Editing Discovery Channel (section)

{{Short description|American cable television channel}}
{{About|the TV channel in the United States}}
{{Pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Discovery Channel
| logo = [[File:2019 Discovery logo.svg|250px|class=skin-invert]]
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1985|6|17}}<ref name="oscars.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1987 |title=The 59th Academy Awards (1987) Nominees and Winners |access-date=July 23, 2011 |work=oscars.org |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004243/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1987 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| closed_date = 
| owner = [[Warner Bros. Discovery]]
| parent = [[Warner Bros. Discovery Networks]]
| country = United States
| language = {{Plainlist|
* English
* Spanish (with [[Secondary audio program|SAP]])
}}
| area = Nationwide
| headquarters = 230 Park Avenue South New York City<ref>{{cite web|title=Discovery Selects 230 Park Avenue South As New Global Headquarters|url=https://corporate.discovery.com/discovery-newsroom/discovery-selects-230-park-avenue-south-as-new-global-headquarters/|access-date=27 October 2023|archive-date=May 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529025332/https://corporate.discovery.com/discovery-newsroom/discovery-selects-230-park-avenue-south-as-new-global-headquarters/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| former_names = The Discovery Channel (1985–1995)
| sister_channels = [[List of assets owned by Warner Bros. Discovery#Warner Bros. Discovery Networks|Sister channels]]
| website = {{official website|https://www.discovery.com/|discovery.com}}
| picture_format = [[1080i]] [[High-definition television|HDTV]]<br />{{small|(downscaled to [[480i]] [[Letterboxing (filming)|letterbox]] for the [[Standard-definition television|SDTV]] feed)}}
| online_serv_1 = Affiliated streaming services
| online_chan_1 = {{hlist|[[Discovery+]]|[[Max_(streaming_service)|Max]]}}
| online_serv_2 = Services
| online_chan_2 = [[Sling TV]], [[YouTube TV]], [[Philo (company)|Philo]], [[Hulu + Live TV]]
}}

'''Discovery Channel''', known as '''The Discovery Channel''' from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply '''Discovery''', is an American cable channel that is best known for its ongoing [[reality television]] shows and promotion of [[pseudoscience]].<ref name="Nahigyan">{{cite web |last1=Nahigyan |first1=Pierce |date=August 19, 2014 |title=Discovery's 'Shark Week' Criticized for Silliness, Pseudoscience and Lies |url=http://www.planetexperts.com/discoverys-shark-week-criticized-silliness-pseudoscience-lies/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417160116/http://www.planetexperts.com/discoverys-shark-week-criticized-silliness-pseudoscience-lies/ |archive-date=April 17, 2017 |access-date=April 17, 2017 |website=Planet Experts}}</ref><ref name="Kirk">{{cite web |last1=Kirk |first1=Chris |date=August 6, 2013 |title=Wil Wheaton Says Discovery Channel Has 'Betrayed Its Audience' |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/08/06/wil_wheaton_discovery_channel_megalodon_documentary_betrayed_viewers.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417161122/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/08/06/wil_wheaton_discovery_channel_megalodon_documentary_betrayed_viewers.html |archive-date=April 17, 2017 |access-date=April 17, 2017 |website=Slate}}</ref><ref name="Epstein">{{cite web |last1=Epstein |first1=Adam |date=August 15, 2014 |title=The sad devolution of Discovery Channel |url=https://qz.com/249615/the-sad-devolution-of-discovery-channel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417155620/https://qz.com/249615/the-sad-devolution-of-discovery-channel/ |archive-date=April 17, 2017 |access-date=April 17, 2017 |website=Quartz}}</ref> 

It initially provided documentary television programming focused primarily on [[popular science]], technology, and history, but by the 2010s had become increasingly dominated by programs that were [[reality television]] shows, promoted [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]], or advocated [[junk science]]. It is owned by [[Warner Bros. Discovery]], a publicly traded company run by CEO [[David Zaslav]]. {{As of|2012|06}}, Discovery Channel was the third most widely distributed subscription channel in the United States, behind now-sibling channel [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]] and [[the Weather Channel]];<ref>{{cite web|url= http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/08/23/list-of-how-many-homes-each-cable-networks-is-in-cable-network-coverage-estimates-as-of-august-2013/199072/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130825033059/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/08/23/list-of-how-many-homes-each-cable-networks-is-in-cable-network-coverage-estimates-as-of-august-2013/199072/|url-status=dead|archive-date= August 25, 2013|title= List of How Many Homes Each Cable Networks Is In – Cable Network Coverage Estimates As Of August 2013|last=Seidman|first=Robert|publisher=[[TV by the Numbers]] |date=August 23, 2013|access-date=August 25, 2013}}</ref> it is available in 409&nbsp;million households worldwide, through its U.S. flagship channel and its various owned or licensed television channels internationally.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corporate.discovery.com/brands/discoverychannel.html|title=DCI :: Businesses & Brands :: Discovery Channel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012230919/http://corporate.discovery.com/brands/discoverychannel.html|archive-date=October 12, 2008}}</ref>

{{As of|2023|11}}, Discovery Channel is available to approximately 71,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its peak of 99,000,000 in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wrestlenomics.com/u-s-cable-network-households-universe-1990-2023-nielsen-data/|title=U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023|website=wrestlenomics.com|date=May 14, 2024|access-date=July 28, 2019|archive-date=December 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231073226/https://wrestlenomics.com/u-s-cable-network-households-universe-1990-2023-nielsen-data/|url-status=live}}</ref>