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TLC (British and Irish TV channel)

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TLC
Logo used since 13 January 2026
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
Ireland
Programming
LanguageEnglish
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)
Timeshift serviceTLC +1
Ownership
OwnerWarner Bros. Discovery EMEA
Sister channelsAnimal Planet
Discovery Channel
Discovery History
Discovery Science
Discovery Turbo
DMAX
Food Network
Investigation Discovery
Quest
Quest Red
Really
Cartoon Network
Boomerang
Cartoonito
CNN International
History
Launched30 April 2013; 13 years ago (2013-04-30), 8pm
ReplacedDiscovery Real Time and Discovery Travel & Living (2005–2013)
HGTV (on Freeview)
Links
Websiteuk.tlc.com
Availability
Terrestrial
FreeviewChannel 12
Channel 99 (+1)
Streaming media
Virgin TV GoWatch live (UK only)
Watch live (+1) (UK only)
Virgin TV AnywhereWatch live (Ireland only)

TLC is a British free-to-air television channel, owned by Skydance Corporation. It is based on the American cable network of the same name. It launched on 30 April 2013 at 8pm,[1] replacing Discovery Real Time and DMAX +2.[2]

History

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TLC (The Learning Channel) is an American network that originates in 1980. It launched on Astra satellite in October 1994 to viewers in the British Isles, the Benelux, France, Germany, and Scandinavia. It eventually became Discovery Home & Leisure and later Discovery Real Time as part of Discovery's catalogue of themed channels.[3]

Beginning in 2011, Discovery gradually brought back TLC to European viewers and in March 2013 confirmed the launch of a UK and Ireland version.[4] A +1 timeshift channel was also launched concurrently, replacing DMAX +2. Given that TLC was chasing a completely different demographic from the old TLC, Discovery treated it as a new channel launch rather than a return.[citation needed]

A two-hour timeshift, TLC +2, was launched on 16 September 2013. It closed down on 27 April 2018, and was rebranded as Discovery Turbo +1.[5]

In January 2026, TLC became free-to-air on British platforms and refocused to a general entertainment channel with scripted and non-scripted comedy programming, as well as programmes from its existing lineup and new ID Programming.[6] It joined the Freeview, Freesat and Freely lineups.[6][7] In Ireland, only the HD and +1 channels became free-to-air, which are identical to the UK feed, but the SD feed remains encrypted because it broadcasts advertisements targeted to the Irish market.[8]

Programming

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Programming consists of acquired shows and original commissions.[9][10][11] That includes American scripted comedies like Young Sheldon and local British shows like Mock the Week, The Bad Foot Clinic and Katie Price's Pony Club. TLC also features Paramount Pictures fllms.

Current programming

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Acquired shows

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Original commissions

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References

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  1. ↑ Szalai, Georg (27 March 2013). "Discovery Communications to Launch TLC in U.K., Ireland". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  2. ↑ Hadley, Paul (24 April 2013). "Changes to Discovery channels this month". Entertainment Interactive. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "TLC | TVARK". Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  4. ↑ Szalai, Georg (27 March 2013). "Discovery Communications to Launch TLC in U.K., Ireland". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  5. ↑ "System Updates". Overnights.tv. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  6. 1 2 Goren, Or (20 October 2025). "TLC Channel Is Coming To Freeview As HGTV Shuts Down". Cord Busters. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Freely bolsters live TV offering with new partners Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland and CNN". Everyone TV. 4 December 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
  8. ↑ "Changes to the TV Guide - January 2026". Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  9. ↑ Munn, Patrick (27 March 2013). "TLC To Launch in UK on April 30th". TVWise. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  10. ↑ Whittingham, Clive (25 April 2013). "TLC stocks UK schedule". C21Media. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  11. ↑ Munn, Patrick (26 April 2013). "TLC Acquires UK Rights To TV Land's 'The Exes' & 'Happily Divorced'". TVWise. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  12. ↑ "Curvy Brides Boutique". Radio Times. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  13. ↑ Caitlin Moran (1 January 2020). "TV for big girls". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  14. ↑ "TLC: Curvy Brides Boutique". Retrieved 15 October 2021.
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