Discovery Adds Tyson’s Birds, Oprah to Extend Rally

Discovery Communications Inc., the cable programmer built on nature and science shows, is turning to Mike Tyson’s racing pigeons, Oprah Winfrey and Transformers to drive audience and revenue growth.

Animal Planet’s “Taking on Tyson,” a show about former boxer Tyson’s fascination with pigeons, is part of a push for viewers by Discovery’s U.S. channels. Since October, the company has added the Oprah Winfrey Network, with specials and talk shows by Winfrey and Rosie O’Donnell, and The Hub, a children’s outlet co-owned by Hasbro Inc., maker of Transformers toys.