Discovery Networks International, the international programming arm of Discovery Communications, reported its strongest quarter ever in terms of online and television viewership, fueled by strong showings across its portfolio of networks.
Overall, DNI’s international networks reached 621 million viewers around the world in the second quarter, a 3% increase year-over-year. Top performers included Discovery Channel (366 million viewers); Animal Planet (252 million viewers) and TLC (204 million viewers).
The average audience for the division also reached a new record (2.9 million viewers, up 9% from last year). DNI also attracted 11 million visitors to its websites, its highest ever digital audience (up 45% from last year) and 38 million fans to its social platforms, a 205% increase from the previous year due especially to increases in India, Australia and South East Asia.
“This outstanding performance is testament to the strength of our global business,” said DNI president JB Perrette in a statement. “Once again we’re raising the bar in the international content space on-air and online.”
Helping to push the increases were strong performances from individual networks. Discovery Kids experienced a 33% increase in the period, spurred by strong performance from key markets like Brazil, while the division enjoyed double-digit growth at stalwarts Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery and Discovery Home and Health.
DNI’s free-to-air portfolio also posted strong growth – it was up more than 12% in Western Europe overall for the quarter with records broken in Spain for Discovery Max’s coverage of the French Open tennis final.
