Warner Bros. Discovery has unveiled plans to launch a new-look TLC as a free-to-air entertainment channel in the UK and Ireland.
From January 2026, TLC will host scripted content, such as Mike & Molly, as well as The Big Bang Theory and its spin-offs, Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage.
TLC will also include a new-look Mock the Week, the satirical celebrity panel show, produced by Angst, and Zero Stars, produced by CPL, which sees comedians Roisin Conaty and Sara Pascoe journey across the globe, experiencing places with only the funniest and worst reviews.
As part of the overhaul, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) will close its HGTV cable channel in the UK and Ireland. From January 2026, WBD’s free-to-air channel Really will include HGTV shows such as Celebrity IOU with the Property Brothers, Home Town, and My Lottery Dream Home.
After the changes, WBD’s UK free-to-air (FTA) portfolio will consist of six channels with Quest, Quest Red, Food Network, and DMAX, alongside TLC and Really.
The FTA line-up complements WBD’s pay-TV channels in the UK – including the Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network, and TNT Sports – totalling more than 20 linear channels.
Graham Lafferty, Senior Vice President (SVP) of Content Strategy and Networks at WBD UK and Ireland, said: “Through TLC, we are excited to commission and curate a broad entertainment channel that spans both scripted and unscripted content, including award-winning shows like The Big Bang Theory, through to a new-look British comedy staple like Mock the Week.”
Warner Bros. Discovery is to split into two publicly traded companies, separating its cable TV networks from its studios and streaming businesses. Discover more here.
Studios and streamers ramp up video game adaptations
Major studios and streaming platforms are accelerating their push into video game adaptations, with commissions increasing by an average of 30% per year since 2019, according to new research by Ampere Analysis.
Ireland approves Europe’s first unscripted tax credit
The Republic of Ireland has become the first country in Europe to offer a tax incentive for unscripted productions.
.jpg)
Canal+ and WBD expand content partnership
Canal+ and Warner Bros. Discovery have signed a new multi-year and multi-territory agreement to expand their international collaboration.
Alex Mahon and Charlotte Moore receive New Year Honours
Former Channel 4 Chief Executive Alex Mahon and ex-BBC Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore are among the recipients in the 2026 New Year Honours list.
Women directed 8% of top 100 movies in 2025
The representation of women directors of the top films at the North American box office dropped significantly in 2025, according to the latest study from the University of Southern California (USC)’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.
