Discovery claims best international quarter

JB Perrette

Pay TV giant Discovery Communication’s international division has claimed the second quarter of this year was its biggest-ever in terms of total viewers.

Discovery Networks International reported 621 million viewers watched its networks globally in Q2, claiming “record viewing levels and online growth internationally”.

DNI, which operates channels in 220 territories, said its total audience was up 9% year-on-year, while its digital audience was up 45% and social platforms attracted 250% growth.

Average audience globally by territory was 2.9 million, which was “supported by a stand-out quarter” for Discovery Kids, which grew 33% YoY.

It claimed that despite competition from channels running the FIFA World Cup, Discovery Channel had reached 366 million viewers, while Animal Planet and TLC took 252 million and 204 million.

DNI’s free-to-air channels business in western Europe grew 12%, while pay TV nets Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery and Discovery Home & Health all experienced double-digit growth.

“This outstanding performance is testament to the strength of our global business,” said DNI president JB Perrette, who recently succeeded Mark Hollinger at the top international post.

DNI based its claims on in-house research, Google Analytics, Facebook Insights and Social Bakers.