network back to Discovery Communications. In 2006, BBC Worldwide sold its 20% interest in the flagship Animal Planet U.S. The partnership also allowed the possibility of future productions of television programs about the National Aquarium in Baltimore's research and exhibits. 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. 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". 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. Discovery has also established or licensed international versions of the channel in various regions.Īnimal Planet was launched on Jit was created by Discovery Communications in cooperation with BBC Worldwide. Animal Planet rebranded again in October 2018, shifting back towards a more family-oriented direction, despite still airing some mature programs.Īs of January 2016, approximately 91,603,000 households receive Animal Planet. In 2008 Animal Planet adopted a more mature programming direction, with an emphasis on aggressive and predatory portrayals of animals, as well as an increase in reality programs following personalities involved in animal-related occupations and investigations. Since its initial launch, the channel's target demographics animal lovers which are children and family audiences during morning and daytime, and for mature audiences during primetime and late night. The channel was originally a joint venture with BBC Studios, and favored educational programming such as nature documentaries.
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First established on June 1, 1996, the network is primarily devoted to series and documentaries about wild animals and domestic pets. Animal Planet (stylized as animal planet) is an American multinational pay television channel owned by Discovery, Inc.