Like other Discovery channels in Europe. Discovery Networks Deutschland utilize existing productions from Discovery Networks Europe and Discovery Communications.
In early 2011, Discovery International restructured its operations in Europe. In February 2011, it established two key branches which resulted in the amalgamation of its localized networks in Europe.
DMAX is a men's lifestyle channel operated by Discovery Networks Deutschland free-to-air in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Though the channel is widely available throughout the rest of Europe, it is seen as the only free-to-air mainstream channel with a focus on non-fiction entertainment, unique in German media.
XXP origins
DMAX is the Discovery Communications creation from the originally German sourced and owned station XXP. Discovery purchased XXP on 1 January 2006. DMAX was launched as a free-to-air channel from 1 September, targeted towards men.
Its name was invented by Discovery Creative Director James Gilbey who asked design agencies to submit names in an innovative competition. RedBee based in London were the winning agency.
DMAX focuses on men's hobbies, and its range of programmes is aimed at men looking for more than the current offer of sports and news programmes. DMAX involves a mix of adventure and discovery, cars and technology, popular science, DIY and travel. DMAX does not include football or erotic programmes.
Patrick Hörl is Managing Director, while Katja Hofem-Best, who comes from RTL II, is CEO.
Additional DMAX channels
With the success of the German-speaking DMAX a separate channel was launched for the UK and Ireland markets on 22 November 2007.
Some programmes shown on DMAX
Was geht? Experiment am Limit (What works? Experiments at the limits) - gives solutions for childhood dreams and daily problems. e.g.: can a gun be fired underwater?
Die Ludolfs – 4 Brüder auf'm Schrottplatz (The Ludolfs – four brothers at the scrapyard) - observes Peter, Manni, Uwe and Günther eating pasta and fiddling around on broken cars
D Tech - presenter Daniel Hartwich takes viewers through the world of knowledge in an entertainment
Fish ’n’ Fun - entertains with beautiful landscape shots, reveals fishing tricks and shows men how to make a delicious dish out of their catch. The male desire for adventure is also satisfied, for example with the documentary series on crab fishers in Alaska’s waters
D Motor - presented by Tim Schrick and Sabine Schmitz, who has to prove her own driving skill against an opponent on her local race track, the Nürburgring
Moneycoach – Rette dein Geld (Money coach – save your money) - presenter Michael Requardt helps viewers out of their debt trap
Discovery Channel is the German version of the Discovery Channel. It is operated by Discovery Networks Deutschland, which is located in Munich.
It was launched on August 26, 1996 on the DF1 satellite platform. Back then, the channel was a joint-venture between Kirch Media and Discovery Communications. After DF1 merged with Premiere World in 1999, it remained on the new Premiere platform.
Kirch Media went bankrupt in 2002 and Discovery Communications subsequently became the sole owner of the channel.
Discovery Channel was exclusively available through Premiere until 2009, when a new agreement was entered between Premiere and Discovery. The new contract allows the Discovery Channel to broadcast from other providers from July 1 and means that Animal Planet and Discovery Geschichte would disappear from Premiere.[6]
Animal Planet Germany is a television channel broadcasting programmes about animals, nature and wildlife to Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
An agreement to launch the channel exclusively on the Premiere platform was signed by Discovery Networks Deutschland and Premiere in October 2003.[7] The channel launched at 9 p.m. och March 31, 2004.[8] The new Animal Planet logo was adopted in November 2008.[9]
On June 30, 2009, the channel will disappear from the Premiere platform and be replaced by its competitor Nat Geo Wild. This was the result of a new contract between Premiere and Discovery Networks in anticipation of Premiere's relaunch as Sky Deutschland in July.[10] With the new contract the channel will be able to launch on other platforms. It will be available from cable provider Unitymedia's digital cable network from July 1.[6][11]
