Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting System may bid to...

Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting System may bid to acquire the Discovery Channel, a cable channel that specializes in science and nature programming, according to a story in the Atlanta Constitution. John Malone, president of the Denver-based Tele-Communications Inc., is encouraging the deal, although TBS has not presented a formal purchase proposal, the newspaper said. Tele-Communications Inc. owns 14% of Discovery and is a part of a group of investors that bought part of TBS this year. TBS officials declined to comment.