A new 3-D television network from Discovery Communications, Sony Corp and Imax Corp will launch Sunday on satellite TV provider DirecTV.

The network, called 3net, will go live at 8:00 pm Eastern time to more than 18 million homes in the United States. It is the network's first distribution deal.

Discovery, whose brands include Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet, announced the partnership with Imax and Sony early last year, and since then has been bringing aboard management and building a roster of shows.

The first night's lineup includes two new, one-hour, 3D original programs, China Revealed and Forgotten Planet.

This will be Discovery's second major network launch this year after the introduction of its joint venture OWN, or the Oprah Winfrey Network, in January.

(Reporting by Paul Thomasch; Editing by Richard Chang)

Launch Directv