NIK WALLENDA SUCCESSFULLY CROSSES THE 'WINDY CITY' OF CHICAGO ON DISCOVERY
November 2, 2014
FOOTAGE OF NIK WALLENDA CROSSING CHICAGO SKYLINE CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE: http://premieretvmedia.com/Client/Discovery/WallendaWalk/
PHOTOS OF NIK WALLENDA CROSSING CHICAGO SKYLINE CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE: https://discovery.box.com/s/fpxtoyjd2d47lthkc3im
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014
NIK WALLENDA SUCCESSFULLY CROSSES THE 'WINDY CITY' OF CHICAGO ON DISCOVERY
(Chicago, Ill.) -Nik Wallenda, "The King of the Highwire," made history today after successfully crossing the "Windy City" of Chicago on a tightrope without a net or tether. Discovery Channel captured every heart-pounding moment live as he made the two-part walk in one of the windiest sections of Chicago at night. SKYSCRAPER LIVE WITH NIK WALLENDA aired live across the United States and in more than 220 countries and territories on Sunday, Nov. 2, on Discovery and was hosted by NBC News' Willie Geist, Natalie Morales and The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore.
"It was such an incredible feeling to do this walk in Chicago. The city holds a special place in my heart and have dreamed about doing this ever since I was a kid," said the 35-year-old Wallenda. "I feel blessed to have this opportunity and would like to thank everyone in the city of Chicago along with the Discovery Channel for trusting in my abilities."
"Nik is an inspiration to so many people around the world to follow their dreams," said Marjorie Kaplan, Group President of Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet. "We are proud to have showcased his unique talents for so many people around the world to see."
"We are honored to have produced this historic live event in Chicago for Discovery," said Sharon Scott, President and GM of NBC News' Peacock Productions. "This was a remarkable project to collaborate on and we congratulate Nik on this enormous accomplishment."
For the first of the two-part walk, Nik crossed more than two city blocks uphill at a 19-degree angle - approximately 8 stories - making it the steepest walk he's ever attempted and the highest skyscraper crossing in the history of the famed Wallenda family. The walk stretched from the iconic Marina City's west tower to the Leo Burnett Building at more than 50 stories high above the Chicago River.
After completing the first part of the walk, Wallenda said, "That's the hardest part of what I do, is waiting to go. I want to go. I want to get on that wire. I want to get across to the other side."
For the second part of the walk - spanning from the Marina City's west tower to the east tower - Nik added a blindfold, making it the first time he's ever attempted such a feat.
"I think you probably saw me shaking like a leaf," Wallenda said after the blindfold part of the walk was successfully completed. "That wire was shaking underneath me and I just wanted to make it to the other side."
Nik is a seventh generation member of the famed Wallenda family and dedicated today's walk to his great-grandfather, the legendary Karl Wallenda, who died after falling from a tightrope in Puerto Rico in 1978.
Nik earned two world records for his Chicago high-wire walk - one for the steepest incline and another for the highest walk while blindfolded. With today's walk, Nik now has 10 world records including the 2013 tightrope walk across the Grand Canyon which aired live on Discovery.
Discovery Channel shared insight about Nik, his family and training through videos, pictures, #SkyscraperLive Tweets and more. In addition, viewers got a front row seat to the event at SkyscraperLive.com. Available in 14 languages, the site brought viewers from around the world to Chicago. With additional camera angles from the walk and a live backstage show with host Chris Jacobs, SkyscraperLive.com took viewers behind-the-scenes as Wallenda attempted his most thrilling high wire walk yet.
SKYSCRAPER LIVE WITH NIK WALLENDA is produced by Peacock Productions for Discovery with Gretchen Eisele, Colleen Halpin, Knute Walker, Benjamin Ringe and Betsy Wagner serving as executive producers. Sharon Scott is President and GM of Peacock Productions. Executive Producers for Discovery Channel are Howard Swartz and Denise Contis. Other Executive Producers include Nik Wallenda, David Simone, Winston Simone and Shelley Ross. To learn more, go to SkyscraperLive.com on Facebook at Facebook.com/discovery and on Twitter @Discovery.
SATELITE FEED COORDINATES FOR FOOTAGE OF NIK WALLENDA CROSSING CHICAGO SKYLINE:
Sunday, November 2nd: 10:15pm-11:15pm (ET) / 7:15pm-8:15pm (PT)
Monday, November 3rd: 3:00am-4:00am (ET) / 12:00am-1:00am (PT)
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For Satellite Feed Trouble, call the Transmission Facility at (310) 287-3800. *Broadcasters Please Credit Discovery Channel
About Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 210 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 pay-TV programmer reaching 2.7 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity, engaging and entertaining viewers with high-quality content on worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery and Science, as well as U.S. joint venture network OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Discovery also controls Eurosport International, a premier sports entertainment group, including six pay-TV network brands across Europe and Asia. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, through Discovery Education, and a digital leader with a diversified online portfolio, including Discovery Digital Networks. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
Press Contacts:
U.S.:
Laurie Goldberg, laurie_goldberg@discovery.com, 310-975-1631
Phil Zimmerman, phil_zimmerman@discovery.com, 310-975-5975
Jackie Lamaj, jackie_lamaj@discovery.com, 212-548-5607
International:
Brian Eley, brian_eley@discovery.com, 212-548-5153
Katie Grant, Katie_Grant@discovery.com, 240-662-2707