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–Also Launches Broadband Video Service for Google Earth

Discovery Communications has launched its first broadband TV channels: Discovery Channel Beyond and Travel Channel Beyond. The company, which provided a sneak preview of the new ad-supported channels to advertisers and media buyers at its upfront sales presentation in New York earlier this month, says that, in the coming months, it also plans to launch broadband channels in association with its TLC, Animal Planet and Discovery Health channels. The new broadband channels, which are powered by broadband video distribution company, Brightcove, feature original and exclusive short-form programs and user-generated documentaries. Content available on the channels at launch includes: video extensions of popular shows such as Discovery Channel’s "Dirty Jobs" and "Deadliest Catch," and Travel Channel’s "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations" and "5 Takes"; behind-the-scenes and making-of footage, bloopers, outtakes and talent vlogs; and a user-generated content showcase, dubbed "MyDocs," which allows viewers to upload short documentary films, and also to submit and vote on casting applications for "5 Takes." In the coming months, Discovery says it will add various new features, including a user-generated content competition, in which viewers will submit a pilot show, and the winner will get to produce a TV series for the two new broadband TV channels; and a daily Webcast, entitled Discovery News, which will feature stories on science, the environment, extreme weather and more.

In other Discovery news:

• The company has launched a broadband video service in association with Google Earth, Google’s satellite imagery-based mapping product which combines 3D images of buildings and terrain with mapping capability and search. The service allows Google Earth users to access streaming video of various locations around the world, including historic sites and natural wonders: by clicking on Discovery’s globe icon, which appears on destination sites where Discovery video content is available, users launch a Discovery-hosted interactive broadband player that allows them to view several two- to four-minute videos. The initial release of the service sees it providing video of 10 US National Parks: Glacier; Yellowstone; The Everglades; Point Reyes National Seashore; Mt. Rushmore; Alaska National Parks; Arches and Canyonlands; Santa Monica Mountains National Park; Carlsbad Caverns; and Dinosaur National Park. In the coming months, Discovery says, video from 50 other destination sites will be added to the service.
• The company says that it will launch a 24/7 mobile video service, dubbed "Discovery Mobile," during the third quarter.

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