 | |
| Country | Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area |
|
| Network | Discovery Benelux |
| Programming | |
| Languages |
|
| Picture format | 1080iHDTV (downscaled to16:9576i for theSDTV feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA |
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Launched |
|
| Replaced | Animal Planet Europe (1997–2004) |
| Links | |
| Website | dplay.nl/zenders/animal-planet |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Ziggo GO | ZiggoGO.tv (Europe only) |
Animal Planet is a Dutch pay television channel broadcasting nature-related documentaries in theNetherlands andFlanders. The channel launched as a Pan-European feed on 1 July 1997. It is operated byDiscovery Benelux.
The Pan-European feed of Animal Planet launched on 1 July 1997 in the Benelux.[1] Initially Dutch subtitles would be added in late 1997.[2] Several programs had subtitles through teletext in January 1998.[3] A few months later on, the teletext subtitles were replaced by DVB subtitles.[4] A localised Dutch feed launched on 16 February 2004.[5]
For its first ten years in existence, the channel used a logo with a globe and an elephant which was also used by its sister channels. On 1 October 2008, the channel switched to a new logo, which had previously been adopted by theUS version of the channel, in the United States.[6]
A Europeanhigh-definition version of the channel, calledAnimal Planet HD, launched in theNordic countries on 3 February 2009.[7] In theNetherlands, the high-definition version of the channel launched through Glashart Media on 19 March 2010.[8]
On 4 July 2011,Discovery Networks Benelux launchedTLC for the female audience in the Netherlands. Until 1 October 2012, TLC aired between 6:00 pm and 2:00 am on the standard-definition version of Animal Planet, making this channel a time-sharing channel.[9] On 1 October 2012, TLC extended its broadcasting time from 3:00 pm until 2:00 am.[10] The HD simulcast of Animal Planet remains 24 hours.
TLC wasn't available inBelgium. Belgian viewers got the pan-European Animal Planet from then on, except for the satellite viewers. The Dutch feed was used by the Belgian provider of satellite television,TV Vlaanderen Digitaal. During the broadcasting time of TLC, Animal Planet blacked out due to television rights issues.[11]
As of 8 January 2013, Animal Planet SD became 24 hours again.[12]
