Discovery Travel & Living to become TLC

Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific has announced the launch of lifestyle channel TLC, which will replace Discovery Travel & Living from September 1, 2010. The move is part of a global rollout for TLC which is already on air in 99 million homes across the US and is said to be one of the top 10 entertainment channels there. Rahul Johri, senior vice president & general manager, India, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, said, "We've already laid a great foundation to lifestyle television in India, and it's time to give the viewer a bigger, better channel."

Come September, 150 hours of new content is in the works. "In the next 3-4 months, there will be 15 new shows, 6 new hosts and 11 new seasons of existing series," said Johri. New Indian shows are also in development, starting with new episodes of Vir Sanghvi's 'Asian Diary' and Shah Rukh Khan's 'Living with a Superstar'.

Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific’s current portfolio of six networks in India includes Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Science, Discovery HD World, Discovery Turbo and now TLC. Globally TLC will be available in over 75 countries by early 2011. In India, the channel aims to reach 50 million subscribers in 2010 across the subcontinent (a figure that Johri says has almost been achieved).