Quest (TV channel)
Encyclopedia
Quest is a TV channel in the United Kingdom
. Quest provides factual, lifestyle, entertainment programmes and other imported material. The channel is operated by Discovery Networks Western Europe
.
The Quest website displayed a message reading: "Regrettably we have made the decision to postpone the launch of Quest. Due to a number of commercial factors we have had to make this difficult decision. We did not make this decision lightly and we are working towards launching Quest in the near future. We would like to apologise wholeheartedly to any of you that have been looking forward to this launch."
In August 2009, Discovery Networks announced that it planned to launch the channel on 30 September 2009. At the same time the channel moved to channel 38.
Quest launched on Sky, on 1 October 2009, after acquiring an EPG slot from Information TV 2
.
Quest +1 launched on Sky, replacing DMAX +1.5
on 2 November 2009.
Quest launched on Virgin Media
on 25 March 2010 on channel 179.
It is notable for cropping the top and bottom from 4:3 programming in order to make it 16:9. Furthermore, if the channel is viewed with a receiver set to 4:3, the sides are cropped from the image (including cutting the channel logo in half) meaning only the very centre of the original picture is viewable.
On 15 October 2010, Quest began broadcasting a 24-hour schedule on all platforms except Freeview. On 30 June 2011, Gems TV
acquired a 24 hour Freeview stream, ending their timeshare with Quest, allowing Quest to begin broadcast 24 hours a day on Freeview as well.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Quest provides factual, lifestyle, entertainment programmes and other imported material. The channel is operated by Discovery Networks Western Europe
Discovery Networks Western Europe
Discovery Networks Western Europe is a branch of Discovery Networks International.It holds the responsibility for overseeing Discovery Networks International channels in 30 different countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, the Netherlands and other...
.
History
In October 2008, Discovery announced that they would launch a channel on Freeview in early 2009, but without using the "Discovery" name. A placeholder appeared on Freeview channel 47 on 5 January 2009 and Tiscali TV channel 109 on 14 May 2009. Although the channel planned to launch on 14 May 2009 at 10am, after broadcasting a promo loop on the planned launch morning, at 10am the channel returned to displaying a "Coming soon" message.The Quest website displayed a message reading: "Regrettably we have made the decision to postpone the launch of Quest. Due to a number of commercial factors we have had to make this difficult decision. We did not make this decision lightly and we are working towards launching Quest in the near future. We would like to apologise wholeheartedly to any of you that have been looking forward to this launch."
In August 2009, Discovery Networks announced that it planned to launch the channel on 30 September 2009. At the same time the channel moved to channel 38.
Quest launched on Sky, on 1 October 2009, after acquiring an EPG slot from Information TV 2
Information TV
Information TV is a television organisation which broadcasts three free-to-air channels on Sky and Freesat in the United Kingdom.-History:Information TV came into existence in April 2003, and received its ITC licence in November 2003. It began broadcasting at 10am on Monday, 19 January 2004 on Sky...
.
Quest +1 launched on Sky, replacing DMAX +1.5
DMAX (UK & Ireland)
DMAX is a TV channel in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Discovery announced on 22 November 2007, that they would launch a version of DMAX in the UK and Ireland market on 8 January 2008 after its initial success in Germany....
on 2 November 2009.
Quest launched on Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
on 25 March 2010 on channel 179.
It is notable for cropping the top and bottom from 4:3 programming in order to make it 16:9. Furthermore, if the channel is viewed with a receiver set to 4:3, the sides are cropped from the image (including cutting the channel logo in half) meaning only the very centre of the original picture is viewable.
On 15 October 2010, Quest began broadcasting a 24-hour schedule on all platforms except Freeview. On 30 June 2011, Gems TV
Gems TV (UK)
Gems TV is a British reverse auction jewellery shopping channel. It is officially the first channel of its kind in the UK. The channel is available on Sky, Virgin Media, Freesat, Freeview and online. The channel operations are based at Eagle Road Studios in Redditch, near Birmingham...
acquired a 24 hour Freeview stream, ending their timeshare with Quest, allowing Quest to begin broadcast 24 hours a day on Freeview as well.