Encyclo

Encyclo was a French thematic television channel focused on encyclopedic knowledge, documentaries, and the popularization of science. The service was launched in 1996 as part of the AB Sat satellite package, an offer associated with AB Groupe's development of specialist channels for French-speaking television audiences. Its editorial scope covered a broad range of factual subjects, with a particularly strong emphasis on science and engineering. Programming topics included medicine, modern inventions, ecology, astronomy, and other scientific disciplines. The channel was officially known as Encyclopédia for much of its existence, although viewers and industry descriptions commonly shortened the name to Encyclo. The naming issue was addressed around the channel's fifteenth anniversary, when the brand was shortened to Encyclo. This gave the service a more concise identity while retaining its association with encyclopedic programming. Encyclo's content was primarily documentary-based. Its schedule was built around discovery, knowledge, and scientific programming rather than general entertainment. One cited programme was Au cœur de la science, a weekly magazine presented by Michel Chevalet that examined a scientific subject connected to current events. The format reflected the channel's objective of making scientific themes accessible to a broad television audience. The service initially appeared only through the AB Sat platform. It later expanded its distribution through contracts with French and Swiss cable operators, the Nouveau Canalsat satellite package, and major ADSL television offerings made available through AB Groupe. This distribution strategy placed the channel within the French-speaking pay-television ecosystem rather than presenting it primarily as a terrestrial broadcaster. In early 2007, reports circulated that AB Groupe might sell the channel. The proposed transaction did not occur, and Encyclo remained within the group. Available reference material identifies AB Sat SA as the channel's owner and AB Groupe as its full financial backer. A cited budget was €24 million, although the available material does not establish a separate year or clarify whether the figure referred to a particular accounting period. Encyclo ended its original identity on 30 March 2015 at 8:50 p.m., when the channel was renamed Science et Vie TV. The change marked a shift away from the Encyclo name toward a brand aligned with the science magazine Science et Vie. Encyclo should therefore be treated as a discontinued television-channel brand rather than as an active standalone company. Its principal legacy is as an early French specialist channel that combined documentary television with popular science and general knowledge programming.

Encyclo originated in 1996 with the launch of the AB Sat satellite package. It was created as a thematic French television channel devoted to encyclopedic knowledge, with its strongest editorial concentration in science, engineering, medicine, and modern inventions. Rather than functioning as a general entertainment service, it offered documentary and factual programming intended to explain subjects across the sciences and the wider world of discovery. The channel was officially called Encyclopédia for much of its history, although it was frequently referred to simply as Encyclo. This distinction between the formal name and the shorter public name was eventually removed around the service's fifteenth anniversary, when the shorter Encyclo identity became the principal brand. The change simplified the channel's presentation without altering its broad knowledge-oriented editorial concept. Its programming covered ecology, medical science, astronomy, engineering, inventions, and other scientific fields. A representative programme was Au cœur de la science, a weekly magazine presented by Michel Chevalet. Each edition explored a scientific theme linked to current affairs, combining topicality with explanatory content. The programme exemplified the channel's effort to make specialist subjects understandable to a general audience. Encyclo's initial distribution was limited to AB Sat. It subsequently gained access to wider French-speaking pay-television distribution through agreements with cable networks in France and Switzerland, the Nouveau Canalsat satellite package, and major ADSL television platforms supplied through AB Groupe. These arrangements broadened its reach while keeping it within the subscription and thematic-channel market. In early 2007, speculation emerged that AB Groupe could sell the service. The sale did not proceed, and Encyclo stayed within the AB Groupe structure. Reference material identifies AB Sat SA as the owner and states that AB Groupe supplied the channel's funding. A budget of €24 million is cited, but no sufficiently specific period is provided in the available reference material for use as a dated financial comparison. The original channel identity ended on 30 March 2015 at 8:50 p.m. when Encyclo was renamed Science et Vie TV. The rebrand replaced the broad encyclopedic name with one tied more directly to the established science-media brand Science et Vie. Encyclo is consequently a defunct television brand whose operations continued in a renamed form rather than a channel that simply ceased broadcasting.

• 2015

  Rebranded as Science et Vie TV

  [1]Encycloen.wikipedia.org

  The Encyclo identity was retired on 30 March 2015 at 8:50 p.m. and replaced by Science et Vie TV.

• 2007

  Sale speculation does not result in a transaction

  [1]Encycloen.wikipedia.org

  Rumors of a possible sale circulated, but the channel remained part of AB Groupe.

• 1996

  Launch with the AB Sat package

  [1]Encycloen.wikipedia.org

  Encyclopédia launched as an AB Sat thematic channel dedicated to encyclopedic knowledge, science, and discovery programming.

A French factual television channel positioned around accessible encyclopedic knowledge, documentary storytelling, and the popularization of science and technology.

• Television channel · 1996

  Encyclo

  The core Encyclo service was a French thematic television channel built around documentaries and factual programmes. It covered science, engineering, medicine, ecology, astronomy, discovery, and modern inventions. The channel was distributed through AB Sat and later through cable, satellite, and ADSL television platforms in France and Switzerland. It operated under the Encyclopédia name before adopting the shorter Encyclo identity and was ultimately renamed Science et Vie TV.

• Science television magazine

  Au cœur de la science

  Au cœur de la science was a weekly programme associated with Encyclo and presented by Michel Chevalet. It examined one scientific subject connected with the news, giving the channel a recurring current-affairs format within its broader documentary schedule. The programme represented Encyclo's emphasis on explaining scientific issues for a general television audience.

• 2015

  Replace the Encyclo brand with Science et Vie TVStrategy

  Background

  After operating as Encyclopédia and then Encyclo, the channel adopted a name more explicitly associated with science media and the Science et Vie brand.

  Action taken

  AB Groupe changed the channel's name to Science et Vie TV on 30 March 2015 at 8:50 p.m.

  Aftermath

  The Encyclo brand ceased to be the channel's operating identity, while the service continued under its new name.

  Source

1. 1Encycloen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Encyclopedia.fr official websiteencyclopedia.fr