Leslie Massey
Animal Planet is an American multinational pay television channel that was first launched on 1 June 1996. The channel is devoted to series and documentaries about wild animals and tame animals, including domestic pets. Animal Planet is available in various countries worldwide, including Australia, where it was launched locally in October 1999, exclusively on Optus Television. Since then, it has expanded to multiple carriers in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Launch date | 1 June 1996 |
| Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery Networks unit of Warner Bros. Discovery |
| Focus | Series and documentaries about wild and domestic animals |
| Programming direction | More mature direction since 2008, with a greater emphasis on aggressive and predatory portrayals of animals |
| Availability in Australia | Optus Television, Foxtel, Sky, Fetch TV |
| Peak viewership | 98 million households in 2011 |
| Current viewership | 70 million households as of November 2023 |
| Notable shows | Puppy Bowl, Meerkat Manor, Orangutan Island |
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What You'll Learn
Animal Planet's launch in Australia
Animal Planet is an American multinational pay television channel that was first established on 1 June 1996. It is primarily devoted to series and documentaries about wild animals and tame animals, including domestic pets. The channel was originally a joint venture with BBC Worldwide and focused on nature documentaries targeting a family audience.
Animal Planet launched locally in Australia exclusively on Optus Television in October 1999. The channel is dedicated to the US cable television channel's programming, highlighting the relationship between humans and animals. Since its launch in Australia, Animal Planet has expanded to multiple carriers. It was added to Foxtel on 1 December 2003 and is also available on Sky in New Zealand.
Animal Planet has undergone several brand changes over the years. In 2008, the channel rebranded with a more mature programming direction, emphasizing aggressive and predatory portrayals of animals and increasing reality series featuring personalities in animal-related occupations and investigations. This shift towards "predation programming" and immersive storytelling was reflected in shows like Meerkat Manor and Orangutan Island. Animal Planet also added pseudo-scientific documentaries, reality television, and sitcom shows to its lineup.
In October 2018, Animal Planet rebranded again, moving away from its aggressive branding. The channel is currently available on various platforms in Australia, including Fetch TV since 1 May 2020, after a brief discontinuation. Animal Planet also hosts some David Attenborough content, showcasing his renowned nature documentaries.
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Animal Planet's programming
Animal Planet is an American multinational pay television channel that was launched on 1 June 1996. It is primarily devoted to series and documentaries about wild and tame animals, including domestic pets. The channel was originally a joint venture with BBC Worldwide and focused on nature documentaries targeting a family audience. In 2008, Animal Planet rebranded with a more mature programming direction, emphasising aggressive and predatory portrayals of animals and reality series featuring animal-related occupations and investigations.
Animal Planet is available in approximately 70,000,000 pay television households in the United States and has established international versions of the channel in various regions, including Australia. In Australia, Animal Planet launched locally on Optus Television in October 1999 and has since expanded to multiple carriers, including Foxtel and Fetch TV. The channel is dedicated to programming that highlights the relationship between humans and animals and also hosts some David Attenborough content.
Animal Planet's schedule includes a variety of programmes focusing on different aspects of the animal kingdom and human-animal interactions. Some examples of shows on the channel include:
- Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet
- Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe
- Game Wardens in Texas and Michigan
- Conservation Officers protecting natural resources in Michigan
- Animal cruelty investigations, such as uncovering disease and deformities in animals bred in poor conditions
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Animal Planet's ownership and licensing
Animal Planet is an American multinational pay television channel focusing on the animal kingdom. It was first launched on 1 June 1996 and is currently owned by the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks unit of Warner Bros. Discovery. Animal Planet was created by Discovery Communications in cooperation with BBC Worldwide, which sold its remaining 50% interest in the channel to Discovery Communications for $156 million in 2010.
The channel has since expanded internationally, with Discovery establishing or licensing Animal Planet channels in various regions, including Australia. In Australia, Animal Planet launched exclusively on Optus Television in October 1999 and has since expanded to multiple carriers, including Foxtel, Sky, SelecTV, and Fetch TV.
Animal Planet has undergone several brand changes since its inception. Initially, the channel primarily focused on nature documentaries and wildlife programming targeting a family audience. However, in 2008, the channel rebranded with a more mature direction, emphasising aggressive and predatory portrayals of animals and increasing reality series featuring animal-related occupations and investigations. This shift aimed to revitalise stagnating ratings after a 9% drop in primetime viewership in 2007.
Animal Planet rebranded again in October 2018, moving away from its aggressive branding and introducing a new logo featuring a jumping elephant. The latest rebranding symbolises the channel's mission to "keep the childhood joy and wonder of animals alive by bringing people up close in every way".
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Animal Planet's brand and image
Animal Planet is a television channel that was launched in Australia in October 1999, exclusively on Optus Television. It has since expanded to multiple carriers, including Foxtel and Sky in New Zealand. The channel is dedicated to programming that highlights the relationship between humans and animals and features some David Attenborough content.
Animal Planet is an American multinational pay television channel owned by the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks unit of Warner Bros. Discovery. It was first established on June 1, 1996, as a joint venture with BBC Worldwide and primarily focused on nature documentaries targeting a family audience. In 2008, Animal Planet rebranded with a more mature programming direction, emphasising aggressive and predatory portrayals of animals and reality series. This shift towards "predation programming" and immersive storytelling was reflected in shows like Meerkat Manor and Orangutan Island.
Animal Planet has undergone several brand updates over the years, including a new logo unveiled in October 2018 that reimagined the elephant motif from its 1996-2008 logos. The 2018 rebranding symbolised a new mission of "keeping the childhood joy and wonder of animals alive by bringing people up close in every way". This coincided with the premieres of shows like Amanda to the Rescue and Crikey! It's the Irwins.
The channel's on-screen settings were designed by Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, and it has also partnered with entities like the National Aquarium in Baltimore to produce original content and showcase conservation efforts. Animal Planet is well known for its Puppy Bowl special, which airs the afternoon before the NFL's Super Bowl.
As of November 2023, Animal Planet is available to approximately 70,000,000 pay television households in the United States, with international versions of the channel established or licensed in various regions, including France, Australia, and New Zealand.
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Animal Planet's availability
Animal Planet is an American multinational pay television channel that was first launched on 1 June 1996. The channel is devoted to series and documentaries about wild animals and tame animals, including domestic pets. It was created by Discovery Communications in cooperation with BBC Worldwide, which sold its interest in the channel in 2010. Discovery has since established or licensed international versions of the channel in various regions.
In Australia, Animal Planet launched locally in October 1999, exclusively on Optus Television. The channel has since expanded to multiple carriers, including Foxtel (from 1 December 2003), Sky in New Zealand, and Fetch TV (from 1 May 2020, having previously been available until 1 February 2015). Animal Planet is also available on multiple platforms worldwide, including online, television, and mobile.
Animal Planet has undergone several brand revamps since its launch. In 2008, the channel rebranded with a more mature programming direction, emphasising aggressive and predatory portrayals of animals and introducing reality series following personalities in animal-related occupations and investigations. This shift aimed to revitalise stagnating ratings after primetime viewership dropped by 9% in 2007. In October 2018, the channel pivoted away from its aggressive branding.
As of November 2023, Animal Planet is available to approximately 70,000,000 pay television households in the United States, down from its peak of 98,000,000 households in 2011.
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Frequently asked questions
Animal Planet Australia is available on multiple carriers, including Optus Television, Foxtel, Sky New Zealand, and Fetch TV.
Animal Planet launched in Australia in October 1999 exclusively on Optus Television.
Animal Planet is a television channel that primarily features series and documentaries about wild animals, tame animals, and domestic pets. The channel also showcases programming that highlights the relationship between humans and animals.
Animal Planet is an American multinational pay television channel owned by the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks unit of Warner Bros. Discovery.
