The international Discovery HD (later Discovery HD World in Asia-Pacific markets, now Discovery Asia)[1] first launched in Korea in February 2005 as a programming block. In December 2005, Discovery HD Japan and Discovery HD Canada (since renamed Discovery World HD, now Discovery Velocity) launched as 24-hour channels, becoming the 100th and 101st Discovery networks overall.[2] After that, Discovery HD expanded into other markets as follows:
May 15, 2012 Discovery Benelux began to replace Discovery HD Showcase by an HD simulcast of Discovery Channel in the Netherlands.[9]
On 18 September 2012, Discovery HD Showcase France ceased transmissions, replaced by Discovery Channel HD and Discovery Science HD, always exclusively on Canalsat ; in Belgium (Belgacom TV), Discovery Science wasn't made available
December 4, 2012 in Brazil as Discovery Channel HD, like the USA channel he simulcasts the main Discovery Channel SD feed, but airs high-definition versions of programming when available.[10]
June 2, 2014 in Flanders (Belgium) as Discovery Channel HD, replacing Discovery HD Showcase. Although not officially announced, it will probably be a HD simulcast of the SD feed.
March 1, in Kazakhstan on Otau TV as Discovery Showcase HD Kazakhstan in HD and SD versions with Kazakh, Russian an English audio tracks.[11]
The first American HD Discovery channel has the name Velocity and launched in June 2002.
A second Discovery HD channel, called 'Discovery Channel HD', was launched in the USA on Dish Network the week of August 13, 2007. This new channel simulcasts the main Discovery Channel feed, but airs high-definition versions of programming when available. It is also available on DirecTV and various U.S. cable operators along with fellow sister high definition version networks TLC, Animal Planet, and Science Channel.[12]