Discovery Launches the Ultimate Green Destination in China

-- Planet Green block to launch on 26 TV Stations in China from April 16th sponsored by ŠKODA Auto --

April 11, 2008

(Beijing) Discovery Networks Asia, a division of the number-one nonfiction media company Discovery Communications, today announced that it will launch a Planet Green programming block in China starting from April 16 on Discovery Channel’s China block. ŠKODA Auto, a Volkswagen brand advocating a green and healthy lifestyle, has come on board as the sponsor of this new initiative, which includes 40 new hours of environmental programs on 26 TV stations in China. The block will launch with 5 Ways to Save the World (please refer to schedule and program descriptions below).

Discovery’s partnership with ŠKODA originates from a mutual passion for the environment and a greener lifestyle. ŠKODA’s long-term program is to minimize the consequences of its activities on the environment and to maintain a balance between economic, environmental and social aspects – which is fundamental for sustainable development. To do its part to help save the environment, ŠKODA is launching a full series of Octavia cars using advanced technologies which they have developed which are in line with the China IV Exhaust Emission Standard. Together, Discovery and ŠKODA aim to provide the latest information and environmentally-friendly choices to educate and entertain Chinese audiences, and empower them with what they need to take part in environmental protection and energy saving activities. Besides the on-air partnership, Discovery Channel will work with ŠKODA to organise several road shows to spread the green message in the second half of 2008.

Fang Chang, Vice President and General Manager of Discovery Networks Asia's China Operation, said, "There is no better time to launch Planet Green in China. Consumers are ready and receptive for more environmental-related content, and Discovery is here to take the lead in providing this. We are delighted that ŠKODA has chosen to work with us to launch their latest line of environmentally-friendly cars, and believe the Planet Green block provides a perfect platform for ŠKODA to drive home their green message."

Fu Qiang, deputy executive director of ŠKODA’s brand marketing and sales business division said, "With continuous deterioration of the climate and environment, environmental protection has become a global focus. As a brand with a 100-year history, ŠKODA has always been concerned about the environment and this is reflected in our green logo. ŠKODA’s mission is to offer world-class automobiles whose production entails only a minimum burden for the environment, and this new line of Octavia will provide a greener drive without increased cost to the end-user. We are proud to cooperate with Discovery Networks Asia to launch the Planet Green block in China, which we will hope will inspire and encourage real action on the part of the viewer."

Planet Green is Discovery Communications’ global, cross-company initiative with a commitment to document, preserve and celebrate the planet, including the first 24-hour green television network that will launch in the U.S. in June 2008. Planet Green speaks to people who want to understand green living and to those who are excited to make a difference by providing tools and information to meet the critical challenge of protecting the environment. The Planet Green block in China will launch with over 40 original hours of programming in 2008, from Asian relevant stories produced out of the region, to global specials drawing from Discovery Communications’ unprecedented US$50 million investment in original content. More information on Planet Green can be found at planetgreen.discovery.com.

Discovery Networks Asia already has several initiatives in place to reduce, reuse and recycle. Discovery will also further its commitment to responsible operations in Asia by lessening the environmental impact of its regional headquarters in Singapore through energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and working with Carbonfund.org to purchase supplementary offsets starting this year. In the United States, Discovery Communications was awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for its headquarters at One Discovery Place. The company has also acquired leading green website TreeHugger.com and set up a world class Board of Advisers.

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About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications is the world’s number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Science and Discovery HD, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. In Asia Pacific, seven Discovery brands reach 346 million cumulative subscribers in 25 countries with programming customized in eight languages. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Co. (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman.

About ŠKODA
ŠKODA was born in 1895. It is the only existing car brand among four 100-year-history car brands. ŠKODA has 112 years of history. Since 1991 when it joined Volkswagen, ŠKODA has become the fastest growing and the most dynamic star brand under Volkswagen, supported by the technology, management and talents of Volkswagen. Now it has become a world-famous brand in line with Audi, Volkswagen, Bentley and Lamborghini. In April 2005, ŠKODA landed in Shanghai Volkswagen officially and Shanghai Volkswagen started a road of dual brands. In September 2006, Shanghai Volkswagen launched ŠKODA and announced its Chinese name, which indicates a new page for ŠKODA’s development in China. For more details, please go to http://www.csvw.com.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PLANET GREEN CHINA BLOCK INCLUDE:

FEARLESS PLANET (6x60)
Premiering: July 2nd to August 6th, 2008
Marvel at the living forces of nature and spectacular forms that make up our Fearless Planet. Enriched by spectacular CGI-filled visuals, Discovery brings in scientists and archeological experts to weigh in on the unique biographies of the Grand Canyon, the Hawaiian Islands, the Great Barrier Reef and other majestic formations. Scuba dive the reefs to see a brilliant convergence of color, rappel down the canyon, touch rock that is millions of years old – prepare for an awe-inspiring experience. Witness their formations and then look ahead at what the future might hold for our Natural Wonders.

ECO-TECH (5x60)
Premiering: April 23rd to May 21st, 2008
For decades, scientists have been steadily gathering evidence that mankind’s current way of life cannot be sustained much longer. But the scale of the challenge has inspired some of the best minds to come up with amazing solutions – revolutionary concepts and cutting edge technologies that just might hold the key to reversing environmental destruction. Their research will soon transform all of our lives – how we power our vehicles, build our homes and offices, generate our energy, manage our waste, and cope with increasingly extreme weather. In Innovation Green, we’ll meet the scientists -- chemists, biologists, geologists, engineers, and other visionaries – who are developing breakthrough ideas and they'll show us "how and why" these technologies work.

TECHNOGREEN (13x60)
Premiering: Q3, 2008
Every episode begins with long time friends Seth and Tyler, driving Baby down a stretch of highway enroute to visit their next backyard inventor – Seth and Tyler have been a part of this quiet revolution, live and online, for years so for our hosts these visits are as intimate as visiting old friends. Seth and Tyler showcase three to four low-brow inventors every episode. Soon after the introductions the guys’ passion and curiosity take over – they explore the lives of the inventors to get a sense of the person and why they took ‘going green’ into their own hands. What was the ultimate moment of inspiration that moved them to action? What was the green problem that just had to be solved? How was the contraption built? What tools did they use – from duct tape to found items? Seth and Tyler are fascinated by the processes of prototyping, testing and final application. They want to learn everything about the invention, including its limitations that perhaps Seth and Tyler can help solve.

5 WAYS TO SAVE THE WORLD (9x60)
Premiering: Q4, 2008
This ambitious series premiering in late 2008 will be a global effort to find solutions to the planet’s most serious environment threats, and will work with the world’s leading eco-scientists to test innovative and ground-breaking ideas, including wrapping glaciers in thermal blankets to stop their melting, dropping thousands of saplings from planes to provide mass reforestation, and painting entire towns white to reflect the sun.

ECOPOLIS (6x60)
Premiering: Q1, 2009
By 2050, 75% of the world’s population will live in cities. Ecopolis is a virtual city we have created to represent the future of urban living. If we continue to live as we do now, the Ecopolis you see at the beginning of each programme will make the dystopian mega-cities of Blade Runner look like a Disney paradise. But we have seen the future. And it is not dreary and most certainty not all bad news. From the leading edge of now, projecting into the future, this series will show how we can make Ecopolis live up to its name by turning Ecopolis into a carbon-neutral city. Visionaries, designs, techniques, processes, new technologies, new disciplines, future-casting, surprise finds and prototypes that we will reveal to show how Ecopolis can be a beacon for green cities for 50 years’ time, touring the world’s most important projects – and speculative revolutionary brains – to show and tell the solutions to our future city. This astounding series will tackle a world headed for urban carbon carnage. A project supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board content development fund.