Discovery gets Freeview 'Quest' licence

A service licence issued by Ofcom for Discovery's new channel on Freeview has indicated that the broadcaster's first free-to-air channel in the UK may be called Quest.

The channel will launch on Freeview early next year using capacity on multiplex A. Discovery is believed to have paid approximately £10m to secure the coveted spot on the platform.

A spokesperson for Discovery refused to confirm or deny the name of the channel, telling Digital Spy: "We do have a new Freeview channel launching next year but the name, channel proposition and launch date is still under discussion."

The broadcaster had previously planned to launch a pay TV channel on digital terrestrial as part of Sky's proposed Picnic service, further development of which has been suspended by Sky pending regulatory approval by Ofcom.