| Network | Launch | Subs @ launch | Current subs |
| Discovery US | 17-Jun-85 | 156,000 | 71.4 million |
| Discovery Europe | Apr-89 (cable exclusive) Sep-93 (Astra exclusive) | 100,000* | 14.2 million |
| Discovery Israel ** | 1990 (agreement) | 140,000 | 1 million |
| TLC | October, 1991*** | 15,549 | 59.3 million US 5.2 mil. Canada |
| Discovery Asia | Jan-94 | 648,155 | 7 million |
| Discovery Latin America / Iberia | Feb-94 | 586,194 | 5.4 million |
| Discovery Middle East | May-94 | 9,000 | 1,040,000**** |
| Discovery Canada | Jan-95 | 1.1 million | 4.5 million |
| Discovery S. Korea** | Mar-95 | 140,000 | 1.6 million |
| Discovery India | Aug-95 | 1 million | 5 million |
| Discovery Australia / New Zealand | Sep-95 | 90,000***** | 498,475 |
| Discovery Italy | Jan-96 | 600 | 60,986 |
| Discovery Africa | Jan-96 | 9,500 | 109,904 |
| Discovery Brazil | Apr-96 | 910,653 | 1.8 million |
| Animal Planet | Jun-96 | 99,000 | 20 million |
| Discovery Germany | Jul-96 | 0 | 29,652 |
| Discovery Japan | Jan-97 | 14,829 | 17,782 |
| Four digital networks | Still in testing |
*Subscriber numbers available are for year-end 1989
**This is a program supply agreement, where branded Discovery Channel blocks air but not a full 24-hour network
***Acquired and re-launched by DCI in 1991
****Subscriber number also includes Israel viewers
*****Subscriber number represents New Zealand only as that network launched before Australia
then …
On average, at launch, Discovery Channel programming consisted of: 60% acquisitions, 40% Discovery Global Library, and 0% coproduction.
(Note: Each regional service varies.)
… vs NOW
Currently, on average, Discovery Channel’s programming consists of: 50% acquisitions, 30% Discovery Global Library, and 20% coproduction.
(Note: Each regional service varies.)
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