December 18 1994
Entertaining Non-Fiction
Jim Bawden, Starweek
The Discovery channel is a new Canadian offshoot of the vastly popular American Discovery channel. There will be 40 per cent American imports. The rest will come from the independent producers in the Canadian community. The service also has agreements with the National Film Board of Canada as well as TVOntario. The people at Discovery call their channel "the best in entertaining non-fiction with an emphasis on the documentary tradition."
Some of the programs on Discovery the first week include An Astronaut's View Of Earth narrated by William Shatner, Clayoquot by John and Janet Foster, Sir Peter Ustinov In The Orient, In The Company Of Whales, Spirits Of The Rainforest, Wildlife Theatre, The Guerilla Gardener, Pet Connection, Those Incredible Animals, The Nature Nut, The Power Of Dreams, Prisoners Of Gravity, Forbidden Places.
President of the new service is respected Trina McQueen who long ran CBC news. And there are partnerships with more than 50 Canadian scientific, environmental and academic institutions. At least 75 per cent of the Canadian content will be created by independent producers. And $769 million will be invested in Canadian productions during the first six years of operation.
Discovery divides its schedule into four main areas: Science and Technology, Nature and the Environment, World Cultures and Adventure. The theme is to explain events but not in a strictly educational manner with the emphasis on storytelling - all stories are true ones.