal Planet HD World |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Discovery+ (India) | SD & HD |
| Jio TV (India) | SD & HD |
Animal Planet HD (formerly Animal Planet HD World) is the HD time shift version of Animal Planet India operated by Warner Bros. Discovery for the Indian subcontinent, launched on 23 July 2023. The channel runs time shift to main channel. It is available in eight languages including Hindi, English, Tamil[17][18] The channel can be viewed on digital cable and satellite television in India.[19][20][21]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ The channel will air special 20 year celebration marathon on 15 and 16 August.... http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/factual-and-documentary/discovery-channel-to-complete-20-years-in-india-on-15-august-150814
- ^ a b "Animal Planet unchains gorilla warfare". Indian Express Newspapers. 29 March 1999.
- ^ "Discovery launches streaming app Discovery Plus at subscription fee of Rs 299 per annum". The Financial Express. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ "ANIMAL PLANET MISSES LAUNCH DATE". The Indian CAB&SAT Reporter. 12 January 1999.
- ^ "Animal Planet launches 24-hour Hindi feed". Televisionpoint.com. 28 March 2008.
- ^ "Animal Planet to don new look from October 01". Televisionpoint.com. 16 September 2008.
- ^ "Discovery launches three new channels". afaqs!. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ Brune, Adrian (16 January 2008). "Animal Planet presents new face to the world". PR Week. Retrieved 2 February 2008.
- ^ Becker, Anne (14 January 2008). "Animal Planet Changes Its Stripes". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 2 February 2008.
- ^ a b Stelter, Brian (14 January 2008). "After Ratings Slip, Animal Planet Turns to Its Wilder Side". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ Bierly, Mandi (8 April 2010). "Animal Planet's new tagline: 'Surprisingly Human'". Entertainment Week. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ Switek, Brian (31 May 2012). "Mermaids Embodies the Rotting Carcass of Science TV". Wired. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- ^ Hibberd, James (28 May 2013). "Mermaid hoax drowns Animal Planet's ratings record". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- ^ Ryzik, Melena (2 February 2008). "'Just Fine as Tackles, but They Can't Pass". The New York Times.
- ^ 'Pit Bulls and Parolees' Has Announced It's [sic Final Season — But Why Is It Ending?] – Distractify (published 29 October 2022)
- ^ Meet the Players of Puppy Bowl XIX – (accessed 13 December 2022)
- ^ "Discovery Networks goes full throttle; launches Discovery Channel Tamil". www.afaqs.com. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ "Discovery becomes first channel to support all South Indian languages". 12 August 2019.
- ^ A Fresh Take on ANIMAL WORLD | Animal Planet HD World, retrieved 10 October 2023
- ^ Bureau, Adgully (9 November 2015). "TLC HD World & Animal Planet HD World now available on Tata Sky!". www.adgully.com. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Indian Television (1 August 2014). "Discovery Communications launches ID, TLC HD and Animal Planet HD World". www.indiantelevision.com. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
