It has taken a while, but Discovery this week are celebrating the launch of its Investigation Discovery channel (also known as ID) in Australia on the Foxtel platform. The channel first launched in the US in 2008.
Foxtel and Discovery held a launch event at Foxtel on Oxford last night with a law officer shepherding in invited guests who had a mug shot taken as a security clearance before they were allowed to continue into the subscription TV platform’s lavish event centre.
The event was hosted by Rebecca Kent – Discovery general manager Australia, New Zealand & Pacific Islands.
Derrick Levasseur and Rebecca Kent
Kent introduced a sizzle reel showing programming highlights for the new channel which launches on Saturday.
“The true crime genre has become a juggernaut in Australia and there’s a huge demand for content,” said Kent.
“Discovery is proud to be bringing the number one true crime network to passionate Australian audiences. When it comes to true crime, Investigation Discovery’s globally renowned programming is unrivalled. From headline crimes and cold cases, to exploring the dark side of human nature and more, ID super-serves viewers with engaging real life stories. We’re excited to see the channel grow in its new home, Australia, in 2020.”
Kent added that not only is ID the #1 true crime, it is also the #1 US cable channel overall in time spent watching.
Also speaking at the event was Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany who indicated how good it was that Foxtel was able to launch a new channel. Delany also spoke about Foxtel’s long partnership with Discovery and how, as a young lawyer, he remembered signing the original Foxtel deal with Discovery and faxing over the documents for them to sign.
Team Discovery [L-R]: Adam Knight, Jeanneane McKay, Gab Ayoub, Derrick Levasseur, Rebecca Kent, David Gwynne, Darren Chau and Amanda Herbert
Other guests at the function included Foxtel’s Stephen Baldwin, Amanda Laing, Alison Burns and Jim Buchan.
Also on hand were many from Foxtel Media including CEO Mark Frain.
If Discovery ever decides to commission locally it could already have an in-house host – director of lifestyle content and channels, Jeanneane McKay– who did a great job co-hosting with Kent. McKay hosted a second ID highlights reel and then interviewed visiting ID host Derrick Levasseur from US series Breaking Homicide.
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Top photo: Amanda Laing (Foxtel) with Derrrick Levasseur and Alison Hurburt-Burns (Foxtel)