TLC ( TV network ) - wikipedia TLC ( TV network ) This article is about the TV channel in the United States and Canada. For other uses, see TLC. TLC Launched 1972 ; 45 years ago ( 1972 ) ( as Appalachian Community Service Network ) November 1980 ; 37 years ago ( 1980 - 11 ) ( as The Learning Channel ) 1992 ; 25 years ago ( 1992 ) ( as TLC ) Owned by Discovery Communications Picture format 1080i ( HDTV ) 480i ( SDTV ) Slogan Everyone Needs A Little TLC Country United States Language English Spanish ( via SAP audio track ) Broadcast area United States Canada Headquarters Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Formerly called Appalachian Community Service Network ( 1970 -- 80 ) The Learning Channel ( 1980 -- 92 ) Sister channel ( s ) Discovery Channel Oprah Winfrey Network ( 50 % ) Animal Planet Destination America Discovery Family ( 60 % ) Discovery Life Investigation Discovery American Heroes Channel Science Velocity Website www.tlc.com Availability Terrestrial evotv ( Croatia ) Channel 502 Digita ( Finland ) Channel 11 Satellite Dish Network 183 ( HD / SD ) C - Band ( 4DTV Digital ) AMC - 10 - 604 DirecTV 280 ( HD / SD ) Canal Digital ( Finland ) Channel 12 Cable Available on most cable providers Check local listings for details Verizon FIOS 639 ( HD ) 139 ( SD ) DNA ( Finland ) Channel 18 Elisa ( Finland ) Channel 11 Sonera ( Finland ) Channel 11 UPC Romania Channel 57 ( as TLC Romania ) IPTV AT&T U-verse 1250 ( HD ) 250 ( SD ) Streaming media PlayStation Vue Internet Protocol television TLC is an American basic cable and satellite television network that is owned by Discovery Communications. Initially focused on educational and learning content, by the late 1990s, the network began to primarily focus towards reality series involving lifestyles, family life, and personal stories. As of February 2015, TLC is available to watch in approximately 95 million American households ( 81.6 % of households with cable television ) in the United States.. Contents 1 History 1.1 1972 -- 80 : Early history 1.2 1980 -- 98 : The Learning Channel, `` A place for learning minds '' 1.3 1998 -- 2006 : `` Life Unscripted '', new direction 1.4 2006 -- 08 : `` Live and learn '' 1.5 2008 -- present : `` Life surprises '' 2 Programming 3 TLC HD 4 International 4.1 Middle East and North Africa 4.2 The Americas 4.2. 1 Canada 4.2. 2 Latin America 4.3 Europe 4.3. 1 United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland 4.3. 2 Romania 4.3. 3 Bulgaria 4.3. 4 Finland 4.3. 5 Portugal 4.3. 6 Greece 4.3. 7 Germany 4.3. 8 Norway 4.3. 9 Poland 4.3. 10 The Balkans 4.3. 11 Netherlands 4.3. 12 Switzerland 4.3. 13 Turkey 4.4 Asia 4.4. 1 India 4.4. 2 South Korea 4.5 Sub-Saharan Africa 4.5. 1 South Africa 5 References 6 External links History 1972 -- 80 : early history The channel was founded in 1972 by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and NASA as the Appalachian Community Service Network, and was an informative and instructional network focused on providing real education through the medium of television ; it was distributed at no cost by NASA satellite. 1980 -- 98 : the Learning channel, `` a place for Learning minds '' ACSN was privatized in 1980, and its name was changed to The Learning Channel in November of that year ; the name was subsequently shortened to `` TLC. '' ( NASA immediately launched NASA TV as the ACSN 's internal replacement. ) The channel mostly featured documentary content pertaining to nature, science, history, current events, medicine, technology, cooking, home improvement, and other information - based topics. These are often agreed to have been more focused, more technical, and of a more academic nature than the content that was being broadcast at the time on its rival, The Discovery Channel. The channel was geared toward an inquisitive and narrow audience during this time, and had modest ratings except for the boating safety series Captain 's Log with Captain Mark Gray ( hosted by Mark Graves AKA Captain Mark Gray, a USMC Vietnam Vet 1967 -- 70, Entertainer ( Escape Artist, Magician, and TV Writer / Producer / Host ) - who worked in multimedia ( radio, newspapers, TV and Internet since 1974 ). Captain 's Log aired weekly in primetime on TLC from 1987 to 1990. It achieved between a 4.5 to 6 share in the ratings and was the highest compensated series in the history of TLC with over 30 times the compensation of any other TLC series. Mark Graves AKA `` Captain Mark Gray '' was also allowed to sign yearly rather than quarterly contracts. He decided to not seek another contract renewal when Discovery acquired TLC in 1990 and moved its operations from Virginia to Denver, Colorado. By the early 1990s, The Learning Channel was a sister channel to the Financial News Network ( FNN ), which owned 51 percent of the channel with Infotechnology Inc. After FNN went into bankruptcy in 1991, the Discovery Channel 's owners went into discussions to purchase The Learning Channel. An agreement was made with FNN and Infotech to buy their shares for $12.75 million. The non-profit Appalachian Community Service Network owned 35 percent of the network, and was also bought out. The Learning Channel continued to focus primarily on instructional and educational programming through much of the 1990s, but began to air shows less focused on education and themed more toward popular consumption and mass marketing ; these would be later expanded. TLC still aired educational programs such as Paleoworld ( a show about prehistoric creatures ), though more and more of its programming began to be devoted to niche audiences for shows regarding subjects like home improvement ( HomeTime and Home Savvy were two of the first ), arts and crafts, crime programs such as The New Detectives, medical programming ( particularly reality - based shows following real patients through the process of operations ), and other shows that appealed to daytime audiences, particularly housewives. This was to be indicative of a major change in programming content and target audience over the next few years. 1998 -- 2006 : `` life Unscripted '', new direction Perhaps due to poor ratings from a narrow target audience, TLC began to explore new avenues starting in the late 1990s, deemphasizing educational material in favor of entertainment. `` Ready Set Learn '', the network 's children 's program block, was slowly reduced through the years as the network deliberately redirected viewers towards the full - day lineup of children 's programming on Discovery Kids. The block was dropped completely in late 2008, and Cable in the Classroom programming, meant for recording by teachers, had completely disappeared by the early 2000s. In 1998, the channel began to distance itself from its original name `` The Learning Channel '', and instead began to advertise itself only as `` TLC ''. During this period, there was a huge shift in content, with most new programming being geared towards reality - drama and interior design shows. The huge success of shows like Trading Spaces, Junkyard Wars, A Wedding Story, and A Baby Story exemplified this new shift in programming towards more mass - appeal shows. This came at a time when Discovery itself was overhauling much of its own programming, introducing shows like American Chopper ( which Discovery moved to TLC for a time ). Much of the old, more educationally focused programming can still be found occasionally dispersed amongst other channels owned by Discovery Communications. Most of TLC 's programming today is geared towards reality - based drama or interests such as home design, emergency room or medical dramas, extreme weather, law enforcement, dating, and human interest programs. 2006 -- 08 : `` Live and learn '' On March 27, 2006, the network launched a new look and promotional campaign, dropping the `` Life Unscripted '' tag and introducing a new theme, `` Live and learn '', trying to turn around the network 's reliance on decorating shows and reality programming. As part of the new campaign, the channel 's original name, `` The Learning Channel '', returned to occasional usage in promotions. The new theme also played on life lessons, which featured heavily in the network 's advertising and promotional clips. This campaign used humor to appeal to a target audience in their 30s. 2008 -- Present : `` life surprises '' In early March 2008, TLC launched a slightly refreshed look and promotional campaign, alongside a new slogan : `` Life surprises ''. This new slogan came as TLC began to shift even more to personal stories, and away from the once - dominating home improvement shows. Programs focused on family life became the core of the channel. Jon & Kate Plus 8, which by 2008 was the highest - rated program on TLC, and Little People, Big World were joined by 17 Kids and Counting ( which became 18 Kids and Counting and then 19 Kids and Counting as the Duggars, the family that the series centers on, expanded ), and Table for 12 in 2008 and 2009 respectively. The series Toddlers & Tiaras also debuted in 2008, and proved popular enough to spawn a spin - off in 2012, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, focusing on the family life of recurring contestant Alana `` Honey Boo Boo '' Thompson, which was canceled in 2014. Also premiering on TLC in 2009 was Cake Boss, which focuses on the head baker at Carlo 's Bakery and his staff, who mostly consist of his family. Shooting a show in Midtown Manhattan Programming Main article : List of programs broadcast by TLC TLC HD A high definition simulcast of TLC was launched on September 1, 2007. It is currently available on many cable and satellite systems in the United States, Mexico and Canada, including Bell TV, Cogeco, Cox, Dish Network, DirecTV, Shaw Cable, Rogers Cable, Telus, Mediacom, insight Communications, Bright House Networks, Charter Spectrum, Verizon FiOS and Comcast. International Middle East and North Africa OSN -- the leading paid platform in the Middle East and North Africa -- launched TLC HD and broadcast it with the Discovery Network, using the same form as the American TLC channel and adding new exclusive Arabic - English programs from its production as `` Nidaa ''. The americas Canada TLC 's American feed is available in Canada on most cable and satellite providers, as it is authorized for carriage as a foreign cable television service by the Canadian Radio - television and Telecommunications Commission ; save for a few differences it features the same programming schedule as that seen in the United States. Latin america The Latin American TLC HD, was launched on December 1, 2009, exclusively in high - definition, in the same style as the American channel ( most of TLC 's programming is available in standard - definition on Discovery Home & Health ). On November 1, 2011, the Latin American version of Discovery Travel & Living was relaunched as TLC : Travel & Living Channel, which now also has a dedicated feed for Brazil. Europe United kingdom and the Republic of Ireland An English - speaking version of the channel was originally launched in 1994 across Europe and was subsequently renamed Discovery Home and Leisure and later Discovery Real Time as part of Discovery 's slate of themed channels. TLC relaunched in the UK and the Republic of Ireland on April 30, 2013. Romania TLC Romania was launched on 20 January 2011, replacing the European version of Discovery Travel & Living in this country. Bulgaria In early 2013 the channel launched in Bulgaria. Finland In November, 2016, TLC began to appear free, before that TLC was payment channel in Finland. Portugal In November, 2011, TLC Portugal debuted on ZON TV distributor and satellite services. Greece On October 3, 2011, TLC Greece debuted on the Conn - x TV IPTV and OTE TV satellite services. Germany TLC Germany launched on April 10, 2014 on cable, IPTV and satellite services in both HD and SD. Norway A Norwegian version of the channel was launched on March 4, 2010 as TLC Norway, replacing the European version of Discovery Travel & Living in Norway. Poland On October 1, 2010, the Polish version of Discovery Travel & Living was relaunched as TLC Poland, replacing the European version of Discovery Travel & Living in Poland. The Balkans TLC Balkans was also launched on October 1, 2010, replacing the European version of the `` Travel & Living Channel '' in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Bulgaria. TLC Balkans ' playout is from Belgrade, Serbia. Netherlands On July 4, 2011, a Dutch version was launched, time sharing with Animal Planet 's standard definition feed. Animal Planet remained a 24 - hour service for high - definition viewers. TLC became a 24 - hour channel on January 8, 2013. It is also available in HD. Switzerland On June 3, 2014, the Swiss cable provider UPC Cablecom launched TLC in Switzerland. Turkey On November 6, 2015, TLC Turkey began broadcasting replacing CNBC - e channel. Asia On September 1, 2010, the Asia Pacific versions of Discovery Travel & Living were relaunched as TLC, with the acronym standing for `` Travel and Living Channel ''. India An Indian version was launched in 2006 under the jurisdiction of Discovery Channel. It was relaunched as TLC on September 1, 2010. South Korea A South Korean version was launched in December 4, 2013 under the Discovery Communications and CMB ( Central Media Broadcasting Korea ). The channel was replaced by EXF ( Extreme Fun TV ) in May 1st 2016. Sub-Saharan Africa Available across sub-Saharan Africa on the DStv satellite service. South Africa On September 1, 2011, the South African feed of TLC replaced the Discovery Travel & Living channel on TopTV. In 2013 TopTV lost the channel to DStv. References Jump up ^ Seidman, Robert ( February 22, 2015 ). `` List of how many homes each cable network is in as of February 2015 ''. TV by the Numbers. Zap2it. Retrieved March 14, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Learning Channel, The ( Network ), '' in Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946 -- Present, 9th ed. New York : Ballantine, 2007, ISBdfhfhu9780345497734, p. 778. Jump up ^ Laurence, Robert P. ( August 15, 2005 ). `` Cable Guise : Channels built on arts, education and high culture now go low with cheesy programming ''. San Diego Union - Tribune. Archived from the original on September 10, 2006. Retrieved April 18, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Jane Wells, `` When Did The Learning Channel Become The Leering Channel ?, '' Funny Business, CNBC, April 6, 2011 Jump up ^ `` Discovery reaches agreement to purchase Learning Channel ''. The Bulletin. April 5, 1991. Jump up ^ `` Discovery to Buy a Channel ''. The New York Times. April 2, 1991. Jump up ^ `` TLC, Martin Agency offer ' life lessons ' ''. Washington Examiner. Retrieved 2016 - 05 - 01. Jump up ^ `` TLC Life Lessons on Discovery Channel - The Inspiration Room ''. The Inspiration Room. 2006 - 05 - 07. Retrieved 2016 - 05 - 01. Jump up ^ Rice, Lynette ( 2009 - 03 - 25 ). `` ' Jon & Kate Plus 8 ' season finale scores series - best ratings ''. Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2009 - 05 - 05. Retrieved 2008 - 03 - 26. Jump up ^ Fletcher, Alex ( 2013 - 03 - 27 ). `` ' Here Comes Honey Boo Boo ' to air in UK on new TV channel TLC ''. Digital Spy. Retrieved 2013 - 03 - 27. Jump up ^ `` TLC to begin airing in Turkey instead of CNBC - e ''. Daily Sabah. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 05. Jump up ^ `` TLC to replace Discovery Travel and Living from 1 September ''. Indiantelevision.com. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2010. ^ Jump up to : `` Satellite pay - TV operator loses TLC channel ''. Retrieved 15 July 2016. External links Official website TLC Norway official website TLC Poland official website TLC Russian official website Discovery Communications Ownership Discovery Communications, Inc. ; affiliated with Advance Publications ; and John S. Hendricks, the Company 's Founder and Chairman United States and Canadian Channels American Heroes Animal Planet Destination America Discovery Discovery en Español Discovery Familia ( U.S. Spanish ) Discovery Family Discovery Life Investigation Discovery Canada ( licensed ) Oprah Winfrey Network Canada ( licensed ) Science TLC Velocity Discovery Digital Networks CTV Specialty TV ( Canada ) Animal Planet Discovery Discovery Science Discovery Velocity Asia Pacific Animal Planet Asia Australia and New Zealand India Discovery Asia Australia and New Zealand India Discovery Kids India Australia Discovery Science Discovery Turbo Australia India New Zealand DMAX DSPORT ( India ) Eurosport Eve Food TV ( New Zealand ) Investigation Discovery ( India ) Living Channel ( New Zealand ) Setanta Sports Asia TLC Asia Australia and New Zealand India Benelux Animal Planet Discovery Discovery Showcase HD Discovery Science Discovery World Eurosport 1 Eurosport 2 Investigation Discovery TLC Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa ( CEEMEA ) Animal Planet Europe, Middle East & Africa Germany Poland Turkey Canal+ Discovery ( Poland ) Discovery Africa Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein Hungary Middle East Poland Romania Russia Turkey Discovery Family ( EMEA ) Discovery Life ( Poland ) Discovery Showcase HD Discovery Historia ( Poland ) Discovery Science Discovery Travel & Living DKids DLife DMAX Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein MENA DTX Eurosport 1 Eurosport 2 Eurosport News Fatafeat IDX Investigation Discovery Metro ( Poland ) Quest Arabiya TLC Germany Poland Latin America / U.S. Hispanic Animal Planet Discovery Discovery Civilization Discovery Home & Health Discovery Kids Discovery Science Discovery Theater Discovery Turbo Discovery World Investigação Discovery ( Brazil ) Investigation Discovery Mega ( Chile ) TLC Nordic 6'eren ( Denmark ) Animal Planet Canal 9 ( Denmark ) Discovery Denmark Finland Norway Sweden Discovery Science Discovery World Eurosport 1 Eurosport 2 Eurosport N ( Norway ) Eurosport Pluss ( Norway ) FEM ( Norway ) Frii ( Finland ) Investigation Discovery Kanal 4 ( Denmark ) Kanal 5 Denmark Sweden Kanal 9 ( Sweden ) Kanal 11 ( Sweden ) Kutonen ( Finland ) Max ( Norway ) TLC Norway Sweden TV5 ( Finland ) TVNorge ( Norway ) VOX ( Norway ) Southern Europe Animal Planet ( Italy ) Discovery France Italy Portugal Discovery Travel & Living ( Italy ) Discovery Science France Italy DKiss ( Spain ) DMAX Italy Spain Eurosport 1 Eurosport 2 Eurosport News Focus ( Italy ) Frisbee ( Italy ) Giallo ( Italy ) Investigation Discovery ( France ) Discovery Family ( France ) K2 ( Italy ) NOVE ( Italy ) Real Time ( Italy ) Vivolta ( France ) UK and Ireland Animal Planet Discovery Discovery History Discovery Home & Health Discovery Science Discovery Turbo Discovery World DMAX Eurosport 1 Eurosport 2 Investigation Discovery Quest Quest Red TLC Other `` I Love the World '' Former 3net Canal 8 Sport Discovery Channel Radio Discovery Geschichte Discovery Health Channel Discovery Home & Health Southeast Asia Discovery Kids Canada Discovery Kids United Kingdom Discovery Kids on NBC Discovery Networks Northern Europe Discovery People Discovery Real Time France Discovery Real Time UK and Ireland Discovery Travel & Living UK and Ireland Discovery Turbo Asia Discovery Wings Eurosport 2 Xtra Eurosport DK FitTV Fyi Canada GXT HowStuffWorks Ready Set Learn ! SBS Radio Nordic Travel Channel PixL TLC original programming 7 Little Johnstons 10 Years Younger 48 Hours 90 Day Fiancé All About Sex Breaking Amish Buying Naked Cake Boss Curvy Brides Extreme Cheapskates Four Weddings Gypsy Sisters A Haunting Home Sweet Bus I Am Jazz I Found The Gown Leah Remini : It 's All Relative The Little Couple Little People, Big World Long Island Medium Long Lost Family Love, Lust or Run My 600 Pound Life My Big Fat Fabulous Life My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding My Giant Life My Strange Addiction Next Great Baker Kate Plus 8 Kindred Spirits OutDaughtered Outrageous 911 Our Little Family Paranormal Lockdown Randy to the Rescue Say Yes to the Dress Say Yes to the Dress : Atlanta Say Yes to the Dress : Bridesmaids Say Yes to the Dress : Randy Knows Best Say Yes to the Dress : The Big Day Secretly Pregnant Sex Sent Me to the ER Something Borrowed, Something New The Willis Family Too Close to Home Untold Stories of the E.R. Who Do You Think You Are ? See also Template : Former TLC Programming Former TLC original programming 19 Kids and Counting Abby & Brittany The Adam Carolla Project Addicted Alaskan Women Looking for Love All - American Muslim Amazing Vacation Homes American Chopper American Hot Rod A Baby Story BBQ Pitmasters Ballroom Bootcamp Best Funeral Ever The Big Garage Big Hair Alaska Big Sexy Cheer Perfection Clean Sweep The Day the Universe Changed DC Cupcakes Everyday Exotic Extreme Couponing Extreme Machines Freaky Eaters The Good Buy Girls Great Books Here Comes Honey Boo Boo Hoarding : Buried Alive Home Made Simple Homemade Millionaire Hometime Honey, We 're Killing the Kids I Did n't Know I Was Pregnant In a Fix Inedible to Incredible Kids by the Dozen LA Ink Little Chocolatiers Little Parents, Big Pregnancy Little Parents, First Baby Livin ' for the Apocalypse Mall Cops : Mall of America A Makeover Story Miami Ink Miss America Pageant A Model Life Mostly True Stories ? : Urban Legends Revealed Moving Up My Five Wives NY Ink One Big Happy Family On the Fly Overhaulin ' Paleoworld Pete Rose : Hits & Mrs. Police Women of Broward County Police Women of Cincinnati Police Women of Dallas Police Women of Maricopa County Police Women of Memphis Property Ladder Quints by Surprise Ready Set Learn Sarah Palin 's Alaska Sex in Public Sextuplets Take New York Sin City Rules The Sisterhood Skinnamarink TV Strange Sex Starter Wives Confidential Street Customs Table for 12 Take Home Chef Toddlers & Tiaras Totally T - Boz Trading Spaces Trading Spaces : Family Trading Spouses Tuckerville Ultimate Cake Off Undercover Boss Urban Legends Welcome to Myrtle Manor What Not to Wear While You Were Out See also Template : TLC Programming Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=TLC_(TV_network)&oldid=816075945 '' Categories : TLC ( TV network ) English - language television stations in the United States Television channels and stations established in 1972 Discovery Communications Defunct agencies of the United States government 1972 establishments in the United States Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from February 2010 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from November 2015 Articles with unsourced statements from April 2015 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Français 한국어 Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Română Русский Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 19 December 2017, at 02 : 57. 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Question: when did tlc stop being the learning channel
Answer: 1998