Discovery Communications Inc.

The Discovery Channel recently announced plans to launch a 24-hour cable channel meant to ride the wave of interest in global warming and environmental issues.

Planet Green, Variety reported last night, will cover everything that's gone green in fashion, architecture, technology and food.

Anchoring the channel will be the series "Eco-Town," for which Leonardo DiCaprio is a producer, about the rebuilding of a Kansas town after a tornado--to exacting green specifications.

"You always hope to be an early adopter, and obviously there's a need this channel is addressing," Planet Green president and general manager Eileen O'Neill told Variety. "I think that, in terms of being relevant and impactful, the time is just right now."

Today The New York Times announced it will take the opportunity to cash out its $100-million investment in the Discovery Times channel. "[I]t has become clear that our investment dollar is better spent developing video for our own nytimes.com," says the memo, reproduced below.

In the April 10 issue, the Observer reported, based on documents obtained by the Rocky Mountain News, that the Times might take advantage of a window in its agreement with Discovery Communications that would allow the paper to sell its stake.  read more »

The papers have been full of stories about unhappy car owners, particularly Upper West Side resident  read more »