ImportMaster at 18:26, 15 May 2022

2022-05-15T18:26:20Z

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{{Short description|US pay television channel}}
{{about|the US channel|the European channel|Investigation Discovery (European TV channel)}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Investigation Discovery
| logo = InvestigationDiscoveryLogo2020.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_caption =
| headquarters = [[Maryland]], U.S.
| country = United States
| area = Nationwide
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1996|10|7}}
| owner = [[Warner Bros. Discovery]]
| sister_channels = {{collapsible list|
* [[Adult Swim]]
* [[American Heroes Channel]]
* [[Animal Planet]]
* [[AT&T SportsNet]]
* [[Boomerang (TV network)|Boomerang]]
* [[Cartoon Network]]
* [[Cartoonito (American programming block)|Cartoonito]]
* [[Cinemax]]
* [[CNN]]
* [[Cooking Channel]]
* [[The CW]] 
* [[Destination America]]
* [[Discovery Channel]]
* [[Discovery en Español]]
* [[Discovery Family]]
* [[Discovery Familia]]
* [[Discovery Life]]
* [[Food Network]]
* [[HBO]]
* [[HGTV]]
* [[HLN (TV network)|HLN]]
* [[Magnolia Network]]
* [[Motor Trend (TV network)|Motor Trend]]
* [[Oprah Winfrey Network]]
* [[Science Channel]]
* [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]]
* [[TLC (TV network)|TLC]]
* [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]]
* [[Travel Channel]]
* [[TruTV]]
* [[Turner Classic Movies]]
}}
| website = {{Plainlist|
* {{URL|investigationdiscovery.com}}
* {{URL|crimefeed.com}} (official blog)
}}
| former_names = {{Plainlist|
* Discovery Civilization Network: The World History and Geography Channel
* (1996–1998)
* Discovery Civilization Channel
* (1998–2003)
* Discovery Times
* (2003–2008)
}}
| picture_format = [[1080i]] [[High-definition television|HDTV]]<br />(downscaled to [[letterboxed]] [[480i]] for the [[SDTV]] feed)
| online_serv_1 = [[TVPlayer]]
| online_chan_1 = {{URL|http://www.tvplayer.com/watch/investigationdiscovery|Watch live}} (UK only) (TVPlayer Plus subscription required)
| online_chan_2 = [[Philo (company)|Philo]], [[YouTube TV]], [[Sling TV]]
}}

'''Investigation Discovery''' (stylized as '''ID''' since 2020) is an American multinational [[pay television]] network dedicated to true crime documentaries owned by [[Warner Bros. Discovery]]. As of February 2015, approximately 86,062,000 American households (73.9% of households with television) receive Investigation Discovery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/22/list-of-how-many-homes-each-cable-network-is-in-as-of-february-2015/366230/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223220414/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/22/list-of-how-many-homes-each-cable-network-is-in-as-of-february-2015/366230/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 23, 2015|title=List of how many homes each cable network is in as of February 2015|last=Seidman|first=Robert|work=TV by the Numbers|publisher=Zap2it|date=February 22, 2015|access-date=March 14, 2015}}</ref>

== History ==
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 rolled out by Discovery Communications simultaneously in October 1996.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.realscreen.com/articles/magazine/19990401/25107.html?page=3|title=Digital Play in the U.S. of A.|publisher=Realscreen|date=April 1, 1999}}</ref> Plans for the channel had surfaced in November 1994, when its working name was "'''Time Traveler'''".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4895/is_199411/ai_n17979053/|title=Discovery plans launch of four newly created nets. (Discovery Communications Inc.)|publisher=Multichannel News|date=November 1994}}</ref>

In April 2002, ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' Television 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In April 2006, ''The New York Times'' sold its stake in Discovery Times back to Discovery Communications, ending its ownership in the channel.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Despite this, "Times" was kept in the channel's name until January 27, 2008, when Discovery Times was relaunched as Investigation Discovery (ID), oriented towards [[true crime]] programs.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2018, ID was the sixth-highest-rated basic cable network in full-day viewership.<ref>{{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]]|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>

On April 12, 2020, Investigation Discovery introduced a new logo, placing a greater focus on the "ID" acronym to make it better-suited for multi-platform use.<ref>{{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|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-10|website=Broadcasting Cable|language=en}}</ref>

==Programming==
{{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 [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[20/20 (U.S. TV series)|20/20]]'', [[CBS]]' ''[[48 Hours (TV program)|48 Hours]]'', and [[NBC]]’s ''[[Dateline NBC|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 (TV program)|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]]. 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 [[United States|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==
* [[Investigation Discovery (Canadian TV channel)|Canada]]
* [[Investigation Discovery (European TV channel)|Europe]]
* [[Investigation Discovery (Latin American TV channel)|Latin America]]
* [[Investigation Discovery (Indian TV channel)|India]] (Asia Pacific) (Closed on 1 February 2018, relaunched on 13 January 2020)
* Australia and New Zealand
* France (as Discovery Investigation)
* Russia (Closed on 9 March 2022)<ref>{{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]] }}</ref>
*South Africa
*Vietnam (2005-2007)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|http://www.investigationdiscovery.com}}

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

[[Category:Investigation Discovery| ]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1996]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. Discovery networks]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:Television networks in the United States]]

Investigation Discovery - Revision history

ImportMaster at 18:26, 15 May 2022