Audience share 0.6% (2011, ) | Country Netherlands | |
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Launched 1 July 1997 (as Animal Planet Europe)
16 February 2004 (as Animal Planet Benelux)
4 July 2011 (as a temporary block on TLC Netherlands) Network Discovery Networks Benelux Owned by Discovery Networks Northern Europe (Discovery Communications) Picture format 576i (PAL) 16:9 SDTV
1080i (HDTV) | ||
Animal Planet is a television channel broadcasting nature-related documentaries in the Benelux countries.
Animal Planet Europe launched on July 1, 1997 in the Benelux. Dutch subtitles were promised to be added in late 1997. Several programs had subtitles through teletext in January 1998. A few months later on, the teletext subtitles were replaced with DVB subtitles. A localised Dutch feed launched on February 16, 2004.
For its first ten years in existence, the channel used a logo with a globe and an elephant which was also used by its sister channels. On 1 October 2008, the channel switched to a new logo, which had previously been adopted by Animal Planet in the United States.
A European high-definition version of the channel, called Animal Planet HD, launched in the Nordic countries on 3 February 2009. In the Netherlands, the high-definition version of the channel launched through Glashart Media on 19 March 2010.
On 4 July 2011, Discovery Networks Benelux launched TLC for the female audience in the Netherlands. Until 1 October 2012, TLC aired between 06:00pm and 02:00am on the standard-definition version of Animal Planet, making this channel a time-sharing channel. On 1 October 2012, TLC extended its broadcasting time from 03:00pm until 02:00am. The HD simulcast of Animal Planet remains 24 hours.
TLC wasn't available in Belgium. Belgian viewers got the pan-European Animal Planet from then on, except for the satellite viewers. The Dutch feed was used by the Belgian provider of satellite television, TV Vlaanderen Digitaal. During the broadcasting time of TLC, Animal Planet blacked out due to television rights issues.
As of 8 January 2013, Animal Planet SD became 24 hours again, as the pan-European feed. Now both the Netherlands and Belgium receive the pan-European version in SD and HD. TLC doesn't broadcast any Animal Planet programs anymore.