| Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA | |
| Former Name: | Turner Broadcasting System Europe (1985–2020) WarnerMedia EMEA (2020–2022) |
| Type: | Division |
| Predecessors: | Discovery Networks EMEA (1989–2022) Switchover Media (2000–2013) |
| Successors: | --> |
| Founded: | in London, United Kingdom |
| Profit: | --> |
| Profit Year: | --> |
| Parent: | Warner Bros. Discovery International |
| Divisions: | Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe[1] |
Warner Bros. Discovery Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) is a division of Warner Bros. Discovery. The division is responsible for managing the collection of their cable and satellite networks around the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions.
As Turner Broadcasting System EMEA
In 1985, Ted Turner launched a European division in London, England,[2] which would reach across the Middle East and African regional feed.[3]
Rebranding as WarnerMedia
In 2019, Turner EMEA would be moving to its new headquarters in Old Street, Shoreditch, London. The new headquarters would have more office space, allowing room for the company's European operations to expand, and a brand new custom-built CNN newsroom.[4] The remaining division was later rebranded as WarnerMedia EMEA by 2020.
It started out with the launch of the Discovery Channel in Europe in 1989. In mid-2007, Discovery Networks Europe was split into two separate branches, Discovery Networks UK and Discovery Networks EMEA,[5] with the following: localised branches Discovery Networks Deutschland, Discovery Networks Benelux, Discovery Networks Nordic, Discovery Networks Italia and Discovery Networks EMEA (which served all other territories).[6] Again in 2011, Discovery Networks Europe was split into two key branches Discovery Networks Western Europe (DNWE) and Discovery Networks CEEMEA (Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa). DNWE was located in London and the operations in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, France and Flanders. All other operations in Europe are operated by Discovery Networks CEEMEA in Warsaw.
In November 2014, Discovery Networks Western Europe was split into Discovery Networks Northern Europe and Discovery Networks Southern Europe. Its previous Discovery Networks Western Europe served 30 countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, the Netherlands and other territories, comprising 18 brands.[7]
Between 2014 and 2016 Discovery Networks EMEA consisted of the following branches: Northern Europe, CEEMEA, Southern Europe.
From late 2016 all localised operations fall under the umbrella of Discovery EMEA[8] with headquarters in Amsterdam and London, and local offices in among other Milan and Warsaw.[9] [10]
Discovery halted all broadcasts of its 15 linear channels to Russia through the Media Alliance partnership on 9 March 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[11]
Discovery EMEA were merged into WarnerMedia, forming Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA in 2022.
See main article: Timeline of Discovery in the UK. Discovery Networks UK was a branch of Discovery Networks responsible for overseeing Discovery Networks Europe's channels in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland. As of autumn 2011, Discovery Networks UK is now operated by Discovery Networks Western Europe.[19]
Discovery Networks UK started out with the launch of the Discovery Channel in Europe in 1989 and was for a long time a part of Discovery Networks Europe (DNE). In early 2007, DNE was split into two separate branches, Discovery Networks UK and Discovery Network EMEA, both headquartered in London.[20] As of 2011 Discovery Networks Europe has merged its operations in the UK, Nordic region and other parts of Western Europe to form Discovery Networks Western Europe.[19]
In the UK the Discovery Channel has been the number one factual channel throughout its 20-year history. It has a 47 percent share of the PAYTV factual market (Source BARB/TechEdge).
In 2007, Discovery Networks Europe decided to localize its networks across Europe. This resulted in the establishment of Discovery Discovery Networks Deutschland, Discovery Networks Benelux, Discovery Networks Nordic, Discovery Networks UK and Discovery Networks Italia and Discovery Networks EMEA (which served all other territories).[20] [21] As of 2011, operations in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, France and Flanders are operated by Discovery Networks Western Europe.[19] All other operations in Europe are operated by Discovery Networks CEEMEA in Warsaw.[22]
Discovery Communications Nordic (formerly Discovery Networks Nordic[24] and SBS Discovery Media) was a branch of Discovery Networks Northern Europe,[25] a part of Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, the company represents Warner Bros. Discovery operations in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
SBS Broadcasting Group's operations in the Nordics
Discovery Networks Nordic
Discovery Networks Nordic previously held responsibility for overseeing Discovery Networks brands in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland with headquarters in Copenhagen. Discovery Networks Nordic's key operations are the localization of Discovery Channel and the pan-Nordic Animal Planet. Discovery Networks Nordic also promotes other brands operated by Discovery Networks Europe.
Discovery acquires SBS in Nordics
On 9 April 2013 Discovery's acquisition of SBS Nordic from German media group ProSiebenSat.1 was finalised.[26] At the time of the merger, SBS had been a major commercial broadcaster in Scandinavia for two decades. The combined viewing shares made it the second largest commercial television group in Norway and the third largest in Denmark.
After acquisition
SBS Discovery's radio stations were later sold to Bauer Media Group.
Discovery Benelux[27] was a branch of Discovery Inc. that was responsible for channels in the Netherlands and Belgium. Founded on 17 September 1997, in Amsterdam, Netherlands[28] Discovery Benelux operated Discovery Netherlands, Discovery Flanders, Animal Planet, TLC, Eurosport 1, Eurosport 2 and Investigation Discovery in the region with local advertising, sponsorship, programming and the use of the local language either dubbed or subtitled. Discovery Benelux also use existing services from Discovery International: Discovery Science.
In 2007, Discovery Networks Europe decided to localize its networks across Europe. This resulted in the establishment of Discovery Networks Deutschland, Discovery Networks Benelux, Discovery Networks Nordic, Discovery Networks UK & Ireland, Discovery Networks Italia and Discovery Networks EMEA (which served all other territories).[29] [21] As of 2011, localized operations in the United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland, Germany, Italy, Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway & Finland), France and Benelux (Netherlands & Flanders) fall under Discovery Networks Western Europe.[30] All other operations in Europe are operated by Discovery Networks CEEMEA in Warsaw.[31]
In November 2014, Discovery Networks Western Europe was split into Discovery Networks Northern Europe and Discovery Networks Southern Europe.[32]
Travel Channel, Fine Living and Food Network closed in the Netherlands and Flanders on 31 January 2019. Content from these former Scripps television channels has been integrated into the programming of Discovery, TLC and Investigation Discovery in the Benelux.[33]
In 2019 Discovery Benelux launched Dplay, a video on demand streaming service with content of Discovery, TLC and Investigation Discovery. On 5 January 2021, Discovery+ replaced Dplay.[34]
WarnerMedia System Deutschland, GmbH, (translated as Warner Bros. Discovery Germany, LLC; formerly Turner Broadcasting System Deutschland, GmbH) was one of WarnerMedia EMEA's divisions in Europe. It was headquartered in Munich. Hannes Heyelmann was the general manager and vice president of the company.[35] [36] [37] [38]