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Investigation Discovery#Programming

{{Short description|American television channel dedicated to true crime}}

{{about|the American channel}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox television channel

| name = Investigation Discovery

| logo = InvestigationDiscoveryLogo2020.svg

| logo_size = 200px

| logo_caption =

| headquarters = Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.[https://www.cbinsights.com/company/investigation-discovery Investigation Discovery] at CBInsights

| country = United States

| area = Nationwide

| launch_date = {{start date and age|1996|10|7}}

| owner = Warner Bros. Discovery

| parent = Warner Bros. Discovery Global Linear Networks

| sister_channels = {{collapsible list|

}}

| website = {{Plainlist|

  • {{URL|investigationdiscovery.com}}

}}

| former_names = {{Plainlist|

  • Time Traveler (prelaunch, 1994–1996)
  • Discovery Civilization Network
  • (1996–1998)
  • Discovery Civilization Channel
  • (1998–2003)
  • Discovery Times
  • (2003–2008)

}}

| picture_format = 1080p HDTV

| online_serv_1 = Affiliated Streaming Service

| online_chan_1 = Max/Discovery+

| online_serv_2 = Service(s)

| online_chan_2 = Philo, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, Vidgo, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV

}}

Investigation Discovery (stylized and branded on-air as ID since 2008) is an American multinational pay television network dedicated to true crime documentaries, similar to corporate sibling HLN. It is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery's networks division and is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. ID was originally launched as the Discovery Civilization Network, and focused on world history and geography. It was later renamed to Discovery Times, in partnership with the New York Times Company, publisher of The New York Times. After the rebrand, the network focused more on United States culture. The Times divested their stake to Discovery in 2006, and the channel took its current name and format two years later.

{{As of|2023|11}}, ID is available to approximately 69 million pay television households in the United States-down from its 2015 peak of 86 million households.{{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}}

History

=20th century=

The channel launched in 1996 under the name Discovery Civilization Network: The World History and Geography Channel. It was one of four digital cable companion networks; Discovery Travel & Living Network (now Destination America), Discovery Science Network (now Science Channel) and Discovery Kids (now Discovery Family, which has been a joint venture with Hasbro since 2010) were rolled out by Discovery Communications simultaneously in October 1996.{{cite news |title=Digital Play in the U.S. of A. |first=Ed |last=Kirchdoerffer |date=1999-04-01 |magazine=Realscreen |url=https://realscreen.com/1999/04/01/25107-19990401/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-09-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420201406/https://realscreen.com/1999/04/01/25107-19990401/ |archive-date=2023-04-20 |quote=Discovery was the first non-fiction channel to embrace digital cable services. Home & Leisure, Science, Civilization, and Kids launched in October 1996.}} Plans for the channel had surfaced in November 1994, when its working name was Time Traveler.{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-16467630.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413134030/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-16467630.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 13, 2012|title=Discovery plans launch of four newly created nets|publisher=Multichannel News|date=November 21, 1994}}

=21st century=

In April 2002, The New York Times Company and Discovery Communications announced a joint venture to run the Discovery Civilization Channel. By then, it was available in 14 million households. The partnership aimed to complement the historical shows, with programming about current events and contemporary history.{{cite press release|title=The New York Times Company and Discovery Communications, Inc. Announce Joint Venture in Discovery Civilization Channel|publisher=The New York Times Company|date=April 5, 2002}}On March 25, 2003, the channel was rebranded as Discovery Times, focusing more on the culture of the United States, as well as other miscellaneous programming. The previous name was described as "a little off-message" by executives.{{cite news|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/orphan-articles/civilization-seeks-current-affairs-niche/143208|title='Civilization' Seeks Current-Affairs Niche|date=November 4, 2002|publisher=Multichannel News}}

In April 2006, The New York Times sold its stake in Discovery Times back to Discovery Communications, ending its ownership in the channel.{{cite web|url=http://www.observer.com/node/32855 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107042350/http://www.observer.com/node/32855 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 7, 2007 |title=Discovery Times to Sell Stake|publisher=New York Observer|date=April 13, 2006|access-date=January 27, 2008}} Despite this, "Times" was kept in the channel's name until Early-2008, when Discovery Times was relaunched as Investigation Discovery (ID), oriented towards true crime programs.{{cite news|title=Discovery Investigates |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-torchwood5550766jan26,0,5830607.column |work=Newsday |access-date=January 27, 2008 |date=January 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129093635/http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-torchwood5550766jan26%2C0%2C5830607.column |archive-date=January 29, 2008 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |last=Beckerpublished |first=Anne |date=2007-11-27 |title=Discovery Renames Discovery Times Channel as Investigation Discovery |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/discovery-renames-discovery-times-channel-investigation-discovery-31147 |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Broadcasting+Cable |language=en}}

In 2016, owing to a resurgence in popularity within the true crime genre, ID was the second-highest-rated cable network among women 25–54.{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-oxygen-channel-is-rebranding-as-all-true-crime-all-the-time_us_59499af0e4b00cdb99cb1d24|title=The Oxygen Channel Is Becoming A True-Crime, All The Time Network|date=2017-07-06|work=HuffPost|access-date=2017-07-20|language=en-CA}} In 2018, ID was the sixth-highest-rated basic cable network in full-day viewership.{{Cite web|url=https://adweek.it/2GWmdh9|title=2018 Year-End Cable Ranker: Fox News, MSNBC, Hallmark Channel Are Among Top Networks to Also Post Audience Growth|website=TVNewser|date=January 3, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-22}}

On April 12, 2020, Investigation Discovery introduced a new logo, placing a greater focus on the "ID" initialism to make it better-suited for multi-platform use.{{Cite web|last=Lafayette|first=Jon|date=2020-04-12|title=Investigation Discovery Adopts Updated 'ID'|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/investigation-discovery-adopts-updated-id|access-date=2022-01-10|website=Broadcasting Cable|language=en}}

In December 2022, the team responsible for ID also took over responsibility for HLN, formerly CNN Headline News, which became a sibling channel following the merger that formed Warner Bros.{{Cite web |last=Stelter |first=Brian |date=2022-04-08 |title=Discovery takes control of HBO, CNN, and Warner Bros., creating new media giant {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/08/media/discovery-warner-media-merger-close |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=CNN |language=en}} Discovery earlier that year. That channel had gradually shifted to a similar true crime-focused format since the mid-2010s, dropping its last original news programs at the same time as the management change, and had already begun airing repeats of ID programming such as Hometown Homicide shortly after the WBD merger.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/cnn-chief-outlines-cuts-hln-slashed-international-reorganized-core-news-product-in-focus-1235273293/|title=CNN Chief Outlines Cuts: HLN Slashed, International Reorganized, "Core" News Product In Focus|first=Alex|last=Weprin|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 1, 2022|access-date=December 6, 2022}}

Programming

{{Unsourced section|date=September 2023}}

{{main article|List of programs broadcast by Investigation Discovery}}

Most of ID's programs are original productions, but it also airs re-titled off-network reruns, including ABC's 20/20, CBS' 48 Hours, and NBC’s Dateline.

ID's longest-running series is On the Case with Paula Zahn which debuted in 2009. Other long-running shows on the network include Disappeared and Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda.

On June 7, 2015, ID aired its first ever scripted mini-series; Serial Thriller: Angel of Decay chronicled the investigation of convicted (and later executed) serial killer Ted Bundy.{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=2015-05-22 |title=‘Serial Thriller’ Trailer: ID’s First Original Scripted Drama Tracks A Sadistic Killer |url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/serial-thriller-trailer-investigation-discovery-1201431646/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} A second installment, Serial Thriller: The Chameleon, premiered as a two-part miniseries in December 2015, chronicling the crimes that resulted in the execution of American serial killer Stephen Morin. A third installment, Serial Thriller: The Headhunter, about serial killer Edmund Kemper (which possibly includes the story of serial killer Herbert Mullin), premiered on February 20, 2016.

International versions

{{More citations needed section|date=September 2023}}

  • Canada (Rogers Media-operated; since January 1, 2025)
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • India (Asia Pacific) (Closed on February 1, 2018, relaunched on January 13, 2020)
  • Australia and New Zealand
  • France (as Discovery Investigation)
  • Italy
  • South Africa
  • Vietnam (2005–2007)

=Former=

  • Russia (closed on March 9, 2022){{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/09/media/warnermedia-discovery-russia/index.html | title=WarnerMedia and Discovery join the stampede of businesses leaving Russia | website=CNN | date=March 9, 2022 }}
  • Canada (Bell Media-operated; formerly Court TV Canada; relaunched as Oxygen on January 1, 2025)

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Category commons}}

  • {{official website|http://www.investigationdiscovery.com}}

{{Warner Bros. Discovery}}{{Warner Bros. Discovery Networks}}{{Subscription television channels in Australia}}

{{Subscription television channels in New Zealand}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1996 establishments in Maryland

Category:Companies based in Silver Spring, Maryland

Category:English-language television stations in the United States

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1996

Category:Television networks in the United States

Category:Warner Bros. Discovery networks