This is a list of documentary channels, including channels that have been affected by "channel drift". [1] It also contains channels accused of a biased point of view.
Name | Launch | Country | Language | Content focus | Change of content/bias | Examples of content in original focus (past and present) | Owner/parent company |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PBS America | 2011 | United Kingdom | English | History, Science, Current Affairs and Arts & Culture | Available on Sky, Virgin Media, Freeview and Freesat | PBS | |
A&E | 1984 | United States | English | Documentaries, biographies and crime dramas (originally) | Reality shows, stereotypes (Southerners) | The First 48 , Criminal Minds , CSI:Miami | A+E Networks |
ABC | 1956 | Australia | English | Mass media, United States cable | Live broadcasts (sports), tv shows (television programs), reality shows | ||
Al Jazeera Documentary Channel | 2007 | Qatar | Arabic | Documentary films | Al Jazeera has been criticized for being state media owned by Qatar and assailed as anti-Semitic, anti-American bias. | Al Jazeera Media Network | |
American Heroes Channel | 1999 | USA | English | World War II, U.S. war documentaries | |||
Animal Planet | 1996 | USA | English | Wildlife, animals, relation between humans and animals | Speculative fiction and pseudo-documentaries (mermaids, dragons), non-animal shows [2] [3] [4] [5] | Cats 101 , Dogs 101 | Warner Bros. Discovery |
APTN | 1992 | Canada | English | Programs and news about Aboriginal peoples in Canada | Some non-Aboriginal programming [6] | APTN National News , Blackstone , Cooking With the Wolfman | |
Arte | 1992 | France, Germany | French, German | Arts, culture | |||
BBC | 1922 | UK | English | Mass media, public broadcasting | |||
BBC Four | 1999 | UK | English | Culture, current affairs | British Broadcasting Corporation | ||
BBC Earth | 2015 | UK | English | Nature and wildlife documentaries | BBC Studios | ||
BBC Parliament | 1992 | UK | English | Parliamentary and legislative programs | British Broadcasting Corporation | ||
Bravo | 1995 | Canada | English | Television dramas, films, art-related programming | Film-dramas, non-art TV shows [7] [8] | Inside the Actors Studio , Blue Bloods , 19-2 , Dallas , Criminal Minds | |
C-SPAN | 1979 | USA | English | Government proceedings and public affairs | |||
C-SPAN 2 | 1986 | USA | English | Government proceedings and public affairs | |||
C-SPAN 3 | 2001 | USA | English | Government proceedings and public affairs | |||
Canal D | 1995 | Canada | French | Crime, biographies, nature, and science | Bell Media | ||
Canal+ Docs | 2021 | France | French | History and society documentary | Groupe Canal+ | ||
Canal+ Dokument | 2019 | Poland | Polish | ||||
Canal+ Discover | 2021 | Ethiopia | Oromo | ||||
Amharic | |||||||
Canal+ Su Sann | 2018 | Myanmar | Burmese | ||||
CCTV-9 | 2011 | China | It has one editions: one in Chinese for mainland China. | Documentary shows | CCTV | ||
CGTN Documentary | 2016 | China | It has one editions: one in English for international broadcasting. | Documentary shows | CGTN | ||
CMT (Canada) | 1995 | Canada | English | Country music, country music videos | Blue Collar Comedy Tour , Canadian Country Music Awards , CMT Music Awards | ||
CNBC | 1989 | USA | English | Business news, stocks | NBCUniversal | ||
CNN | 1980 | USA | English | United States cable news, documentaries | Accused of both conservative and liberal bias in news [9] | News covering both conservative and liberal topics | Warner Bros. Discovery |
Cosmote History | 2016 | Greece | Greek | Documentary and historical fiction series | OTE | ||
Crime and Investigation Network | 2004 | USA | English | Crime-related | A+E Networks | ||
ČT art | 2013 | Czech Republic | Czech | Documentary, Culture, Arts, Music | Czech Television | ||
Da Vinci Learning | 2007 | Germany | English | History, sociology, biology, physics | |||
Digi Animal World | 2012 | Romania | Romanian | Nature and wildlife documentary | Digi Communications | ||
Digi World | History and society documentary | ||||||
Culturebox | 2021 | France | French | Documentary, Culture, Arts, Music | France Télévisions | ||
DD National | 1957 | India | Hindi | Prasar Bharati | |||
DD Bharati | 1985 | India | Hindi | History | Prasar Bharati | ||
Destination America | 1996 | USA | English | Traveling, how-to travel, hotel and cities touring, lifestyle, history | Speculative fiction [10] | Hidden in America | Warner Bros. Discovery |
Discovery Channel | 1985 | USA | English | Popular science, technology and history | Reality shows, speculative fiction (time-travel, alternate universes, the paranormal, etc.), speculative fiction [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] | MythBusters , Daily Planet , Curiosity , The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius , Frozen Planet , Life | |
Discovery Historia | 2006 | Poland | Polish | History | TVN Warner Bros. Discovery | ||
Discovery History | 1999 | UK | English | History | Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | ||
Discovery Life | 2011 | USA | English | Fitness and health | |||
Discovery World | 1998 | USA | English | Travel, culture and history | Replaced by DTX in Europe | Warner Bros. Discovery | |
Documentales por Movistar Plus+ | 2023 | Spain | Spanish | History and society documentary | Telefónica | ||
Documentary Channel | 2001 | Canada | English | Documentary films | CBC | ||
DTour | 1997 | Canada | English | Travel, lifestyle | Corus Entertainment | ||
Encore | 1991 | USA | English | Theatrically released feature films (older to more recent), TV shows (on some channels) | |||
Encuentro | 2007 | Argentina | Spanish | History, science and general culture | |||
Epic | 2014 | India | Hindi, English | Infotainment, Travel | |||
Food Food | 2006 | India | Hindi | Food, Cooking | |||
Food Network | 1993 | USA | English | Food, cooking, cuisine, the food industry | Warner Bros. Discovery | ||
Food Network (Canada) | 2000 | Canada | English | Food, cooking, cuisine, the food industry | Corus Entertainment | ||
Fox News Channel | 1996 | USA | English | United States cable news | Accused of conservative bias [16] [17] [18] in news although this has been stated as unsubstantiated by members of Fox News [19] [20] [21] [17] [22] [23] | Fox Corporation | |
France 5 | 1994 | France | French | Documentaries, educational programming | France Télévisions | ||
France.tv Docs | 2024 | France | French | Documentary | |||
Focus | 2012 | Italy | Italian | Documentaries, programming | Mediaset | ||
FYI | 1999 | USA | English | Biographical shows | Reality shows, speculative fiction (curses, alien and ghost encounters) [24] | Biography | A+E Networks |
HGTV | 1994 | USA | English | How-to shows with a focus on home improvement, gardening, remodeling and crafts | Warner Bros. Discovery | ||
Historia | 2000 | Canada | French | Historic dramas, documentaries, movies, human interests programs | A+E Networks | ||
History | 1995 | USA | English | Documentary and historical fiction series | Reality shows, speculative documentaries ( Ancient Aliens ), apocalypse shows, US history, non-historic reality shows, fairly homogeneous viewpoint, concentrated program topics (World War II, [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [15] | Museum Secrets , Ancients Behaving Badly | A+E Networks |
History (Canada) | 1997 | Canada | English | Documentary and historical fiction series | Reality shows, apocalypse shows, speculative fiction [30] | A+E Networks | |
HLN | 1984 | USA | English | 30-minute newscast | Tabloid, Crime, opinion, [31] [32] and entertainment news-related programming [33] | Morning Express with Robin Meade | Warner Bros. Discovery |
ICI ARTV | 2001 | Canada | French | Documentary, culture, arts and music | CBC | ||
ICI Explora | 2012 | Canada | French | Science, environment, nature and health | |||
Investigation Discovery | 1996 | USA | English | Crime-related | Warner Bros. Discovery | ||
JOJ Svet | 2023 | Slovakia | Slovak | Documentary, science, history, nature | J&T Enterprise | ||
Kabel Eins Doku | 2016 | Germany | German | Documentary, science, history, nature | ProSiebenSat.1 Media | ||
Knowledge Network | 1981 | Canada | English | Politics, culture, history, arts, music, health, parenting, and science | |||
Kunskapskanalen | 2004 | Sweden | Swedish | Government proceedings, Educational | SVT | ||
M5 | 2016 | Hungary | Hungarian | Documentary, Culture, Arts, Music | MTVA | ||
MCM | 1989 | France | French | Music videos (popular music, French music) | Reality shows, horror series, anime shows [34] | Top 50 hebdo , MCM sur le dancefloor , Top 50 quotidien | |
Military History | 1999 | USA | English | World War II, wars, generals | A+E Networks | ||
IRIB Mostanad | 2011 | Iran | Persian | Culture, arts, society, politics, history, wilderness, nature and the Iran–Iraq War | IRIB | ||
MSNBC | 1996 | USA | English | Documentary in current affairs | NBCUniversal | ||
MTV India (previously MTV3 Fakta) | 2006 | India | Hindi | Documentaries, Music | Paramount Networks EMEAA | ||
N24 Doku | 2016 | Germany | German | Documentary, science, history, nature | WeltN24 | ||
Nat Geo | 1997 | USA | English | Nature, culture, science, engineering & technology, history & society | Reality shows/stereotypes (Navajo, Southerners shows, the Amish and other minority groups) and apocalypse shows [35] [15] [36] | Explorer , Taboo | The Walt Disney Company |
Nat Geo Music | 2007 | Italy, India | English | Documentaries about cultures and music around the world | |||
Nat Geo Wild | 2010 | Hong Kong, India | English | Wildlife, natural history | |||
National Geographic Adventure | 1994 | Singapore | English | Outdoor, travel and exploration | |||
OLN | 1997 | Canada | English | Fact-based outdoor adventure shows | Speculative fiction (aliens, ghosts, monsters, paranormal), reality shows, conspiracy theories [37] | Departures , Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan , Descending , Duck Commander , Python Hunters , Survivorman , Mantracker | |
Paramount Network | 1983 | USA | English | A movie channel focusing primarily on theatrical and original made-for-TV films. | Originally founded as TNN, rebranded as Spike TV, now Paramount | Paramount Global | |
PBS | 1970 | USA | English | Non-profit television, fine arts, drama, science, history, music, public affairs, independent films, home improvement, interviews | Accused of anti-Communist and liberal point-of-view [38] [39] | ||
Phoenix | 1997 | Germany | German | Documentaries, news broadcasts, special events, discussion programmes | ARD, ZDF | ||
Planète+ | 1988 | France | French | Documentaries | Groupe Canal+ | ||
2021 | Poland | Polish | |||||
Polsat Doku | 2017 | Poland | Polish | Documentaries | Telewizja Polsat | ||
Prima History | 2023 | Romania | Romanian | Documentary focuses in History | Clever Group | ||
Prima Zoom | 2013 | Czech Republic | Czech | Documentary, science, history, nature | FTV Prima | ||
Rai 5 | 2010 | Italy | Italian | Documentary, Culture, Arts, Music | RAI | ||
Rai Scuola | 2009 | Italy | Italian | Educational | |||
Rai Storia | 2009 | Italy | Italian | Historical events, occasionally with current relevance | |||
RMC Découverte | 2012 | France | French | Documentary, men's interest | RMC BFM | ||
RMC Story | 2012 | France | French | Documentary, science, history, nature | |||
RT Documentary | 2011 | Russia | English, Russian | Russia | ANO TV-Novosti | ||
RTS Nauka | 2020 | Serbia | Serbian | Documentary, Nature, Science | RTS | ||
RTS Trezor | 2016 | Documentary, History | |||||
Russian Travel Guide | 2009 | Russia | English, Russian, Turkish | Nature, science, culture, and history of the Russian Federation | |||
Science | 1996 | USA | English | Space, technology and science | Speculative fiction, non- science shows [40] [15] | The Challenger Disaster , How Do They Do It? , How It's Made , Futurescape , What Is That? , How The Universe Works , Wonders of Life | Warner Bros. Discovery |
Showcase | 1995 | Canada | English | Canadian and worldwide independent films, drama, comedy, mini-series | American shows and movies | ||
Sky Arts | 2007 | UK | English | Arts including, theatrical performances, movies, documentaries and music | Sky Group | ||
Sky Arte | 2012 | Italy | Italian | ||||
Sky Documentaries | 2020 | UK | English | History and society documentary | |||
2021 | Germany | German | |||||
Italy | Italian | ||||||
Sky Crime | 2019 | UK | English | Investigation and justice documentary | |||
2021 | Germany | German | |||||
2023 | Italy | Italian | |||||
Sky History | 2020 | UK | English | Documentary and historical fiction series | Museum Secrets, Ancients Behaving Badly | ||
Sky Nature | 2020 | UK | English | Nature and wildlife documentary | |||
2021 | Germany | German | |||||
Italy | Italian | ||||||
Space | 1997 | Canada | English | Science fiction, space-related programming | Reality shows, fantasy, horror, paranormal [41] | InnerSPACE , Star Trek: The Next Generation , Star Trek: Voyager , Stargate Universe , Stargate Atlantis , Stargate SG-1 , Doctor Who | |
Travel Channel | 1987 | USA | English | Traveling, how-to travel, hotel and cities touring | Paranormal (haunted places, ghosts) [42] | Marianela's Best Beaches , Edge of America , No Reservations , Samantha Brown , Best of the Road , Off Limits , Top 5 | Warner Bros. Discovery |
TruTV | 1991 | USA | English | Legal programming | Reality shows [43] | Sony Pictures Entertainment | |
TRT Belgesel | 2009 | Turkey | Turkish | Documentary | Türkiye Radyo ve Televizyon Kurumu | ||
TV4 Fakta | 2005 | Sweden | Swedish | Science | TV4 AB | ||
TVP Historia | 2005 | Poland | Polish | Documentary, History | Telewizja Polska | ||
TVP Kultura | 2007 | Documentary, Culture, Arts, Music | |||||
TVP Dokument | 2020 | Documentary | |||||
TVP Nauka | 2022 | Documentary, Nature, Science | |||||
Viasat Explorer | 2002 | Sweden | English | Wild animals, extreme sports, adventure, travel and technology | Viasat World LTD | ||
Viasat History | 2004 | Sweden | English | History, culture and society | |||
Viasat Nature | 1994 | Sweden | Swedish, Danish, Norwegian | Nature and wildlife | |||
ViJu Explorer | 2023 | Russia | Russian | Wild animals, extreme sports, adventure, travel and technology | Viasat Russia | ||
ViJu History | History, culture and society | ||||||
ViJu Nature | Nature and wildlife | ||||||
W Network | 1995 | Canada | English | Women-oriented feminist programming [44] | Primetime movies | ||
The Weather Channel | 1982 | USA | English | Weather news and information | Documentary programs [45] | ||
The Weather Network | 1988 | Canada | English | Weather news and information | |||
TVR Cultural | 2002 (original) 2022 (relaunch) | Romania | Romanian | Documentary, Culture, Arts, Music | Televiziunea Română | ||
YLE Teema Fem | 2017 | Finland | Finnish | Documentary, Culture, Arts, Music | YLE | ||
ZDFinfo | 1997 | Germany | German | ZDF | |||
Zee Documentary | 2001 | India | English, Hindi | Learning, culture and sciences | Zee Entertainment | ||
National Documentary Channel | 2019 | Somalia | Somali | Culture and Sciences | National Documentary Channel | ||
Zing | 2006 | India | Hindi | Indian Music | Zee Entertainment |
WWE SmackDown, also known as Friday Night SmackDown or simply SmackDown, is an American professional wrestling television program produced by WWE. It airs live every Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on USA. SmackDown is the most viewed television show on Friday nights in the United States of America. Fox Deportes simulcasts the program with Spanish-language commentary. The show features characters from the SmackDown brand, to which WWE employees are assigned to work and perform. It is considered to be one of WWE's two flagship programs, along with Monday Night Raw.
Bravo is an American basic cable television network, launched on December 8, 1980. It is owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. The channel originally focused on programming related to fine arts and film. Since the 2000s, its brand has focused heavily on reality series targeted at 25-to-54-year-old women and the LGBTQIA+ community at large.
FYI is an American basic cable channel owned by A&E Networks, a joint venture between the Disney Entertainment subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company and Hearst Communications. The network features lifestyle programming, with a mix of reality, culinary, home renovation and makeover series.
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A&E Television Networks, LLC, stylized as A+E NETWORKS, is an American multinational broadcasting company that is a 50–50 joint venture between Hearst Communications and The Walt Disney Company through its Entertainment division. The company owns several non-fiction and entertainment-based television brands, including its namesake A&E network, History Channel, Lifetime, FYI, and their associated sister channels. The company also holds stakes in, or licenses, their international branches.
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The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network is a Canadian specialty channel. Established in 1992 and maintained by governmental funding to broadcast in Canada's northern territories, APTN acquired a national broadcast licence in 1999. It airs and produces programs made by, for and about Indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, it is the first network by and for North American indigenous peoples.
Localish is a digital multicast television network owned by ABC Owned Television Stations, a division of Disney.
The MCM Comic Con London is a speculative fiction fan convention held at the ExCel London twice yearly since 2002, usually on the last weekend in May and October. The convention primarily focuses on comic books, video games, sci-fi, cosplay, anime and popular media.
Karyn Pugliese (Pabàmàdiz) is a Canadian investigative journalist, press freedom advocate and communications specialist, of Algonquin descent. She is a status Indigenous person and a citizen of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation in Ontario. Pugliese was chosen for the twenty-fifth Martin Wise Goodman Canadians as Nieman Fellow, and graduated in the Class of 2020, Harvard University. She is a frequent commentator on Rosemary Barton Live. In May 2023, she was appointed editor in chief of Canadaland after publisher Jesse Brown announced that he was stepping down from the role. She also hosts the podcast canadaLANDBACK. Pugliese is best known for her work as a journalist/executive director of news and current affairs at the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, and as the host of ichannel's #FAQMP.
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