Animal Planet

Last updated

Animal Planet
2018 Animal Planet logo.svg
Animal Planet Logo used since October 14, 2018
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 480i letterboxed for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
Owner Warner Bros. Discovery
Parent Warner Bros. Discovery Networks
Sister channels
List
History
LaunchedApril 1, 1994;30 years ago (1994-04-01)
Links
Website www.animalplanet.com

Animal Planet (stylized in all lowercase since 2018) is an American multinational pay television channel, and associated AnimalPlanet.com [1] website content, owned by the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks unit of Warner Bros. Discovery. First established on June 1, 1996, [2] the channel is primarily devoted to series and documentaries about wild animals and domestic pets. [3]

Contents

The channel was originally a joint venture with BBC Worldwide, and primarily focused on nature documentaries surrounding wildlife, targeting a family audience. In 2008, Animal Planet rebranded with a more mature programming direction, with a greater emphasis on aggressive and predatory portrayals of animals, as well as an increase in reality series following personalities involved in animal-related occupations and investigations. Animal Planet rebranded again in October 2018, pivoting away from its more aggressive branding.

As of January 2016, approximately 91,603,000 households receive Animal Planet. [4] Discovery has also established or licensed international versions of the channel in various regions.

History

Animal Planet was launched on June 1, 1996; it was created by Discovery Communications in cooperation with BBC Worldwide. On January 1, 1997, Animal Planet's distribution grew as a result of Advance Entertainment Corporation selling the satellite transponder slot belonging to the WWOR EMI Service (a national superstation feed of Secaucus, New Jersey/New York City's WWOR-TV, that was implemented following the 1989 passage of the Syndication Exclusivity Rights Rule by the Federal Communications Commission) to Discovery Communications, replacing the feed with Animal Planet outright. [5]

In late 2005, as part of a multi-million dollar expansion, the National Aquarium in Baltimore opened an exhibit called "Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extreme". Animal Planet and the National Aquarium in Baltimore announced a multi-year partnership the year prior, which produced an original orientation film that gives Aquarium visitors background on the Australian area which inspired the new exhibit and a dedicated area inside the expansion where visitors can learn about Animal Planet's conservation efforts and other programming. The partnership also allowed the possibility of future productions of television programs about the National Aquarium in Baltimore's research and exhibits. [6]

In 2006, BBC Worldwide sold its 20% interest in the flagship Animal Planet U.S. network back to Discovery Communications. [7] The BBC maintained its 50% ownership in Animal Planet's European, Asian and Latin American channels, as well as a minority interest in Animal Planet Japan and Animal Planet Canada until November 15, 2010, [8] when BBC Worldwide sold 50% interest in Animal Planet and Liv to Discovery Communications for $156 million. [9] Animal Planet is additionally an associate member of the Caribbean Cable Cooperative. [10]

During the late 2000s, Genius Products announced a U.S. distribution agreement involving Animal Planet and TLC. Jakks Pacific also entered into a licensing agreement to develop Animal Planet-branded pet products.

2008 rebranding

Animal Planet logo used from February 3, 2008 to October 14, 2018 Animal Planet.svg
Animal Planet logo used from February 3, 2008 to October 14, 2018

On February 3, 2008, amidst declining average viewership, 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." [11] [12] [13]

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 . [14]

In April 2012, Animal Planet's entertainment-oriented direction was criticized 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. [15] [16]

2018 rebranding

On October 15, 2018, Animal Planet unveiled a new logo, featuring a symbol of a jumping elephant resembling the original logo. The new branding symbolizes a new mission of "keeping the childhood joy and wonder of animals alive by bringing people up close in every way." The new branding coincided with the October 28 premieres of Crikey! It's the Irwins (a new series following the family of Steve Irwin) and Amanda to the Rescue, and the premiere of Big Cat Stories the following night. [17] [18]

On January 23, 2019, Animal Planet was launched in France, along with Discovery Turbo, Discovery World and TLC.

Programming

Additions 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. [13] Animal Planet added pseudo-scientific documentary, reality television, and sitcom shows to its line-up.

Animal Planet is also well known for the Puppy Bowl , an annual special featuring puppies at play inside a 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. [19]

On October 29, 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, [20] 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 February 12, 2023, [21] 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.

Animal Planet Magazine

D.C. Thomson & Co. partnered with Discovery to publish Animal Planet Magazine in the United Kingdom. The magazine's first issue was published on February 16, 2011. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

Discovery Channel, known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery, is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. As of June 2012, Discovery Channel was the third most widely distributed subscription channel in the United States, behind now-sibling channel TBS and The Weather Channel; it is available in 409 million households worldwide, through its U.S. flagship channel and its various owned or licensed television channels internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TruTV</span> American cable and satellite television channel

TruTV is an American basic cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The channel primarily broadcasts comedy, docusoaps and reality shows, as well as sports programming produced by TNT Sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UKTV</span> Multi-channel broadcaster, subsidiary of the BBC

UKTV Media Limited, trading as UKTV, is a British multi-channel broadcaster, which, since 2019, has been wholly owned by BBC Studios, a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. It was formed on 1 November 1992 through a joint venture between the BBC and Thames Television. It is one of the United Kingdom's largest television companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal Planet (Canadian TV channel)</span> Canadian specialty television channel

Animal Planet is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty television channel. Animal Planet broadcasts a variety of programming featuring animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logo TV</span> American pay television channel owned by Paramount Global

Logo TV is an American basic cable channel owned by Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global. Launched in 2005, Logo was originally dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment programming targeting LGBT audiences. As of January 2016, approximately 50 million households receive Logo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discovery, Inc.</span> American factual media company (1985–2022)

Discovery, Inc. was an American multinational mass media factual television conglomerate based in New York City. Established in 1982, the company operated a group of factual and lifestyle television brands, such as the namesake Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and TLC. In 2018, the company acquired Scripps Networks Interactive, adding networks such as Food Network, HGTV, and Travel Channel to its portfolio. Since the purchase, Discovery described itself as serving members of "passionate" audiences, and also placed a focus on streaming services built around its properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NFL Network</span> American sports-oriented pay television network

NFL Network is an American sports-oriented pay television network owned by the National Football League (NFL) and is part of NFL Media, which also includes NFL.com, NFL Films, NFL Mobile, NFL Now and NFL RedZone. Dedicated to American football, the network features game telecasts from the NFL, as well as NFL-related content including analysis programs, specials and documentaries. The network is headquartered in the NFL Los Angeles building located next to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and broadcasts its worldwide feed from Encompass Digital Media in Atlanta, Georgia. The network has secondary East Coast facilities in the NFL Films building in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travel Channel</span> American pay television channel

Travel Channel is an American pay television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which had previously owned the channel from 1997 to 2007. The channel is headquartered in Manhattan, with offices in Silver Spring, Maryland and Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWOR-TV</span> MyNetworkTV station in Secaucus, New Jersey

WWOR-TV is a television station licensed to Secaucus, New Jersey, United States, serving the New York City area as the flagship of the MyNetworkTV programming service. It is owned and operated by Fox Television Stations alongside Fox flagship WNYW. The two stations share studios at the Fox Television Center on East 67th Street in Manhattan's Lenox Hill neighborhood; WWOR-TV's transmitter is located at One World Trade Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Science Channel</span> American pay television channel

Science Channel is an American pay television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The channel features programming focusing on science related to wilderness survival, engineering, manufacturing, technology, space, space exploration, ufology and prehistory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Destination America</span> American television channel

Destination America is an American cable television channel owned by the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks unit of Warner Bros. Discovery. The network carries programming focused on the culture of the United States—including food, lifestyles, and travel. The network first launched in 1996 as Discovery Travel & Living Network, as part of a suite of four digital cable networks the company launched that year. From its launch until 2008, the network primarily focused upon home improvement, cooking, and leisure-themed programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Investigation Discovery</span> U.S. pay television channel

Investigation Discovery, stylized and branded on-air as ID since 2008, is an American multinational pay television network dedicated to true crime documentaries owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. As of February 2015, approximately 86 million American households receive Investigation Discovery. The network is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland.

<i>Puppy Bowl</i> Super bowl counterprogramming hosted by Animal Planet

The Puppy Bowl is an annual television program on Animal Planet that mimics an American football game similar to the Super Bowl, using puppies. Shown each year on Super Bowl Sunday, the show consists of footage of a batch of puppies at play inside a model stadium, with commentary on their actions. The first Puppy Bowl was shown on February 6, 2005, opposite to Super Bowl XXXIX. The puppies featured in the Puppy Bowl are from shelters. The program is designed to raise awareness about adopting pets from shelters and rescuing abandoned animals.

<i>Planet Earth</i> (2006 TV series) 2006 British nature documentary television series

Planet Earth is a 2006 British television series produced by the BBC Natural History Unit. Five years in the making, it was the most expensive nature documentary series ever commissioned by the BBC and also the first to be filmed in high definition. The series received multiple awards, including four Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and an award from the Royal Television Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travel Channel International</span> Television channel

Travel Channel International is a commercial television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and broadcasting travel-themed programmes in the EMEA regions and Asia Pacific, spanning 21 on-air languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal Planet (Australia and New Zealand)</span> Australian television channel

Animal Planet is a television channel which launched locally in Australia exclusively on Optus Television in October 1999. The channel is dedicated to programming that highlights the relationship between humans and animals. It has since expanded to multiple carriers.

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) was an American mass media company, which was formed on July 1, 2008, and acquired by and merged into Discovery Communications on March 6, 2018. It was formed in 2008, through the spin-off of the E. W. Scripps Company's cable television networks and online assets. Discovery Communications completed its acquisition of SNI after receiving approval from the United States Department of Justice and European Commission on March 6, 2018. It was the owner of several major factual television cable channels, including Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel, and operated or held stakes in localized international versions of these brands. SNI also owned Polish broadcaster TVN and half of the British channel group UKTV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal Planet (Indian TV channel)</span> Indian television channel

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 Animal Planet. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal Planet (Dutch TV channel)</span> Dutch pay television channel

Animal Planet is a Dutch pay television channel broadcasting nature-related documentaries in the Netherlands and Flanders. The channel launched as a Pan-European feed on 1 July 1997. It is operated by Discovery Benelux.

Discovery Family is an American cable television channel co-owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and Hasbro Entertainment.

References

  1. ↑ Formerly Animal.Discovery.com.
  2. ↑ "Cable is there for kids" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. August 12, 1996. p. 35. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  3. ↑ Vargas, Jason Edward (February 16, 2016). "Love What You Do and Do What You Love". Frontiers in Pediatrics. 3: 119. doi: 10.3389/fped.2015.00119 . ISSN   2296-2360. PMC   4754387 . PMID   26909341.
  4. ↑ "Cable Network Coverage Area Household Universe Estimates: January 2016". Broadcasting and Cable. NewBay Media. Archived from the original on October 14, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  5. ↑ Paikert, Charles. "Discovery dogs WWOR; Animal Planet gets leg up on Open Slots", Multichannel News , January 6, 1997.
  6. ↑ "Aquarium Announces Partners in Australia Exhibit". National Aquarium in Baltimore. June 17, 2004. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  7. ↑ "BBC Worldwide Annual Review 2005/06" (PDF). BBC Worldwide. March 31, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 3, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  8. ↑ EDGAR Filing Documents for 0000950134-07-004374
  9. ↑ "BBC and Discovery Communications announce new partnership and BBC Worldwide sells its interest in joint venture to Discovery". BBC News. November 15, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Member channels of the Caribbean Cable Cooperative". CCTVCoop.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011.
  11. ↑ Brune, Adrian (January 16, 2008). "Animal Planet presents new face to the world". PR Week. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  12. ↑ Becker, Anne (January 14, 2008). "Animal Planet Changes Its Stripes". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  13. 1 2 Stelter, Brian (January 14, 2008). "After Ratings Slip, Animal Planet Turns to Its Wilder Side". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  14. ↑ Bierly, Mandi (April 8, 2010). "Animal Planet's new tagline: 'Surprisingly Human'". Entertainment Week. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  15. ↑ Switek, Brian (May 31, 2012). "Mermaids Embodies the Rotting Carcass of Science TV". Wired . Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  16. ↑ Hibberd, James (May 28, 2013). "Mermaid hoax drowns Animal Planet's ratings record". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  17. ↑ Clarke, Stewart (October 16, 2018). "Rebranded Animal Planet Under Susanna Dinnage Goes Global". Variety . Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  18. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (October 16, 2018). "Animal Planet Rebrands with New Logo, Look & Mission". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  19. ↑ Ryzik, Melena (February 2, 2008). "'Just Fine as Tackles, but They Can't Pass". The New York Times .
  20. ↑ 'Pit Bulls and Parolees' Has Announced It's[sic] Final Season — But Why Is It Ending? - Distractify (published October, 29, 2022)
  21. ↑ Meet the Players of Puppy Bowl XIX - (accessed December 13, 2022)
  22. ↑ Loveday, Samantha (February 11, 2011). "DC Thomson Teams with Discovery for Animal Planet Mag". Licensing.biz. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.