Animal Planet
Network Overview
Animal Planet Media (APM), a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications LLC, is the world's only entertainment brand that immerses viewers in the full range of life in the animal kingdom with rich, deep content via multiple platforms and offers animal lovers and pet owners access to a centralized, online, television and mobile community for immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment, information and enrichment. APM consists of the Animal Planet television network, available in more than 96 million homes in the US; online assets www.animalplanet.com, the ultimate online destination for all things animal; the 24/7 broadband channel, Animal Planet Beyond; Petfinder.com, the number one pet-related Web property globally that facilitates pet adoption; and other media platforms including a robust Video-on-Demand (VOD) service; mobile content; and merchandising extensions.
TELEVISION SERIES/SPECIALS: The following series/specials reflect Animal Planet's top series and specials for Spring 2013:
MY CAT FROM HELL
Season Premiere Saturday, April 6
Cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy returns for a new season of MY CAT FROM HELL to take on the most catastrophic cat cases anyone ever has encountered. Armed with more than 15 years of experience, a proven training program and his signature guitar case filled with cat toys, Galaxy is on a mission to help cat owners find the sources of conflict with their furry friends. In each episode, Galaxy swoops in to solve a gamut of feline-related issues and repair the relationships they're ruining. Whether it's the cats or the owners behaving badly, leave it to Galaxy to save the day!
RIVER MONSTERS
Season Premiere Sunday, April 7
For four successful seasons of Animal Planet's RIVER MONSTERS, extreme angler Jeremy Wade has taken viewers along as he unravels freshwater fish tales of giant killers, where sometimes fact really is stranger than fiction! Animal Planet's best-performing series in network history returns for a fifth season, following Wade on a worldwide search for harrowing stories of bloodthirsty fish. A fearless explorer, he aims to hook the finned culprits that are thought to attack humans and reveal how much truth lies in the legends. This season takes him inside the jungles of Nicaragua, the fjords of Norway and even the nuclear wasteland of Chernobyl.
ICE COLD GOLD
Series Premiere Sunday, April 21
Animal Planet's ICE COLD GOLD spotlights a spirited team of miners who are among the first Americans to prospect for precious metals and gems in parts of Greenland where humans never have set foot before. The six-part series follows eight men who leave behind their families, friends and homeland to strike it rich against all odds while struggling to survive against the harshest of conditions. Greenland's a veritable beast, but the motley crew of ICE COLD GOLD miners is up for the challenge. Each thinks he has what it takes to walk away with gold, rubies and sapphires before winter and large mining companies swoop in. What transpires as the miners cope with the unpredictable, harsh unknown? Are they humbled by their journey? Do their personalities get in the way? Most importantly, do they strike ICE COLD GOLD?
MONSTER WEEK
Monday, May 20 - Monday, May 27
Animal Planet's MONSTER WEEK is back with all-new stories about the world's most legendary and mysterious creatures. Monster Week, a week so big it lasts eight days, digs deep into our fascination with the unknown and proves that there are still real monsters out there... Perhaps the most haunting, lingering imagery from last year's MONSTER WEEK is the physical evidence linked to the existence of mermaids. In MERMAIDS: THE BODY FOUND, Animal Planet stunned viewers with captivating footage and an in-depth investigation of these fantastical creatures. Toward the tail-end of this year's Monster Week, Animal Planet revisits this startling, groundbreaking topic in the much-anticipated follow-up special, MERMAIDS: THE NEW EVIDENCE. In an exclusive interview with Dr. Paul Robertson, former NOAA scientist who led last year's investigation, journalist Jon Frankel probes for the unfiltered story and reveals new evidence of mermaids that only has come forward in the past year. MERMAIDS: THE NEW EVIDENCE follows a two-hour MERMAIDS: THE BODY FOUND The Extended Cut.
CALL OF THE WILDMAN
Series Returns Sunday, June 2
Live Action! Animal Planet's hit series CALL OF THE WILDMAN returns this summer for a second "snapperlicious" season with 20 brand-new episodes, featuring the bare-handed, backwoods, animal-trapping skills of "Turtleman" Ernie Brown, Jr. For the past three decades, Turtleman has been diving into Kentucky's murkiest ponds in search of feisty snapping turtles capable of biting through bone. Turtleman has the uncanny ability to catch monster-snapping turtles and other pesky critters with his bare hands and to return them into the wild unscathed. Now busier than ever, Turtleman and his crew of backwoods buddies, featuring banjo-toting Neal James, are back to protect Kentucky homes and businesses from new and even wilder varmints including coyotes, llamas, venomous snakes, pigeons, skunks, raccoons and even bulls! And with winter quickly approaching, a little cold weather isn't going to stop this turtle team from seeking out critters in new and exotic locations. Ernie and Neal are the ultimate out-of-water turtles, expanding their live-action repertoire across state lines to Texas and out of the country for their first international animal rescue. No job is too tough or dangerous for Turtleman, and his years of bonding with wild animals allow him to use his animal instincts to save them.
UNIVERSE
Animal Planet's entertaining blend of animal-centric programming helped it become one of the fastest-growing new cable television networks ever. It now reaches more than 96 million households (Nielsen Universe Estimate, March 2013)
RESEARCH
Among U.S. consumers, Animal Planet ranks among the top-20 media brands in terms of overall equity out of 92 television media brands measured. Animal Planet also places among the top-20 media brands based on trust. [Equitrend, 2011]
In Q1, 2013, Animal Planet achieved its best-ever first quarter among major demos in prime, reeling in 316K P25-54, 283K P18-49 and 164K M25-54. In prime and total day, the Planet captured 695K and 447K P2+ viewers, respectively, for the quarter. Continuing its streak from 2012, Animal Planet ranks among the top-20, ad-supported cable networks based on M25-54 delivery in first quarter (#18).
The strong first quarter followed Animal Planet's best year ever. In 2012, the network achieved its most-watched year in network history in prime among HH (476K), P25-54 (292K), P18-49 (269K) and M25-54 (157K). Animal Planet also posted its most-watched year ever in total day among P2+ viewers (434K), HH (342K), P25-54 (190K), P18-49 (181K) and M25-54 (95K).
COMMERCE
Building on the success of the network, Animal Planet consumer products continue to grow having received the U.S. Corporate Brand of the Year Award from the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA) in 2011. Animal Planet merchandise reaches consumers through its unique products including kid's toys, pet products and lifestyle goods. From hit shows and DVDs to AnimalPlanetStore.com and licensed-branded products available at retailers nationwide, the value of the Animal Planet brand is reflected throughout its product lines. Leveraging the success of the hit series River Monsters, Animal Planet launched a complete line of fishing gear at retailers nationwide, in addition to the two books published and fan site on AnimalPlanetStore.com. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of branded merchandise goes to the principle partners of R.O.A.R. (Reach Out. Act. Respond), dedicated to improving the lives of animals in our communities and in the wild.
R.O.A.R. (Reach Out. Act. Respond)
Animal Planet has partnered with leading animal organizations through R.O.A.R (Reach Out. Act. Respond.) to inspire viewers to take action and be a voice for animals. The campaign aligns Animal Planet with a powerful roster of leading animal and environmental organizations.
In February 2013, R.O.A.R. partnered with Petfinder foundation to produce several public service announcements (PSA) promoting their "One Picture can Save a Pet" initiative. The PSAs feature My Cat From Hell's Jackson Galaxy and the Pit Boss',Shorty Rossi, and encourage individuals to volunteer at local shelters and take appealing photos of adoptable pets.
EXECUTIVES
Marjorie Kaplan, President and General Manager, Animal Planet Media, President, Science Channel & Velocity
MEDIA CONTACTS
Patricia Kollappallil, Senior Vice President, Communications
Ph: 240-662-2969 E: Patricia_Kollappallil@discovery.com
Brian Eley, Senior Director, Communications
Ph: 212-548-5153 E: Brian_Eley@discovery.com
Tahli Kouperstein, Director, Communications
Ph: 240-662-2221 E: Tahli_Kouperstein@discovery.com
Karin Failla, Director, Publicity
Ph: 310-975-5904 E: Karin_Failla@discovery.com
Jared Albert, Publicist
Ph: 212-548-5390 E: Jared_Albert@discovery.com
Matthew Windsor, Publicist
Ph: 240-662-6781 E: Matthew_Windsor@discovery.com
Grace Suriel, Manager, Social Media and Strategy
Ph: 240-662-5781 E: Grace_Suriel@discovery.com
Bonita Lynch, Communications Consultant
Ph: 347-306-2774 E: bonita@bonitalynchpr.com
PARENT COMPANY: Discovery Communications, LLC. Silver Spring, MD
BROADCAST HOURS: 24 hours per day
LAUNCH DATE: October 1, 1996
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