The channel, details of which have yet to be decided, will launch in early 2009. Discovery said the channel will draw upon its library of factual, entertainment and lifestyle programming and also include scripted acquisitions.
Discovery Communications launched its first channel in the UK in 1989. The UK business has since increased to 11 pay-TV channels that are available through BSkyB, Virgin Media and other platforms.
David Zaslav, president and chief executive of Discovery Communications, said the Freeview channel will "both complement and enhance our offerings" in the UK.
Dan Brooke, managing director of Discovery Networks UK, said: "We have talked to Freeview viewers: they love our programming and once they have sampled it, we are confident they will want to experience the richness and variety of our content on other media platforms."
Jeff Henry, managing director of ITV Consumer, said: "SDN is delighted to be working with Discovery Communications to enhance Freeview's channel offering even further."
SDN is a UK-based digital terrestrial television multiplex operator, acquired by ITV in March 2005. It holds the licence from Ofcom to broadcast DTT channels over a specified bandwidth, and constitutes roughly a sixth of UK's current DTT capacity, or a third of all commercially available capacity.
United Kingdom
Discovery gains its first Freeview slot
LONDON - Discovery Communications has secured its first channel slot on Freeview, striking a deal to license capacity from ITV-owned digital terrestrial multiplex operator SDN.
.jpg)
.jpg)