The
Travel Channel is a
cable television network that features
documentaries and how-to shows related to
travel and leisure around the
United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in
African animal
safaris, tours of grand
hotels, and visits to significant cities and towns, with recent programming putting an emphasis on how the rich travel and on "haunted" destinations, like
Most Haunted.
It was launched by
Trans World Airlines in 1987, presumably to boost airline attendance, subsequently being sold to
Landmark Communications, owner of
The Weather Channel, and later Paxson Communications. Discovery bought 70% of the network in 1997, acquiring the rest in 1999. In May 2007, Discovery sold Travel Channel to
Cox Enterprises subsidiary
Cox Communications as part of a larger multi-billion dollar transaction.
[1]. However, Discovery Communications still distributes the channel under Discovery Networks.