Lifestyle channel TLC could make its long-awaited UK debut as early as April, with parent company Discovery moving into the final phase of its launch.
Discovery’s latest internal deadline for the channel, which has been in the planning stages for close to two years, is between late April and early May, although sources close to the company suggest this will depend on whether it can reach a carriage agreement with pay-TV platform BSkyB.
Discovery is keen to strike a deal soon so that its initial tranche of international TLC commissions remain fresh.
There is still confusion in the indie community over whether ideas that have been pitched could end up on one of Discovery’s other channels, such as Discovery Real Time, if the company misses its deadline.
TLC UK is being shepherded by Discovery Networks UK and Ireland general manager Susanna Dinnage alongside Dan Korn, senior vice-president at Discovery Western Europe.