28-481: Lost Tapes is an American fiction television series that aired on Animal Planet . Produced by Go Go Luckey Entertainment, the program presents reenacted found footage depicting traumatic encounters with creatures cryptozoological , supernatural, mythological or extraterrestrial. Creatures featured include Bigfoot , the chupacabra , vampires , werewolves , and reptilians . The pilot ("Chupacabra") aired on Animal Planet on October 30, 2008, for Halloween , but
56-430: A licensing agreement to develop Animal Planet-branded pet products. On February 3, 2008, amidst declining average viewership, Animal Planet underwent a major revamp in its programming and branding. The new lineup placed a larger focus on series portraying animals as "characters" in their own right, and more "aggressive" and story-based entertainment series targeting mature viewers 13-49 (such as Escape to Chimp Eden and
84-629: A minority interest in Animal Planet Japan and Animal Planet Canada until November 15, 2010, when BBC Worldwide sold 50% interest in Animal Planet and Liv to Discovery Communications for $ 156 million. Animal Planet is additionally an associate member of the Caribbean Cable Cooperative. During the late 2000s, Genius Products announced a U.S. distribution agreement involving Animal Planet and TLC . Jakks Pacific also entered into
112-630: A multi-million dollar expansion, the National Aquarium in Baltimore opened an exhibit called "Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extreme". Animal Planet and the National Aquarium in Baltimore announced a multi-year partnership the year prior, which produced an original orientation film that gives Aquarium visitors background on the Australian area which inspired the new exhibit and a dedicated area inside
140-657: A result of Advance Entertainment Corporation selling the satellite transponder slot belonging to the WWOR EMI Service (a national superstation feed of Secaucus, New Jersey /New York City's WWOR-TV , that was implemented following the 1989 passage of the Syndication Exclusivity Rights Rule by the Federal Communications Commission ) to Discovery Communications, replacing the feed with Animal Planet outright. In late 2005, as part of
168-506: Is also well known for the Puppy Bowl , an annual special featuring puppies at play inside a football -themed setting. The special airs on the afternoon prior to the NFL 's Super Bowl , and was originally narrated by commentator and NFL Films narrator Harry Kalas before his death. On October 29, 2022, months after the merger of Discovery, Inc. and WarnerMedia into Warner Bros. Discovery, it
196-485: Is available to approximately 70,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2011 peak of 98,000,000 households. Discovery has also established or licensed international versions of the channel in various regions. Animal Planet was launched on June 1, 1996; it was created by Discovery Communications in cooperation with BBC Worldwide . On January 1, 1997, Animal Planet's distribution grew as
224-718: Is primarily devoted to series and documentaries about wild animals and domestic pets. The channel was originally a joint venture with BBC Worldwide , and primarily focused on nature documentaries surrounding wildlife, targeting a family audience. In 2008, Animal Planet rebranded with a more mature programming direction, with a greater emphasis on aggressive and predatory portrayals of animals, as well as an increase in reality series following personalities involved in animal-related occupations and investigations. Animal Planet rebranded again in October 2018, pivoting away from its more aggressive branding. As of November 2023 , Animal Planet
252-418: Is shot in a documentary style. Most episodes begin with a quick introduction of facts, which include interviews with experts explaining scientific theories or facts and folklore behind the episode's titular creature. In the second season, some episodes began with footage of a person being violently attacked and often killed by the episode's creature, an introduction meant to set up the events of each episode. In
280-547: The Christian Science Monitor ' s television service , as well as some holdover shows that had aired on the local New York feed before the SyndEx law's passage. In mid-1996, EMI sold the satellite distribution rights to WWOR and Boston 's WSBK-TV to Advance Entertainment Corporation. On December 31, 1996, AEC discontinued the feed, selling WWOR's former satellite transponder slot to Discovery Communications for
308-696: The World Trade Center bombing , when the local WWOR's transmitter was knocked out for the day. Cable providers in the New York metro area used the superstation feed as a substitute until the transmitter returned to service. The other was on Long Beach Island in Ocean County, New Jersey . Although that area falls within the New York City market, the Comcast system serving that area carried WWOR EMI Service instead of
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#1732884758823336-454: The "WWOR EMI Service". Most of the syndicated programs that WWOR-TV had the rights to show in the New York City market were covered up by the alternate programming shown on the national feed—with the exception of most sporting events, local newscasts and other WWOR-produced programming such as Steampipe Alley , The Joe Franklin Show , the overnight Shop at Home program, the annual Weekend with
364-635: The Stars Telethon for United Cerebral Palsy , the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association , and a select number of programs that were not claimed as exclusive to any market. Most of the programs came from the libraries of Universal Television (whose parent company, MCA Inc. , owned WWOR-TV at the time of the EMI Service's founding), MGM Television and Quinn Martin , along with some shows from
392-460: The United Kingdom. The magazine's first issue was published on February 16, 2011. WWOR EMI Service WWOR EMI Service was a New York City -based American cable television channel that operated as a superstation feed of Secaucus, New Jersey -licensed WWOR-TV (channel 9). The service was uplinked to satellite from Syracuse, New York , by Eastern Microwave, Inc., which later sold
420-464: The acting was "subpar", the show overall was "simultaneously scintillating and bone-chilling." Animal Planet Animal Planet (stylized in all lowercase since 2018) is an American multinational pay television channel, and associated AnimalPlanet.com website content, owned by the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks unit of Warner Bros. Discovery . First established on June 1, 1996, the channel
448-422: The exclusive rights to broadcast a syndicated program, that particular program must be blacked out on any out-of-market stations that were carried by local cable providers. After the law was passed, EMI purchased the rights to programs that no stations had claimed exclusive rights to, and launched a special national feed for cable and satellite subscribers outside of the New York City market on January 1, 1990, called
476-549: The expansion where visitors can learn about Animal Planet's conservation efforts and other programming. The partnership also allowed the possibility of future productions of television programs about the National Aquarium in Baltimore's research and exhibits. In 2006, BBC Worldwide sold its 20% interest in the flagship Animal Planet U.S. network back to Discovery Communications. The BBC maintained its 50% ownership in Animal Planet's European, Asian and Latin American channels, as well as
504-411: The local feed, as they were unable to obtain a microwave link to be able to carry channel 9. Months after the end of the feed, that system began carrying the local feed, which by that point was uplinked to satellite. In 1989, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed the " Syndication Exclusivity Rights rule" (or "SyndEx") into law. This law meant that whenever a local television station had
532-526: The original logo. The new branding symbolizes a new mission of "keeping the childhood joy and wonder of animals alive by bringing people up close in every way." The new branding coincided with the October 28 premieres of Crikey! It's the Irwins (a new series following the family of Steve Irwin ) and Amanda to the Rescue , and the premiere of Big Cat Stories the following night. On January 23, 2019, Animal Planet
560-399: The reality documentary series Whale Wars ), as opposed to traditional nature documentaries and family viewing. The network also adopted a new logo, replacing its previous "elephant and globe" emblem with a stylized wordmark , and the new slogan "Same Planet, Different World". Network president Marjorie Kaplan explained that Animal Planet had been too "soft" and family-oriented, and that it
588-552: The satellite distribution rights to the Advance Entertainment Corporation subsidiary of Advance Publications , a Syracuse-based company that also owned various print, broadcast and cable television properties. In the New York metropolitan area , the superstation feed was not carried on local cable providers but was available to satellite subscribers. Two exceptions to this took place; once on February 26, 1993, after
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#1732884758823616-443: The series a mostly unfavorable review, stating that in the case of this series, "Animal Planet could be accused of repacking a horror/sci-fi show as an animal documentary" and that much of the program is "outright bollocks." He did, however, state that the show holds some appeal for audiences looking for a scare, or "incredibly gullible people." Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave the series three out of five stars, noting that while
644-512: The series officially premiered on January 6, 2009. Animal Planet commissioned a second season, which premiered on September 29, 2009. Season 3 premiered on September 28, 2010, with episodes featuring creatures such as zombies and the Kraken . The show also used to air on Planet Green . Lost Tapes depicts traumatic scenarios where people are attacked and/or killed by mysterious, dangerous, deadly, wild, and ferocious paranormal cryptids . The series
672-421: The third season, every episode had such an introduction. The events of every episode in all three seasons are accompanied by videos of scientists, cryptozoologists , and folklorists giving their very thoughts and opinions of the creatures, which are called Lost Tapes: Revelations . Lost Tapes has received mixed reviews from critics. In a review of the season one DVD, TV Squad writer John Scott Lewinski gave
700-483: Was aiming to be "more aggressive and tapping into the instinctual nature of compelling animal content." In April 2010, Animal Planet introduced a new slogan and marketing campaign, "Surprisingly Human," as an evolution of the 2008 rebranding. The slogan reflected Animal Planet's increasing number of personality-based series following animal-related investigations and occupations, such as River Monsters . In April 2012, Animal Planet's entertainment-oriented direction
728-503: Was announced that Pit Bulls & Parolees would air its final season, while other shows like Lone Star Law and Louisiana Law moved to Discovery Channel. With the exception of Puppy Bowl XIX that aired on the network February 12, 2023, the latest programming moves left Animal Planet to air reruns of the network's programming as well as other shows from other Discovery properties pre-WBD merger. D.C. Thomson & Co. partnered with Discovery to publish Animal Planet Magazine in
756-407: Was criticized after it broadcast Mermaids: The Body Found —a fictional documentary suggesting that mermaids were real. Despite its fictitious content, the documentary was widely viewed, and a follow-up entitled Mermaids: The New Evidence set an all-time ratings record for the channel. On October 15, 2018, Animal Planet unveiled a new logo, featuring a symbol of a jumping elephant resembling
784-575: Was launched in France, along with Discovery Turbo, Discovery World and TLC. Additions to the channel in the late 2000s, such as Meerkat Manor and Orangutan Island , reflected its shift toward "predation programming" and more immersive storytelling. Animal Planet intended the new direction to help revitalize stagnating ratings, after primetime viewership of the network dropped by 9% in 2007. Animal Planet added pseudo-scientific documentary, reality television, and sitcom shows to its line-up. Animal Planet
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