Viewers and TopTV subscribers react with disappointment and resentment after news that Discovery Travel & Living channel is being removed.

TopTV subscribers and viewers are reacting with disappointment, anger, sadness and resentment after the news that the Discovery Travel & Living channel (DStv 453) will be dumped from the pay TV operator at the end of the month to be replaced with the new TLC.

''NO! But that's TopTV's best channel!,'' echoed a reader a sentiment shared by many, while another one said ''Travel & Living has only been on for a year, why did TLC then not start from the beginning? I got TopTV for Travel & Living and now I have to keep paying but TopTV is changing the product agreement that I signed up for. I'm going to cancel my TopTV it's no longer worth it.''

Another TopTV subscriber tells TV with Thinus that ''Travel & Living was just perfect''. ''It was undoubtedly the strongest channel on the bouquet. The new TLC will be skewed to female viewers and exclude a lot of the great cross-over make over/ renovating shows. The very repetitive and very boring FLN has not refreshed 90% of their content. The shows are great, but I have seen them all. Most of their content is on repeat from May 2010! I am so disgusted about Travel & Living and this change of name.  I think there is a skills shortage at TopTV and it shows.''

''I don't understand why Travel & Living has to change to something else. Nobody is explaining that. Why is nobody giving a reason why the channel has be replaced and suddenly be something else?'' asks another. Another response goes: ''Travel & Living taken off is a massive downgrade and a disgusting move by whoever decided this. That and about two other channels are the only ones I really watch on TopTV.''

Another reader wondered: ''If TLC is different, why isn't Travel & Living remaining and TLC merely added as well as a new channel? Why must TLC replace an existing channel? TopTV keeps promising new channels will come but is instead replacing existing channels with new channels. Not fair.''

''I didn't have pay TV before TopTV came. Travel & Living showed me inspiration and plans for a better home. No it's taken away,'' said another TopTV subscriber.

BREAKING. TopTV and Discovery to remove the Discovery Travel & Living channel on 1 September; replacing it with TLC.

You're reading it here first.

Although not yet a word about it to the press or subscribers, Discovery Networks and TopTV are planning to remove the Discovery Travel & Living channel (TopTV 453) and will replace the dumped Travel & Living with TLC from Thursday 1 September on the same channel number.

Apparently TLC - still a Discovery Networks channel - will suddenly have a whole new schedule as well.

In several countries over the past year and and a few months Discovery has been phasing out Travel & Living, replacing it with TLC - not an abreviation for Travel & Living, but actually an American TV channel that was originally known as The Learning Channel.

The first real ''TLC replacing Travel & Living'' internationally came in March last year in Norway after which Discovery started replacing Travel & Living in different territories one by one.



UPDATE Friday 26 August - Discovery has now issued a press release I received at 08:20.

''TLC, the international entertainment channel for women is now available in South Africa. Discovery Networks has today announced that TLC, its flagship female-targeted channel will launch on TopTV's channel 453 as of September 1 2011.

TopTV will be the first major operator in Africa to launch TLC which is aimed at women aged between 25 and 49 and broadcasts the best lifestyle, reality and inspirational entertainment programs from around the world.

The channel, which replaces Travel & Living, finds extra-ordinary real life characters and tells their stories will join Discovery Networks other channels – ID: Investigation Discovery and Discovery Science which are already broadcast on TopTV.''

''The channel will replace Discovery Travel & Living on TopTV, and will launch with a pan European feed with a program schedule that has been tailored for the South African market and will include brand new smash hit shows.''

''Having seen such a positive response to TLC on all the other European and international markets where it has been launched in the past few months, I am confident that we have a winning formula and TopTV subscribers will see this channel as a great complement to our existing portfolio,'' says Phillip Luff, VP Country Manager, Emerging Business, Discovery Networks CEEMEA.

''While we are sad to see Discovery Travel & Living go, we are very excited about the inclusion of TLC in our bouquet,'' says Ian Woodrow from TopTV.

Programming note: The terrific travelogue 1 000 Places to See Before You Die coming to Discovery's Travel & Living in August.

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The terrific travelogue 1 000 Places to See Before You Die is coming to Discovery's Travel & Living (TopTV 453) in August.

1 000 Places to See Before You Die will start on Friday, 12 August at 19:00 on Travel & Living in this travel series inspired by Patricia Schultz' best-selling travelbook of the same name.

The Colorado newlyweds Alvin and Melanie Ulle travel to 13 countries around the world in 1 000 Places to See Before You Die including Alaska, Brazil, South Africa, France, Italy, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Australia and Hawaii. Each location is explored, its local customs and traditions experienced.

Discovery Travel & Living goes bridal crazy for the Royal Wedding of Prince William on 29 April.

Discovery Travel & Living (TopTV 453) is going bridal crazy on 29 April on the day of the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton with several special TV shows on the schedule for this day.

Discovery Travel & Living's will kick of Friday 29 April with Say Yes to the Dress at 12:45 in which the store's buyers head to Bridal Market Week - a crucial event where designers showcase their latest trends. Say Yes to the Dress at 19:00 is subtitled ''Every Bride Counts'' which visits Kleinfeld Bridal. Here, whatever their wants and needs, all brides to be, are treated equally - from a bride with a taste for vintage fashion to a biker chick with more outlandish tastes.

At 00:35 in Cake Boss on 29 April Buddy is excited to create an old-school wedding cake - tall, ornate and filled with...live birds! On the next day, Saturday 30 April at 12:20 Cake Boss goes crazy since its the start of the wedding season and the cake orders are piling up.

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.