Discovery Inc. pulls all of its TV channels from StarTimes in Africa and StarSat in South Africa in unresolved contract conflict.

by Thinus Ferreira

Pay-TV customers of StarTimes across Africa, including StarSat subscribers in South Africa, abruptly lost all of the Discovery TV channels on Monday without warning because of an unexplained and unresolved contract conflict.

StarTimes and StarSat subscribers woke up on Monday to discover that their Discovery channels - StarTimes Real Time, Investigation Discovery, Investigation Discovery French, Discovery Science and Discovery Science French - were all gone. 

The end of the channels come after Discovery Inc. cut its Discovery Family channel in late-January from channel 222 on StarTimes and StarSat after just two years on the Chinese pay-TV platform even before it was supposed to go dark on 31 January.

Discovery Family went dark after the Fine Living Network (FLN), that is also from the Discovery Inc. stable, abruptly disappeared in December 2020 after more than a decade on the air on StarSat, with the move that also angering subscribers.

StarTimes and StarSat subscribers are fuming over the fact that they were only told in August, and after it happened that the channels are gone, saying they would have cancelled their subscriptions had they known in July or with a month's notice.

Discovery Inc. in response to a media enquiry, told TVwithThinus on Wednesday that "StarTimes Real Time, Investigation Discovery, and Discovery Science will no longer be available through the provider as of 2 August. However, lovers of real-life entertainment can still enjoy a plethora of world-class content from Discovery on DStv."

Discovery didn't answer why customers and viewers of its channels were not told or warned beforehand about the loss of the TV channels.

Luyanda Cele, StarSat spokesperson, told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry on Thursday morning that "Please note that the channels are removed due to contractual issues and communication was sent immediately to our customer via bmail, SMS and on our social medial pages".

On Facebook StarSat only posted a notification on Wednesday morning, long after 2 August, while subscribers say even the StarSat call centre knew nothing about the axed Discovery channels.

On Facebook when StarSat subscriber Daphne Brown asked why StarSat keeps discontinuing channels and if it's because StarTimes is not paying the distributors, StarSat said "it is due to contractual reasons and nothing to do with payment".

Nadia Crowie said "Surely someone should have known earlier, not a few days after debit orders went off and payment made. Even if we were notified, it should have been before debit orders went off or payments were made".

Nduduzo Gape said "I joined StarSat because of those channels. I am giving you one month to resolve this issue else I'm disconnecting".

Subscriber Zanele Ngcongo said "Wow, you guys are not good to your customers. You only tell today but I've noticed on Monday that Real Time was off. You need to change the way you do things".

ALSO READ: Discovery Inc. cuts its Discovery Family channel from StarTimes and StarSat after just 2 years on the air without any explanation and just a month after axing FLN.

ALSO READ: After over a decade on-air in South Africa Discovery Inc. abruptly dumps Fine Living on StarTimes and StarSat without warning or explanation.

Discovery commissions quick-do documentary, Operation Thai Cave Rescue, about the saving of the 12 Thai boys from a flooded cave; no word yet on whether Discovery will show it in Africa.

Discovery has commissioned a quick-do TV documentary about the rescue of the 12 Thailand boys and their 25-year old soccer coach that has gripped audiences worldwide the past two weeks and came to a conclusion on Tuesday when all of them were finally saved from the flooded cave where they've been trapped for weeks.

Operation Thai Cave Rescue is being produced by ITN Productions in the United Kingdom and will reveal how the children entered the cave near the Myanmar border and became trapped, how they managed to survive without food or knowing how to swim, as well as the scientific and technical innovations that were used in their rescue.

Operation Thai Rescue will be an hour long special that will so far be shown on the Discovery Channel and Science in America with Jon Bardin and Andrew O’Connell as executive producers for Discovery, and Ian Russell is executive producer for ITN Productions.

The documentary will include interviews with those involved in the rescue effort, including medical experts and cave diving instructors, explore the living conditions faced by the children who are between the ages of 11 and 16, and how the cave's unique geology - and being flooded - presented so many challenges.

A media enquiry was made to Discovery Networks International seeking clarity on whether Operation Thai Rescue would also be broadcast on the Discovery Channel (DStv 121) and Discovery Science (320) seen in South Africa and across Africa, but there's not been a definitive answer either way yet.

If there's a response from Discovery it will be updated here.

UPDATE Monday 16 July 17:00  - Discovery Networks says Operation Thai Rescue will now be shown on South Africa as well on the Discovery Channel (DStv 121) on Wednesday 18 July at 19:00.

Rich Ross out as president of Discovery Channel and Science; Kathleen Finch appointed chief lifestyle brands officer in Discovery and Scripps management restructure.

Rich Ross is out as group president of the Discovery Channel (DStv 121) and Discovery Science (StarSat 320) while Kathleen Finch, currently chief programming, content and brand officer for all 6 Scripps Networks brands, will become chief lifestyle brands officer as part of top management restructuring following Discovery Communications getting approval for its acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive.

Kathleen Finch (right) will now have management oversight of HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Cooking Channel, Discovery Life, American Heroes Channel, Destination America, Great American Country and Lifestyle Digital Studios in the United States.

Nancy Daniels, currently TLC president, will become chief brand officer for Discovery and factual. She will lead all aspects of the Discovery Channel and Discovery Science brands that used to be what Rich Ross did.

Susanna Dinnage who has been appointed as global president of Animal Planet in late-2017 in the United States and Animal Planet worldwide, will continue in that role.

Discovery Networks International president and CEO Jean-Briac Perrette will continue is this role for the combined company.

Discovery Science to cover The Great American total solar eclipse on 21 August with a TV special as well as tracking it on Facebook Live.

Discovery's Science Channel (StarSat 222) is ramping up coverage plans for the first total solar eclipse in 99 years to span the United States on 21 August.

It's not yet clear whether the Science Channel seen in South Africa and Africa, a European channel feed of Discovery Networks International's American subsidiary will be showing the same live coverage and programming, but some of the off-television content will be accessible by South African viewers.

On 21 August the Science Channel will broadcast the once-off, one-hour TV special, The Great American Eclipse (working title), that will include same-day footage of the total solar eclipse.

The Science Channel will be in Madras, Oregon in the United States and will be partnering with the Lowell Observatory on the Lowell Solar Eclipse Experience (lowellsolareclipse.com), as astronomers and educators narrate the eclipse as it happens.

Madras is considered by experts to be one of America's premier viewing spots, because of its location in the high desert of Central Oregon, typical weather patterns, and unobstructed views.

The Science Channel is planning to provide live footage from other prime viewing destinations across America including locations in Tennessee, Idaho, Nebraska, and South Carolina, as well as offering glimpses of the eclipse taken from the International Space Station.

"The Great American Eclipse is truly once-in-a-lifetime," says the Science Channel.

"With live coverage and a post-eclipse special, along with updates throughout the day on our digital and social platforms, Science Channel promises to be the destination for this mind-blowing experience."

The Science Channel has launched an eclipse micro-site on ScienceChannel.com that contains blog posts, photo galleries and an original eclipse companion guide video series.

Besides the TV special, on August 21, the Science Channel will Facebook Live the eclipse from Madras, capturing crowd reactions of the remarkable spectacle, and will offer live eclipse updates throughout the day.

The Great American Eclipse will be produced by Pioneer Productions with executive producers Thomas Viner, Stephen Marsh and Helen Williamson. Kyle McCabe will serve as  the executive producer for the Science Channel.

HEIN? In its latest mistake, StarSat's Discovery Science channel from Discovery Networks International has switched to French.

The Discovery Science channel on StarSat in South Africa has switched to French for over a month now and counting - with no word from On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes South Africa running StarSat to the media as to why this is, if the mistake is going to be corrected, or what is going on.

The Discovery Science (StarSat 222) channel that suddenly switched from English to French over amonth ago without any warning or explanation to StarSat subscribers or the press, is the latest ongoing on-air mistake on StarSat's struggling pay-TV platform that has StarSat subscribers - pardon the French - fuming.

StarSat is constantly plagued by erratic interruptions of channels and StarSat subscribers complaining about the video and audio quality of channels, the ongoing abrupt removal of TV channels, channels "freezing" up, "going black" and the inaccurate, wrong and sometimes empty electronic programme guide (EPG).

Besides the odd language switch without warning, Discovery Science's StarSat electronic programme guide (EPG) has also been way out of sync and completely incorrect for weeks now, making it impossible for StarSat subscribers to know what is actually being shown and coming up on the channel.

Discovery Science's language switch to French is just the latest in a long list of StarSat channels abruptly changing languages the past two years - although it is definitely the longest period, touching on almost two months now, for a single channel.

It's been happening with several StarSat channels, from kids channels to movie and general entertainment channels, but usually would last a few hours to a few days.

There's been no notification or explanation so far from StarSat to the media.

Discovery Networks International that supplies Discovery Science to StarSat, also supplies several Channels from Discovery Channel and Discovery Family, Animal Planet, TLC Entertainment and others to rival MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform,but none of these channels on DStv in South Africa have ever switched from English to other languages.

On Friday, 3 February, StarSat that also again removed more TV channels recently - this time AMC, Odisseia, Trace Sport Stars, Kerrang and the Extreme Sports Channel - told irate StarSat subscribers that its "aware of all issues and matters affecting your viewing".

"Our technicians are working tirelessly to ensure that all issues are resolved so that you receive the best viewing entertainment pay-TV can offer".

"We also aware of the dissatisfaction of matters concerning channels and content displayed. Please rest assured that all your comments and queries are taken very seriously and are taken up with the relevant departments for review and assessment to ensure that you receive the best customer service and the best entertainment in pay-TV".

TVwithThinus reached out to both StarSat and Discovery Networks International on Wednesday. So far there's been no response from StarSat.

Dilek Doyran, the vice president of commercial development and country manager of Africa and the Mediterranean for Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA) told TVwithThinus on Wednesday that "we provide StarTimes with Discovery Science in both English and French language."

"StarTimes is currently working on a solution to fix the issue for its English-speaking subscribers".

Discovery Science channel on StarSat going stellar from 20 June in the lead up to Asteroid Day on 30 June.

It looks... amazing: Discovery Science (StarSat 320) is going stellar from 20 June with an amazing array of incredible documentaries and beautiful, cosmic programming in the run-up to Asteroid Day on 30 June.

From Saturday 20 June at 19:00 starting with Strip the Cosmos: Killer Asteroids and followed at 19:50 by Meteorite Men, Discovery Science will broadcast an incredible collection of asteroid and cosmic related shows, culminating with specials on Asteroid Day itself and a raft of shows dedicated to celestial bodies.

Fire in the Sky: A Daily Planet Special on Sunday 21 June will look at the meteorite which rained fireballs in Russia on 15 February, 2013 and on Monday 22 June there's Cosmic Collisions: Earth.

Rocket City Rednecks on Tuesday 23 June will see the the Rocket City Rednecks explore a variety of ways to defend the Earth from collision with a rogue asteroid.

On Wednesday 24 June Bad Universe: Asteroid Apocalypse looks back at 65 million years ago to when an asteroid bigger than Mount Everest hit the Earth, wiping out the dinosaurs. Will we suffer the same fate? Phil Plait investigates.

Thursday 25 June at 19:00 will see Investigation X: Siberian Apocalypse looking at 1908 when a cataclysmic explosion wiped out over 1,500 kilometres of Siberia wilderness. Scientists return to the site to find out what triggered this apocalyptic event.

The hauntingly beautiful Last Days of the Dinosaur on Saturday 27 June at 19:00 looks at the extinction of the dinosaurs which remains one of Earth's greatest mysteries. A combination of the latest science, geology and palaeontology reconstructs their last apocalyptic days.

Man vs the Universe: How To Kill An Asteroid on Sunday 28 June investigates how, across the globe, scientists, engineers and astronauts are gearing up for a cosmic battle to try and save the planet from asteroids.

It all culminates in Asteroid Day on Tuesday 30 June at 18:10 with Mission Asteroid - narrated by the renowned director David Cronenberg. The programme looks at what the world can do against the threat of asteroids.

It's followed at 19:00 on the day by 51 Degrees North, Discovery Science's first ever scripted film, a science fiction movie that follows a young London filmmaker who becomes involved in the disturbing research surrounding near-Earth objects, stumbling on the discovery that the world stands on the brink of catastrophe.

BREAKING. Discovery's 3 TV channels on TopTV all go blank; TopTV 'trying to get the problem sorted out' with missing Discovery Science, TLC and ID.

You're reading it here first. 

Discovery's three TV channels on On Digital Media (ODM) struggling pay-TV service TopTV suddenly went completely dark today without warning and with no notice or announcement to TopTV subscribers, as the satellite pay-TV operator is scrambling to fix the problem of the missing Discovery Science (TopTV 302), TLC (TopTV 453) and ID: Investigation Discovery (TopTV 303) - all provided by Discovery Networks International CEEMEA.

Angry TopTV subscribers are fuming about the three missing Discovery channels with no indication of why Discovery Science, ID: Investigation Discovery and TLC suddenly disappeared.

TopTV failed to talk to subscribers today or to give bewildered subscribers any reasons for the channels suddenly being missing. Likewise Discovery Networks International CEEMEA didn't say a word to viewers of their channels on TopTV as to why they're paying for something they're not getting and suddenly can't see.

ALSO READ: Shocking lack of communication from TopTV and Discovery Networks CEEMEA after 3 Discovery channels suddenly disappear.

All three Discovery TV channels of Discovery Networks International CEEMEA on TopTV simply display an on-air sentence: "We apologise for the break in transmission and will be back shortly."

It's exactly what TopTV displayed when other TV channels on its bouquet ceased and never returned. Once again TopTV subscribers - especially pre-paid TopTV subscribers who gave money at the beginning of a month - are not getting the product that they've been promised and paid for.

While TopTV's normal channel offering keeps dwindling, TopTV has put focus and effort behind a second attempt - which was approved by South Africa's broadcasting regulator - to start a separate porn bouquet with three sex channels from Playboy.

No starting dat for the porn channels is known yet which will carry a classification of R18 and for which TopTV will now have to register as a porn distributor with South Africa's Film and Publication Board (FPB).

TopTV would have gone dark on Tuesday night as channel and content suppliers were ready to turn off the taps to their content if ODM failed to get approval for the StarTimes business rescue plan bail-out, but shareholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the bail-out deal.

It's possible that Discovery Networks International decided to pull their channels off of TopTV at the end of April anyway, similar to what Manchester United Television (MUTV) did in November and Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) did in December when Turner yanked its three channels, Showtime, Silver and Star! from TopTV's line-up.

It's now come to light that TopTV owes millions to several content providers who decided to pull their TV channels from TopTV due to outstanding debt.

TopTV owes Fox International a massive R43,8 million which amounts to 3% overall of TopTV's debt to creditors. Warner Bros. is owed R25,4 million or 1,7% of the total, Paramount is owed R13,1 million and Manchester United Television is owed R9,5 million, Turner Broadcasting is owed R6,4 million and The Walt Disney Company R7,2 million.

"Where did Discovery Science, TLC and Discovery ID go? Nothing on air on TopTV," is the response to TV with Thinus from just one irate TopTV subscriber, echoeing the sentiment of several subscribers who can't watch any of their three Discovery channels on TopTV - without any explanation from the company.

TLC (DStv 172) and ID: Investigation Discovery (DStv 171) - which ironically today had a show entitled Disappeared on - are both also available on competitor MultiChoice's DStv channel line-up and are showing uninterrupted and unaffected.

I've made a media enquiry to Discovery Networks International CEEMEA and I'm awaiting a response.

I've also asked TopTV what is going on. TopTV says the pay-TV operator is "trying to get the problem sorted out with Discovery".

I've asked, but TopTV isn't explaining what exactly the problem is, why is happened, what went wrong, or when - or if - the three Discovery channels will be restored.

ANOTHER NAIL in TopTV's coffin: With FOX's dual availability on DStv, TopTV has only ONE worthwhile and valuable channel left.

The value-offering and unique selling proposition of the pay-TV offering which On Digital Media (ODM) provides through it's TopTV service in South Africa has now been diluted to the point where TopTV no longer has anything left for which isn't already on rival MultiChoice's DStv and for which a pay-TV subscriber must get TopTV - except one last, lone channel.

South African viewers who wanted to watch high-buzz, high-profile TV shows such as The Walking Dead, Falling Skies, Camelot and others had to get a TopTV decoder. Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) supplies FOX, FX and Fox Retro to ODM's TopTV - not exclusively - although TopTV had these channels exclusively since TopTV launched almost three years ago in May 2010.

With the new carriage agreement between FIC Africa and MultiChoice, FOX will start as a new TV channel on DStv on channel 125 on 9 April and in high definition (HD).

FIC Africa is also moving dramas which used to debut on FX to FOX, with FOX which is being repurposed as the main flagship channel of all hot and new TV content and the big-buzz dramas such as the upcoming Da Vinci's Demons.

With FOX's dual availability on both DStv and TopTV, it chips away further at the must-have uniqueness TopTV had at launch - the value-offering which would have made a South African pay-TV subscriber decided to get and stay subscribed to TopTV because of content that wasn't available elsewhere or on DStv as a competitor.

Since TopTV launched, TopTV lost Current, Star!, Showtime, Silver and MUTV to mention just a few, and Discovery Networks International has also signed a carriage agreement with MultiChoice to make TLC and ID: Investigation Discovery which was only on TopTV also available on DStv - similar to what has now happened with FOX.

What it means is that basically all of TopTV's unique attractiveness - channels only it had - has now evaporated. It's unique value proposition - what marketers call "UVP" - when it comes to TopTV's collapsed ecosystem of TV channels, is basically all but gone.

Out of the 3 Discovery channels on TopTV, two - TLC and ID: Investigation Discovery is also available on DStv - since they were added by Discovery Networks CEEMEA in October 2011. That was a huge blow for TopTV in terms of content, channel and competitiveness dilution.

The last and only remaining great TV channel which only TopTV has and which hasn't been taken by DStv is Discovery Science (TopTV 302). The high quality and interesting channel from Discovery which focuses on more scientific and scientifically-curious subjects, topics and shows, can only be seen in South Africa on TopTV.

With high-quality programming (because Discovery Networks International programmes it and is the largest content generator of all the remaining channel suppliers on TopTV) Discovery Science - out of the TopTV-only TV channels left on TopTV's existing channel line-up such as Natura, FuelTV and ASTV - is the last "must-get" reason to get TopTV.

With TLC and ID: Investigation Discovery available on both platforms and Fox's very strong and "exclusive" suit of channels which was a compelling incentive (and a "saving grace" of sorts of new and high standard content for TopTV) now aviailable on both South African satellite pay-TV platforms, it leaves only Discovery Science.

If you want to watch Discovery Science, you would need to be a TopTV subscriber to see exceptionally well-done and interesting documentaries such as a compelling virtual recreation in real-time of the magnificent inner nuclear fusion reaction of the sun.

Curiosity on Discovery Science creates a magnificent virtual sun to explore the nuclear fusion reaction taking place inside a star.

Curiosity on Discovery Science (TopTV 302), the excellent scientific investigation series, is creating a virtual sun for an upcoming episode which South African viewers will get to see in 2013.

With the help of one of the world's top astronomers and leading experts in the field, Curiosity is set to dazzle viewers by creating a virtual sun using the latest scientific data from telescopes on Earth and in space, combined with the latest special effects imaging techniques to recreate the nuclear fusion reaction taking place at the heart of a sun, radiating out to its surface and into space.

Astronomer Phil Plait will take viewers on an amazing journey deep inside the virtually created sun's core and through its atmospheres in the episode entitled "Sun Storm".

The Curiosity episode will be shown in America on 30 December and later in 2013 in South Africa. it will try to look at and explain what's really inside the sun and what could be expected when the next solar super storm takes place.

  

The BBC and Discovery's Science Channel co-producing a movie about scientist's investigation into Nasa's 1986 Challenger disaster.

The BBC and Discovery's Discovery Science (TopTV 302) channel are co-producing a one-off factual drama which will be telling the story of a scientist's search for the truth in the wake of the Nasa Challenger disaster of 1986.

William Hurt will play the scientist Richard Feynman in the as-yet-untitled movie with filming which will be starting this month and which will be shown in 2013.

The biographical drama will follow the real-life events surrounding the physicist's investigation into what caused the Challenger space shuttle to explode in 1986.

"Science Channel is honoured to work with the incomparable William Hunt to tell the story of Richard Feynman, a true-life hero and one of the most controversial scientific minds of our times," says Debbie Meyers, the general manager and executive vice president of the Science Channel.

The executive producers are Mark Hedgecoe, Cassian Harrison and Rocky Collins.

Is Discovery Science as a new TV channel coming to MultiChoice's DStv or why are DStv subscriber seeing what they're seeing?

Is the Discovery Science TV channel, already see on On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV the past two years, coming to MultiChoice's DStv?

That is what DStv subscribers are wondering since TV shows and Discovery Science are being advertised on MultiChoice's DStv platform.

DStv subscribers don't (yet) get the great channel and have been asking me if Discovery Science is getting added in the way that Discovery Networks International and MultiChoice took both TLC and ID: Investigation Discovery - both channel which was first op TopTV - and added them to DStv last year in one fell swoop.

That left the awesome channel as the only stand-alone Discovery channel that's on TopTV and not also on DStv (and the only one you'll never see being mentioned in a press release).

The explanation for what DStv subscribers are seeing is most probably thus, since I haven't heard anything about Discovery Science also joining DStv:

Where channels often have commercials and promos not destined for a specific territory (like South Africa), it sometimes slip through. For quite a few days or even weeks. Sky News viewers are not supposed to see the Sky Broadband commercials, but instead of channel fillers the overseas adds are seen. Same with BET on TopTV.

It's also just parity: TopTV viewers for two years now would sporadically on TLC and Discovery Science see ads and promos for "Whale Wars starting" and "Shark Week" which is actually on Animal Planet - a TV channel only on MultiChoice's DStv.

So basically its happened the other way around, where programming and channel promos are now on DStv of a channel which is actually only found on TopTV.

BREAKING. Discovery Science rebranding with a new logo, new look from 1 June; incorporating the new "Morph" device.

You're reading it here first. 

In October last year I asked Discovery Networks CEEMEA very specifically about it and was told there isn't certainty yet - but now the brilliant Discovery Science (TopTV 302) is indeed rebranding and following the channel's new look in the rest of the world for South Africa from 1 June.



The quality channel from Discovery Networks is changing its appearance from 1 June on TopTV. Discovery Science changed in June last year in the rest of the world, but Discovery kept the orange logo for South Africa. Critics last year called the rebrand "wondrous" and one of the best when it comes to television.

Discovery Science is also adopting "Morph" - a new 3D logo, a dynamic and interactive logo which can transform and emulate different things, from being seen as anything from a molecule to possibly a planet or a drop of water.

The current Discovery Science on-air identity and look (seen right) was created in 2007 by Thornberg & Forester. The dynamic new "Morph" look for Discovery was done by Imaginary Forces.

''Science is a popular genre in many of our international markets," says Lee Hobbs, the channel director for emerging business for Discovery Networks' Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA) region. "The changes made to the on-air look and feel of the channel, including the introduction of the new "Morph" logo, reflects the surprising and clever content available on the channel and helps us to broaden the channel's audience, whilst staying true to its core," he says.

The new look of Discovery Science will take place with the international premiere of the brand-new 8 part series Prophets of Science Fiction, directed by the original Alien auteur Ridley Scott.

Also premiering on Discovery Science in South Africa is Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger and Stuck with Hackett as well as all new Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman and Headrush with Kari Byron from Mythbusters.

BREAKING. Discovery Science working on Surviving Zombies; launches several exciting new shows; renews others.

Discovery Science (TopTV 302) is working on a brand-new show, Surviving Zombies, looking at people creating real-life weapons to hold zombies away; as well as several other exciting new shows - and renewed several other series for further seasons.

Discovery Science is working on Surviving Zombies which explores the industrial complex of warehouses and garages in Montana where three men are working on surviving a future after a possible zombie apocalyse. The Zombie Tools business creates words, machetes, knives and other weapons which survivors would be able to use should zombies ever roam the Earth.

This Changes Everything is another brand-new show about scientific breakthroughs with James Woods as the presenter. The show will look at synthetic biology, predictive analytics, habitable planets, and nanotechnology.

Horizon: Transit of Venus is a once-off hourlong special with three female presenters about the Transit of Venus which will occur in our solar system on 5 June 2012 and not be repeated for another 150 years.

In 8 hour long episodes of How the Earth Works, presenters Liz Bonin and Martin Pepper set out on explorations of some of the most provocative questions facing earth science today. They'll look at how geological events in Hawaii could wipe out Los Angeles and how the cotinued growth of Mt. Everest could start World War III.

Strip the City has a 5 episode season. Using CGI animation it will strip major cities naked of their steel, concrete, air, ocean and bedrock - layer by layer - to explore their hidden infrastructure and solve key mysteries surrounding their origins, geology, archaeology, industry, weather and engineering. Each episode will home in on six iconic features of each city. Each icon, ranging from man-made skyscrapers and metro systems to natural dunes and lakes, will take viewers a layer deeper into a city.

The Experimenters with 6 hour long episodes looks at the world of amateur and professional scientists around the world conducting their own extraordinary experiments (which they often put on YouTube). The Experimenters delve into this fascinating world, finding and celebrating amazing online clips and explaining the wonderful science behind them.

World's Weirdest in 8 hour long episodes dig below the below the surface of the world we know with gruesome discoveries, freaky experiments and shocking stories. In this series, viewers are not only shown the weirdest stuff but will be given the lowdown on exactly why it's weird. Using a combination of real footage, reconstruction and eyewitness reports, this series will examine some of the world's strangest things and uncover the real stories behind them.

Story of the Continents in 4 hour long episodes has some of the world's foremost experts in palaeogeography, botany and zoology. We travel back to the long-lost supercontinent of Pangaea as well as across all seven of today's continents to piece together 250 million years of our planet's continental drift.

Conquerers has 4 hour long episodes as well, looking at how certain creatures and species in the wild are modifying their behaviour and social organisation to adapt to a changing world to survive.

How Do They Do It? got renewed for a 6th season. How Its Made gets an 11th season and Oddities has a 4th season.

Discovery Science using April to look at how science is used to help the environment and alternatives for the world's huge energy needs.

In the month of April Discovery Science (TopTV 302) is devoting a month of programming to investigating ways in which science is being used to help the environment.

The Gadget Show is back on Mondays at 17:20 and Large Dangerous Rocket Ships starts on Sunday 29 April at 15:40.

Powering the Future with dr M Sanjayan as presenter with several episodes this month looks at energy, the world's energy needs and how and why we must ease our dependency on fossil  fuels and what we will and could be using in future to power our planet.

Programming note: The Science of Lust and Fear reveal surprising secrets on Discovery Science in September.

Discovery Science (TopTV 302) has two interesting documentaries starting in September looking at the science behind fear as well as lust.

The Science of Fear premieres on Discovery Science on Wednesday 7 September at 15:40. Fear is a powerful animal emotion and the body's automatic response to a perceived threat. It guides instantaneous decision making. ''We think our conscious minds are in charge, but science reveals that fear trumps reason,'' says the show. Prof Liz Phelps studies fear, looks at how it works, what sets it off and how it can be erased. Erased?

The Science of Lust premieres on Discovery Science on Wednesday 14 September at 19:00. ''A pretty face, an attractive body and a lingering glance are sometimes all it takes to instigate lust,'' says the show. ''But how does that happen?'' The Science of Lust exposes the surprising secrets of lust and the scientific processes which goe on within the human body to generate this overpowering feeling. ''Lust influences a vast range of human behaviour'' says the show which shows - through a series of interesting scientific experiments not only how the lust factor works - but how its possible to control it.

Discovery's Science channel renews several shows like Through the Wormhole; orders several new TV series.

Discovery's Science (TopTV 302) has ordered further seasons of popular shows that were announced at the network's Upfront at the Lincoln Center in New York.

Science (the channel's logo is changing in America, but I asked and it won't be changing for Europe and Africa for the time being) has renewed How it's Made for an 11th season, Meteorite Men for a 3rd season, Idoit Abroad: The Bucket List for a 2nd season, Mantracker for a 6th season and the popular Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman for a 3rd season.

Science also ordered some brand-new shows South African viewers should see in due course. These include Prophets of Science Fiction (8 one hour episodes with presenter Ridley Scott who reveals the secrets of science fiction's founding fathers such as Isaac Asimov, Gene Roddenberry and others), Agent of Invention (a man making backyard inventor's dreams come true), Will Wright Future Project (a gaming genius Will Wright goes back and forth in time to see the effects of important events in our collective history) and Weird Travel (some of the strangest subcultures found anywhere).

Programming note: Echo Tech on Discovery Science exploring ways that mankind can create a more sustainable civilization.

For decades scientists have been steadily gathering evidence proving that mankind's current way of life cannot be sustained much longer. Echo Tech on Discovery Science (TopTV 302) Monday 4 April at 18:30 is a part of the channel's ''green'' strand and looks at research that can transform our modern day world.

Echo Tech explores the revolutionary concepts and cutting edge technologies that could hold the key to reversing environmental destruction from how we power our vehicles, build our homes and offices, generate power, manage our waste, and even coping with increasingly extreme weather patterns.

Echo Tech meets with the scientists including, chemists, biologists, geologists, engineers, and other visionaries who are developing breakthrough ideas who show how these brand-new technologies work.

BREAKING. Discovery and Discovery Science working on a Japan earthquake and tsunami TV special.

Discovery has immediately started working on a TV special to be broadcast a bit later this year on both Discovery Science (TopTV 302) and Discovery Channel (DStv 121) entitled Anatomy of a Disaster after the earthquake and tsunami natural disasters that hit Japan yesterday.

Anatomy of a Disaster will be a one hour special documenting the devastation across Japan and will include unprecedented footage of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that stuck yesterday and the resultant tsunami.

''Discovery Channel and Discovery Science will offer a one-of-a-kind look into the epic natural tragedy. Anatomy of a Disaster will depict a race against time, from the first wave to hit Sendai, to acts of incredible heroism still yet to occur,'' says Discovery in a press release.

Meanwhile This Week with Christiane Amanpour will originate from Japan tomorrow night on Sunday (13 March) on BBC World News (TopTV 400 / DStv 400). Presenter Christiane Amanpour has been making her way to Japan.

Discovery Science to look at science fiction visionaries with Ridley Scott in a new show that will have its own unique, stylized look.

Discovery's Science channel (TopTV 302) has announced that it's making a new show entitled Prophets of Science Fiction, an 8 part series that will be profiling various science fiction luminaries.

Prophets of Science Fiction will look at science fiction visionaries such as Isaac Asimov, Gene Roddenberry and George Lucas and how their work inspired future discoveries in science decades before it became real science.

Ridley Scott, the visionary mind behind iconic works of science fiction such as Blade Runner and the Alien movies will be producing the show. ''I am thrilled to be partnering with the Science Channel on this exciting new series,'' Ridley Scott says in a press release. ''I hope that the audience will find the subjects as interesting and inspiring as I do.

Prophets of Science Fiction promises ''a dynamic, hyper-stylized way'' regarding the look of the show ''that has yet to been seen on television.''

BREAKING. Discovery Networks confirms new Discovery Science, Discovery Travel & Living and Investigation Discovery (ID) for TopTV.

You're reading it and seeing the new channel logo's here first.

Discovery Networks has confirmed that the new Discovery channels Discovery Science (TopTV 302), Discovery Travel & Living (TopTV 453) and Investigation Discovery (ID) (TopTV 303) will be available on On Digital Media's (ODM) new TopTV platform when the new pay satellite service launch in South Africa.

''We can confirm that we've agreed a deal with ODM to broadcast Investigation Discovery (ID), Discovery Science and Discovery Travel & Living on its new TopTV platform in South Africa,'' Discovery Networks tells me. ''We're looking forward to offering our channels to their subscribers and will be releasing more information shortly.''

I wanted to talk to Discovery Networks about what exactly the various channels will entail genre and programming wise, but no luck yet.

Discovery Science (TopTV 302) that was started in 1999 seems to cover science related programming, including space exploration, technology, animals and prehistoric discoveries.
Discovery Travel & Living (TopTV 453) focuses heavily on travelogues, travel exploration and lifestyle shows around the travel and leisure industry.
Investigation Discovery (ID) (TopTV 303) focuses heavily on criminal investigations and forensic science documentaries, as well as real-life crime and crime related shows.