Discovery Networks International that has multiple channels on MultiChoice's DStv as well as on On Digital Media's TopTV, tells TV with Thinus that it prides itself on providing viewers ''high quality and topical current affairs programming''.
After the news very early this week that Discovery has immediately greenlit a Norway TV special (with unnerving speed), I asked Discovery Networks International how the global factual network and programmer - that's not even in the breaking news business - is adapting, realigning and able to now move so incredibly swiftly to greenlit productions almost instantaneously after global news events.
Discovery will be bringing Norway Massacre: The Killer's Mind to South African viewers as the latest must-see TV special but it will only be the latest in an eye-popping string of special documentaries in recent months on Discovery ranging from the gunman at Discovery headquarters, the Chilean miners, Wikileaks, the Japan earthquake and tsunami, the death of Osama bin Laden - and coming early in August, even a must-seen all-access documentary about the final space mission of the space shuttle Atlantis.
It's also not something Discovery has to do (its focus is solid factual series programming that it excels at). However, these above-and-beyond, additional once-off TV specials are clearly indicative of an executive mindset shift at Discovery and Discovery Networks International that's taken a jump to a whole next level. Discovery is clearly realizing that there's opportunity and value that can be unlocked by putting in the effort and time and money into immediately covering big global news events in documentary style and to present the human drama with the scientific facts to viewers from a factual perspective.
It's therefore no wonder that its seemingly now only M-Net that outperforms Discovery when it comes to time-shifted viewing in South Africa when you look at just PVR viewing which is crossing the threshold and starting to become significant to advertisers and media planners.
Discovery Networks International says its moving fast with Norway Massacre: The Killer's Mind although its unable to confirm an exact broadcast date. ''Whereas viewers will switch on the news to determine 'what' is happening, our aim at Discovery is to provide context about the 'how and why' which enables the viewer to shape their own views and perceptions of events that take place in the world around us,'' says Discovery.
''This year we have been able to broadcast a number of specials, such as The Death of bin Laden, Wikileaks, Chilean Miners and the Japanese Tsunami and it's an approach that is working because each have rated well and we have received positive feedback directly from viewers. We are equally committed to firm favourites such as Ultimate Survival, Cake Boss and others and we have some factual entertainment shows in the pipeline that we will reveal later in the year,'' says Discovery.
