Discovery Communications' 2009-10 Upfront News Releases
April 2, 2009
Below please find Discovery Communications 2009-10 Upfront news releases. All information is embargoed until 3:30 PM (ET) on Thursday, April 2, 2009. Art can be found at www.press.discovery.com. Click on U.S. and choose network. Please contact Alison Rudnick (646-823-3897 or alison_rudnick@discovery.com) for more information. Thank you.
News Release Headlines (full text follows):
Discovery Channel
THE WONDROUS, THE ADVENTUROUS, THE CURIOUS; DISCOVERY CHANNEL'S 2009-10 UPFRONT SLATE IS FILLED WITH CAPTIVATING SERIES AND SPECIALS
TLC
TLC LAUNCHES INTO UPFRONT WITH RATINGS GROWTH AND A PROGRAMMING SLATE THAT'S ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY
TLC ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE BIOGRAPHY OF CAPT. SULLENBERGER BRACE FOR IMPACT TELLS THE REMARKABLE STORY OF SULLY AND FLIGHT 1549
Animal Planet
ANIMAL PLANET UNLEASHES BOLD ENTERTAINMENT SLATE IN 2009-10 UPFRONT SEASON
Travel Channel
TRAVEL CHANNEL ENTERS 2009-10 UPFRONT SEASON WITH RECORD RATINGS, POPULAR RETURNING SERIES AND NEW PROGRAMS THAT OFFER A MULTITUDE OF BRAND EXTENSIONS AND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network
OWN: THE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK GIVES SNEAK PEEK OF NEW NETWORK DEDICATED TO LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE
Investigation Discovery
INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY'S 2009-10 UPFRONT PROGRAMMING SLATE SATISFIES AUDIENCES WHO CRAVE MYSTERIES AND APPRECIATE GRIPPING STORYTELLING
Science Channel
SCIENCE CHANNEL ANNOUNCES LARGEST INVESTMENT IN ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING IN NETWORK HISTORY
Discovery Health
DISCOVERY HEALTH CELEBRATES 10 YEARS WITH PROGRAMMING THAT MATTERS
Military Channel
MILITARY CHANNEL HONORS SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN WITH UPFRONT PROGRAMMING SLATE DEDICATED TO ELITE UNITS, ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND HEARTWARMING HOMECOMINGS
HD Theater
HD UPFRONT PROGRAMMING FACT SHEET
Full Text News Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2009
CONTACT: Elizabeth Hillman: 240-662-2664
Elizabeth_Hillman@discovery.com
-OR- Joshua Weinberg: 240-662-5274
Joshua_Weinberg@discovery.com
THE WONDROUS, THE ADVENTUROUS, THE CURIOUS;
DISCOVERY CHANNEL'S 2009-10 UPFRONT SLATE IS FILLED
WITH CAPTIVATING SERIES AND SPECIALS
(New York, NY)-Discovery Channel announces a bold Upfront slate with specials and series that illuminate nonfiction television's brightest minds and most captivating talent. The network's high-quality slate combines blockbuster natural history programming, returning favorites and mind-bending explorations of our cosmos.
"Discovery Channel is laser focused on creating the most exciting content you can find on any platform," said John Ford, president and general manager, Discovery Channel. "We ensure our leadership position by continuing to provide innovative and captivating stories that keep our audiences coming back for more."
The highlights of Discovery Channel's 2009-2010 Upfront schedule include the following:
SPECIALS
ALASKA WEEK
It's America's last frontier. Twice the size of Texas with mountain ranges, forests and tundra that offer some of the largest stretches of wilderness, and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. However, wild predators, violent storms, and below freezing temperatures make Alaska a very dangerous place to live, and explain why so much of the land has yet to be explored. ALASKA WEEK brings viewers as close as imaginably possible with special Alaska editions of some of Discovery's favorite series as well specials that explore the breadth and depth of this vast terrain.
BEFORE AMERICA
Can you picture our cities millions of years ago? Mammoths marching down New York's Fifth Avenue, car-sized armadillos decimating downtown Dallas and giant mega-sharks patrolling the waters of our nation's capital. It's not sci-fi fantasy, it's our history. This is BEFORE AMERICA, the ultimate guide to de-evolution. With a compelling, creative mix of special effects and meticulous research, BEFORE AMERICA reveals the extinct creatures that once called our cities home, taking viewers on a fantastic journey in rewind to a place of ferocious beasts and startling topography.
DISCOVERY ATLAS
The Emmy®-award winning HD program returns with all new locales exploring the essence of the world's most colorful and unique regions. Expanding on its first season, the specials reveal Africa's stunning Great Rift Valley, the Mediterranean and the Hawaiian Islands using CGI and 4D to time travel forwards and backwards. Whether it's showing mountains form or going deep into the Earth's core, DISCOVERY ATLAS connects the geological to the historical, the meteorological to the personal, presenting an unparalleled portrait of some of Earth's most interesting locations.
ENGINEERING THE UNIVERSE
How is the universe put together? How is it built? And how does it actually work? Our cosmos is a fascinating place. It's so finely balanced-so finely "engineered"-that its existence is a feat unto itself. With a cast of experts and eye-popping CGI, ENGINEERING THE UNIVERSE looks under the celestial hood to tell the greatest story of all-where we came from. This is your ultimate guide to the cosmos.
LIFE
From the Emmy®-award winning team that brought you the critically acclaimed PLANET EARTH comes LIFE. From the small but mighty to the gargantuan yet ingenious, this is the definitive exploration of earth's most spectacular living creatures. LIFE captures stories that reveal the world's most spectacular and fascinating animal behavior. Driven by the endless struggle to survive, wildlife is filmed on every continent and in every habitat across the world, with each drama-filled episode entirely dedicated to one of the planet's 10 most important wildlife groups.
MEGA BEASTS
Imagine the most ferocious animals of all time reconstructed to reveal their awesome size, intriguing anatomy and most of all, terrifying power. MEGA BEASTS reconstructs the incredible creatures that once roamed our planet, using fossil remains and mechanical demonstrations to illustrate their formidable largesse. From the Argentinasaurus, the biggest dinosaur ever, whose multiple hearts pumped blood all the way up its 40-foot long neck to the Megalodon's monstrous eight-foot jaws of terror, these once extinct titans will come forward into the modern world.
RAGING PLANET 2
Explore the power and the beauty of our planet's natural phenomenon. RAGING PLANET 2 returns to the scene of the spectacular, traveling to the ends of the earth with all new footage of eruptions, storms, floods and fire. These events continue to shape our natural world, but how and why? RAGING PLANET 2 illustrates how these forces with their power and magnitude are part of a larger picture of interdependence. See how these violent forces of nature have shaped our earth through the ages and how they are still to be reckoned with even today.
STEPHEN HAWKING'S UNIVERSE
More than 20 years after writing the groundbreaking A Brief History of Time, Discovery Channel delves into the mind of the world's most famous living scientist and reveals the splendor and majesty of the universe as never seen before. Hawking will offer a fresh perspective on the mysteries of the cosmos, charting the history of the universe, from the awe-inspiring energy of the big bang to the end of time itself. Accessible and entertaining, STEPHEN HAWKING'S UNIVERSE tackles some of the greatest mysteries of the cosmos-How did the universe begin and how will it end? Are we alone? And is time travel possible?
SHARK WEEK
Every summer they return, slashing through a sea of competition to rack up new ratings successes. Grab the scuba gear and climb into the cage, because it's time for SHARK WEEK! Great whites. Hammerheads. Whale sharks. This consistent audience pleaser never fails to reveal remarkable new insights into these magnificent and elusive creatures.
TREASURE QUEST
With the underwater technologies that put viewers in the front seat of the exploration, TREASURE QUEST reveals the history and mystery of some of the most legendary shipwrecks of all time. Odyssey Marine Exploration's team of scientists, engineers, historians, and technicians all have one goal in mind -- to find and recover lost treasures scattered among thousands of centuries-old shipwrecks -- and become rich in the process.
LONG RUNNING SERIES
DEADLIEST CATCH
Alaskan crab-wranglers fight the most dangerous working conditions, including 40-foot waves and 80-mile-per-hour winds, in the gripping 10-part series DEADLIEST CATCH. Far in the Bering Sea's frigid waters, 250 boats tempt fate and nature in "The Last Rodeo" season trying to bring in a season's catch of the highly coveted and lucrative Alaskan king crab.
DIRTY JOBS
Host and everyman Mike Rowe gets the grimy scoop on downright nasty, but vital, occupations in DIRTY JOBS. Rowe could be processing smelly seafood in a fish factory, collecting bat guano for prized fertilizer or cleaning septic tanks to maintain a fresh-smelling environment. His apprenticeship never ends as he learns from those who keep our world running smoothly.
MAN VS. WILD
Adventurer Bear Grylls is put to the ultimate test. Left in the middle of nowhere, Grylls employs his encyclopedic knowledge of nature to scavenge for food and keep his body in order. Headache? Grylls searches for pain-relieving plants. Hunger? He eats maggots in the Rocky Mountains or a fresh-killed zebra on Africa's savanna. No matter the climate or locale, Grylls is up to the task.
MYTHBUSTERS
Back and better than ever, MYTHBUSTERS continues its mad scientific quest to discover the truth behind popular myths and urban legends. Hosted by quirky special effects experts Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, this mentally tantalizing series takes on the myths and uses modern-day science to show what's real and what's fiction.
STORM CHASERS
Changing weather patterns, colliding air masses and 700,000 square miles of flatland create the ideal conditions for storm chasing. It's become the annual rite of spring for a motley collection of scientists, enthusiasts and eccentrics. Follow extreme filmmaker Sean Casey and thrill-seeking meteorologist Reed Timmer on the trail of Mother Nature's deadliest and most violent creations.
TIME WARP
The invisible becomes visible as MIT scientist and engineer Jeff Lieberman reveals our world in astonishing and spectacular new ways by radically changing the lens of time. Time bending and mind blowing, the series enables viewers to see and appreciate things that are normally beyond our senses because they take place much too quickly or slowly. A punch to the face, the break of a matchstick-each frame will tell an extraordinary story of what really is happening.
AMERICAN LOGGERS
One family. Thousands of acres. Endless challenges to keeping their business afloat. Meet the Pelletiers-nine brothers balancing family feuds with nature's harsh realities as they timber harvest in Maine's rural northwest backcountry. Throughout the year, the Pelletier brothers run monster trucks along the legendary logging route known as the "Golden Road," a desolate thruway serving as sole passage between the farthest outskirts of rural civilization and a breathtaking unconquered wilderness that constitutes the single largest swath of unprotected forest east of the Mississippi.
HOW STUFF WORKS
Did you know 99% of the world's corn harvest is inedible? Or that wheat can (and does) often explode?! Or that the sides of a beer can are thinner than a human hair? We're surrounded by a world we take for granted. The real stories about the commodities that fill our lives and how they work are fascinating tales, filled with amazing and unexpected details. From the ground to your table, car, closet, medicine cabinet and places you may have never imagined find out HOW STUFF WORKS.
About Discovery Channel
DISCOVERY CHANNEL (DSC) is dedicated to creating the highest quality nonfiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which reaches 98.1 million viewers in the United States, can be seen in over 170 countries, 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 of the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications is the world's number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
For more information and artwork, please log on to www.press.discovery.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 2, 2008
CONTACT: Laurie Goldberg: 310-975-1631
laurie_goldberg@discovery.com
TLC LAUNCHES INTO UPFRONT WITH RATINGS GROWTH AND A PROGRAMMING SLATE THAT'S ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY
(Los Angeles, CA.) - TLC heads into the 2009-2010 Upfront season with six consecutive months of year-over-year prime delivery growth among households and P2+ and seven consecutive months of year-over-year gains among women 18-34. Year-to-date TLC is a top 10 ad-supported cable network.
Anchored by strong Monday nights, TLC continues to build on its ratings momentum with a robust slate of programming featuring real-life content, insightful experts and authentic characters that delivers an unmatched connection to our viewers.
"Viewers come to TLC to meet remarkable people in extra-ordinary circumstances. Our authentic characters draw people in and their relatability keeps them watching," says Eileen O'Neill, president and general manager, TLC. "In television, we're always looking for the next generation. In addition to expanding our family and relationship properties, the upfront line-up reenergizes popular genres that capture life's biggest moments."
Building on the success of JON & KATE PLUS 8 and LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG WORLD, TLC introduces TABLE FOR 12 and THE LITTLE COUPLE, as well as more than 19 new series in 2009-10. Whether it's restoring a house, transforming a wardrobe, growing a family or going to the altar - TLC is committed to programs that engage, inspire and inform.
The highlights of TLC's 2009-10 Upfront schedule include the following:
FAMILY
New Series
THE LITTLE COUPLE
Picking up where the successful special LITTLE PEOPLE JUST MARRIED left off, viewers will continue on the adventure of Bill Klein and Jen Arnold - your average newlyweds, except for the fact that they are both under 4 feet tall! Each episode will follow as they embark on their new life together and watch as the couple face the struggles of two little people in an average sized world, handle the stress of relocation and high-profile careers, and weigh the risks of planning a family.
TABLE FOR 12
When Eric and Betty Hayes decided to start a family, they never fathomed they would one day be the parents of three sets of multiples, totaling ten children. TLC traces this clan's daily experiences and often times chaotic outings in the new series TABLE FOR 12. Eric and Betty's brood consists of 12-year-old twin boys Kevin and Kyle, 10-year-old twins Kieran and Meghan, and 4-year-old sextuplets Tara, Rachel, Ryan, Connor, EJ and Rebecca, who has cerebral palsy and is extremely special to the family. Eric -- a funny and dynamic police officer, and Betty -- a modest and loving stay-at-home mom, are admired and praised by their family and friends.
Returning Series
A BABY STORY (Daytime Series)
A BABY STORY captures the experience of having a baby from the early preparation to the delivery room, revealing the emotional, physical, and social aspects of giving birth. The parents-to-be range in age, circumstances and method of childbirth they've chosen - but the stories all have the same ending...a happy, healthy baby!
18 KIDS AND COUNTING
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar love their family-and the bigger the better, in their opinion. In this new season of 18 KIDS AND COUNTING the Duggar clan has expanded at both ends: oldest son Josh is now living nearby with his new bride, and the family welcomed its eighteenth member with the new year. Laundry, cooking, cleaning and parenting take on army-sized proportions in this heartwarming new season.
JON & KATE PLUS 8
Entering its fifth season, each episode of JON & KATE PLUS 8 illustrates how even the most mundane of events can become an outrageous ordeal when trying to wrangle eight children at once. With incredible honesty and an amazing ability to laugh at themselves and each other, Jon and Kate share with their audience the struggles and triumphs of raising two sets of multiples. They are the first to admit that it is far from easy, but are also the first to tell you that every single stressful day is worth the reward of family.
LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG WORLD
TLC's hit series LITTLE PEOPLE BIG WORLD, currently in its fourth season, features Matt and Amy Roloff, both little people, and their four children - only one of which is also a dwarf. The series is an ongoing real-life story of the Roloff family, providing a unique and candid portrait of American family life, capturing their everyday successes and struggles, and presenting an intimate view of life as a little person.
WEDDINGS
New Series
EAT, DRINK AND BE MARRIED (WT)
EAT, DRINK AND BE MARRIED (WT), is a series that TLC is launching in partnership with Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos' Milojo Productions. The series follows The Frungillo family as they run their wedding empire. They own and operate four of the most successful catering facilities that go to extreme lengths to make a bride and groom's dream come true. The series will get to know each couple and follow their journey from booking the event to the wedding night itself. The Frungillo family pride themselves on being the best at bringing people together. They have served everyone from Sinatra to the Pope, but what matters most is the look in the bride's eyes at the end of the night when her childhood dream has come true.
WEDDED TO PERFECTION
The most important day of one's life can also be the craziest and most stressful. Cue the flowers, music and lights as WEDDED TO PERFECTION, TLC's newest special, premieres. The series follows the charismatic owners of Fete Events, spouses Jung Lee and Josh Brooks as they plan and execute some of the most high- end weddings and special events in New York City.
WILD WEDDINGS
WILD WEDDINGS provides a light-hearted look at the outrageous, amusing and out-of-control moments that happen when the big day doesn't go as planned. This six part series looks at the flops, the fiascos, gaffs and the mishaps that make a wedding unforgettable and it's all caught on tape.
Returning Series
SAY YES TO THE DRESS
SAY YES TO THE DRESS brings the viewer into the inner workings of the world's premiere bridal salon, Kleinfeld Bridal. Each half-hour episode is part fashion show, part bridal story, and part family therapy, as we uncover the hurdles every staff member faces to make each bride completely satisfied on what may be the single most important day of her life. Watch as a team of specialists guides three brides through the process of selecting, fitting, altering and delivering each flawless dress in time for the perfect day.
FASHION
New Series
FREAKIN FABULOUS WITH CLINTON KELLY (WT)
After years of helping style-challenged people find their inner fashionista, Clinton is now branching out to help people find their inner fabulousness. Based on his book "Freakin' Fabulous - How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate, and Generally Be Better Than Everyone Else," we'll follow Clinton on his crazed schedule of speaking engagements and public appearances... and along the way he will meet people he just can't stop himself from helping. Whether preparing for a dinner party for special guests or dressing for an important interview, Clinton will bring his special brand of truthfullness and advice to help spread fabulousness across America.
MAKING OVER AMERICA WITH TRINNY & SUSANNAH
Renowned British style experts and the original UK hosts of WHAT NOT TO WEAR Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine bring their stellar expertise and charming wit to TLC to help Americans get the makeovers they deserve. In MAKING OVER AMERICA WITH TRINNY AND SUSANNAH, the duo experience true American culture as they visit some of the country's hardest working women to offer much needed fashion tools that will help transform their lives.
Returning Series
WHAT NOT TO WEAR
Friends and family members nominate a poorly dressed loved one and ask the show to make them over. TLC resident fashion experts and series hosts Stacy London and Clinton Kelly ambush the fashion victim and make them an offer they can't refuse, a $5,000 shopping spree in NYC in exchange for their existing wardrobe. Stacy and Clinton will help the fashion-challenged find their style and give them an entirely new outlook on life.
PROPERTY
New Series
THE GENERAL (WT)
In THE GENERAL, viewers meet Summer Baltzer, an interior designer turned contractor - she may look like the all-American girl next door, but she runs the family business with an iron fist in a velvet glove. From shoddily built kitchens to abandoned home additions, her team does the impossible in just seven days - turns botched contracting jobs into dream homes. All the while, sparks fly between the family members as they struggle to take orders from their daughter/sister while wanting to fulfill her vision to get the job done right
RESTORER GUY
Gable Painter (yes, that's his real name) brings new life to old structures in RESTORER GUY. A meticulous and obsessive home restoration expert, Gable Painter and his team get their hands dirty restoring historic homes in an effort to bring America back to its former beauty one house at a time.
STAGER INVASION
Our host and staging expert Lisa Lynch helps desperate homeowners by bringing in a team of property experts to stage and help sell their house quickly and for the highest price possible. With a limited time and small budget, Lisa and her team will prepare the house using mostly items the homeowners already have. With a challenge like this anything can happen!
Returning Series
MOVING UP
Have you ever wondered what happens to your home once you move out? Follow new homeowners who move into one another's homes as they renovate and redecorate. After completion, the old homeowners get the chance to visit their old homes and rate the changes.
REAL ESTATE PROS
REAL ESTATE PROS takes viewers inside the world of Trademark Properties for an eye-opening and unapologetic look at the world of real estate. Headed by the quick-thinking, fast-talking Richard C. Davis, the company faces one of the toughest real estate climates and tells clients and viewers how to thrive in a down market.
OTHER SERIES
New Series
CAKE BOSS
Buddy Valastro is one of the most successful and renowned cake artists in the United States. Master baker of Carlo's City Hall Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey, Buddy is the cake boss, supervising a team that includes his mother, four older sisters and three brothers-in-law. And when you're working with family on a daily basis, there is bound to be a lot of drama, but also a lot of love. Each half-hour episode shows off Buddy's amazing skills as he works to achieve his late father's dream of making Carlo's Bake Shop a household name.
MOM INC. (WT)
TLC has joined forces with HSN and Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos' Milojo Productions to launch MOM, INC. (WT), a new series that helps struggling entrepreneurs turn an innovative idea into a lucrative business. HSN, in collaboration with TLC and Milojo, will find the most promising women across the country for this life-changing experience. Each of these budding business women will have the chance to prove that they have what it takes to get their very own creations sold on HSN - every inventor's dream come true. Ripa will appear in each episode selecting a product and sending her expert into the field to put the would-be moguls through a series of tasks meant to get their product ready for the masses.
THE POLICE WOMEN PROJECT (WT)
THE POLICE WOMEN PROJECT is a one-hour docu-series following a diverse group of five incredible women working in the Broward County Florida Sheriff's Office. It's a riveting look at women of law enforcement who respond to 911 calls, bust gangsters, serve warrants, go on car chases and participate in undercover sting operations. Besides being deputies in a man's world, they are also mothers, sisters, girlfriends and wives. Balancing their personal lives with a career that comes with the real risk of not making it home every day is a constant challenge. Ride along with these tough-as-nails female deputies as they put their lives on the line to protect and serve...and to make Florida a safer place.
ULTIMATE CAKE-OFF
The business of baking has been heating up all over the country. Customers are no longer happy with a nice, three-tiered, white frosting concoction at their wedding, and bakers are heeding the call by designing cakes that will take your breath away. Whether it's a miniature replica of the gazebo where he proposed, or a stack of what looks to be perfectly wrapped gifts... these cakes are created by true artisans. In this series we will see the top bakers in the country battle it out to design the biggest, most outrageous, and breathtaking cakes
Returning Series
AMERICAN CHOPPER
Still riding strong in its sixth season, AMERICAN CHOPPER follows the action at Orange County Choppers (OCC), the world-famous custom motorcycle family business run by Paul Teutul Sr. and his fiery sons, Paul Teutul Jr. and Mikey. As always, creating eye-popping bikes is a big part of show-but this season, the real story is the mounting tension between Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. The duo is known for arguing over deadlines and designs, but now, viewers see the situation explode in a confrontation that results in serious damage not only to the family shop, but to their personal relationship.
LA INK
For decades, the tattoo industry has been dominated by men, but TLC's popular series LA INK shatters the glass ceiling bringing the most respected female tattoo artists in the business together to work at the hottest tattoo shop in LA.
TODDLERS & TIARAS
Each week, TODDLERS & TIARAS takes viewers inside the world of youth pageantry to witness the demanding lifestyles of these pint-sized beauties. Every hour-long episode follows a different group of contestants, vying for a coveted crown. This intriguing series showcases the traditional elements of child pageants, jam-packed with stage moms and dads, hair extensions, spray tanning, makeup and glitter. Moreover, this series also features extremely non-traditional and modern aspects of the pageant scene, from girls entering the competitive landscape with less makeup and a more natural look, to child beauty pageants featuring only boys in the competition.
STREET CUSTOMS
STREET CUSTOMS highlights the talents of car customizing star Ryan Friedlinghaus and his unorthodox approach to managing his West Coast Customs family of artisans and techniques.
SPECIALS/EVENTS
BRACE FOR IMPACT
This one-hour is a documentary of Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger, III, the pilot who rose to national acclaim when he successfully landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. The documentary explores what Sully was thinking and doing during the headline-making event, and also reveals a life of extraordinary preparation that enabled the Captain and his crew to save the lives of the 155 people on board that flight. The special, produced by Daniel H. Birman Productions Inc., revisits the circumstances of that fateful day, and shows the flight from Captain Sullenberger's perspective.
MISS AMERICA 2010
In 2008, TLC delivered a bold new look for Miss America, ushering her into the modern era. Ratings soared. The Miss America 2008 audience jumped 18% and the median age fell to 37 - a drop of 7 years. In 2008 and 2009, TLC added twists to the Miss America format, creating buzz, modernizing the pageant and involving America. Our plans for 2010 are still under wraps, but be assured that once again TLC will add a new, unique twist to this American institution.
TWINS (WT)
People are endlessly fascinated by multiples-and TLC owns that category on television, hands down. But what makes identical multiples tick? This one-hour special produced for TLC by the BBC brings to light the latest information and insights from a groundbreaking 20-year study of identical twins in the United States and the United Kingdom.
About TLC
TLC's innovative docu-series and reality-based programming include favorites Jon & Kate Plus 8, Little People, Big World, What Not to Wear, 18 Kids and Counting, and LA Ink. TLC defined home design with Trading Spaces and continues to renovate the genre. TLC's daytime lineup includes the Emmy Award-winning A Baby Story. The channel is available in more than 97 million homes in the US, nearly 8 million homes in Canada and through the website at www.tlc.com. TLC is part of Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 2, 2008
CONTACT: Laurie Goldberg: 310-975-1631
laurie_goldberg@discovery.com
Dustin Smith: 310-975-1640
Dustin_smith@discovery.com
TLC ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE BIOGRAPHY OF CAPT. SULLENBERGER
BRACE FOR IMPACT tells the remarkable story of Sully and Flight 1549
New York, NY - April 2, 2009 - TLC announced today that it has secured the exclusive rights to BRACE FOR IMPACT, a biographic documentary of Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger, III. Sullenberger rose to national acclaim when he successfully landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. The documentary, set to air in late 2009, explores what Sully was thinking and doing during the headline-making event, and also reveals a life of extraordinary preparation that enabled the Captain and his crew to save the lives of the 155 people on board that flight.
"It isn't often we can accurately use the word 'hero' to describe an individual, but it is the best possible description for Capt. Sullenberger," said Eileen O'Neill, President and GM of TLC. "The awe-inspiring events of that day are matched with a compelling and fascinating personal history. Telling this remarkable story of an ordinary man who rose to an extraordinary challenge is a perfect fit for our network."
The special, produced by Daniel H. Birman Productions Inc., revisits the circumstances of that fateful day, and shows the flight from Captain Sullenberger's perspective. Sullenberger, who safely landed a fully loaded and crippled aircraft in the midst of one of the world's most densely populated cities, shares some of the experiences that prepared him for greatest test of his life. "Sully and I spoke shortly after the incident. What impressed me is that his personal story is not about heroism, rather, it's about being the best we can be - no matter what we do," said Dan Birman, the show's producer.
"The lessons of Flight 1549 will likely be studied for years by aviation professionals," said Captain Sullenberger. "I'm eager to share this story and the remarkable safety record of American commercial aviation with the general public, and I trust that this documentary will help serve that goal."
About TLC
TLC's innovative docu-series and reality-based programming include favorites Jon & Kate Plus 8, Little People, Big World, What Not to Wear, 18 Kids and Counting, and LA Ink. TLC defined home design with Trading Spaces and continues to renovate the genre. TLC's daytime lineup includes the Emmy Award-winning A Baby Story. The channel is available in more than 97 million homes in the US, nearly 8 million homes in Canada and through the website at www.tlc.com. TLC is part of Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2009
CONTACT: Patricia Kollappallil, (240) 662-2969
Patricia_Kollappallil@discovery.com
ANIMAL PLANET UNLEASHES BOLD ENTERTAINMENT SLATE
IN 2009-2010 UPFRONT SEASON
-- Network Announces Most Ambitious Lineup Ever With 24 Original Series --
(NEW YORK, NY)-Riding the wave of last year's successful network rebrand, Animal Planet unveils its boldest slate ever for the 2009-2010 season with 24 original series, including a record 14 returning series-the most in the network's history. With six months of primetime growth and double-digit growth during first quarter in key demos, the Planet's ambitious roster features a broad range of content with an entertainment attitude.
"Last year's rebrand was all about transforming Animal Planet into a multi-dimensional entertainment destination that can compete with the best television," said Marjorie Kaplan, president and general manager of Animal Planet Media. "We've had success in every one of our genres from grand scale docudramas like WHALE WARS and JOCKEYS to our Saturday night pet entertainment to gorgeous natural history. This year's slate builds from there to make us even stronger and more exciting."
From the witty IT'S ME OR THE DOG to the mysterious LOST TAPES, Animal Planet is renewing an unprecedented 14 series including JOCKEYS and WHALE WARS, the network's best performing series ever among Adults 25-54 that also delivered an average of more than a million viewers (1.021M P2+) in its freshman season.
The Planet's foray into dramatic television territory expands with the new docudrama COWBOYS, which follows three family-owned and operated cattle ranches through an entire grueling yet gorgeous season in majestic Montana, and then the real-life "mission impossibles" of venom expert Donald Schultz, whose fearless worldwide pursuit of bio-specimens for groundbreaking scientific discoveries are captured in the new high-octane series BIO RECON. And, in PIT BULLS AND PAROLEES, Tia Torres offers abandoned dogs and forsaken ex-cons a last chance at redemption.
The network's new series roster also builds on the success of its Saturday pet entertainment destination with YouTube sensation Zak George. Man's best friends will have a blast making their owner's lives a whole lot better as Zak turns everyday pet owners and their ordinary pets into awe-inspiring tricksters in FETCH ME A BEER (working title). New Yorker Judi Hoffman has more than a few tricks up her sleeve with her psychic cats, Puffy and Beulah. Animal Planet introduces viewers to the trio's "purrfect" paranormal powers in the JUDI HOFFMAN PROJECT (working title).
Continuing to transform natural history storytelling, the network creates an immersive 360º on-air and online interactive gaming experience in the cutting-edge series IPREDATOR. Watch and play in real time as the show transforms live-action footage into CGI animation and back, allowing viewers to become the predator and experience directly the heart-pounding, most intense moments of animal behavior. Animal Planet takes a different bite out of the natural history genre as it dares to imagine a world where WEREWOLVES are not mythical but an authentic part of today's society in this upcoming two-hour special.
Breathtaking, high-definition natural history takes center stage as Animal Planet reveals the secrets lives of African elephants in THE HERD and LIVING WITH ELEPHANTS. Then tune in to the remarkable three-hour HD television event THE GREAT RIFT, a wildlife journey from the snow-capped mountains of Kilimanjaro to coral reefs of the Red Sea and the savannas of the Serengeti to the rain-soaked forests of the Mountains of the Moon.
Highlights of Animal Planet's 2009-2010 Upfront programs include the following debut series, returning series and specials/stunts:
NEW SERIES (in alphabetical order)
BIO RECON (Winter 2010)
It's one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet, but venom expert Donald Schultz is willing to risk his own life to do it. Whether harvesting venom from the fangs of deadly black mamba in South Africa or collecting new species of deadly jelly fish off the remote coasts of Papua New Guinea, Donald is fearless in the worldwide pursuit of bio-specimens for groundbreaking scientific discoveries. With Donald tearing his way through thick jungle undergrowth or clinging desperately to rock ledges on his nearly impossible missions, the samples that he collects could contain the blueprint for undiscovered antivenins or even a cure for a life-threatening disease. Each mission brings him face to face with the deadliest creatures on earth, and each location offers a series of challenges only he can overcome. It's a race against the clock, but before he can deliver his precious cargo, Donald still will have to make it out alive.
COWBOYS (working title) (Spring 2010)
Set against the majestic backdrop of Montana, COWBOYS follows three family-owned and operated ranches through an entire gorgeous and grueling season, from calving and weaning to cattle drives and auction. From the traditional rancher who does everything by hand and on horseback to the modern ranch that uses high-tech equipment and all-terrain vehicles, each family's fortune depends on the success or failure of the season. Facing unpredictable weather, disease and injuries, thousands of new births and hungry predators waiting for an easy meal, these modern ranches continue the great American tradition of life on the range. COWBOYS is larger-than-life, life-and-death, real-life drama.
FETCH ME A BEER (working title) (Fall 2009)
Too lazy to get off the couch for the pizza delivery guy? Pregnant and can't change the litter box? Need some help hiding the remote from your spouse? Don't worry; your pet's got you covered! With the help of YouTube sensation Zak George, your fluffy pal truly will live up to the title of "man's best friend." Zak can teach anyone to teach any pet to perform any trick. His step-by-step process transforms incapable humans and their ordinary pets into awe-inspiring tricksters while strengthening the bond between them. FETCH ME A BEER does more than teach old dogs new tricks!
IPREDATOR (Winter 2010)
Fight or flight. Kill or be killed. IPREDATOR is an immersive television and real-time interactive gaming experience that puts viewers right in the moment as predators on the hunt for their prey. Using state-of-the art technology, the series transforms live-action footage into intricate models to allow viewers to see animal action like never before in a new genre of visual storytelling. This groundbreaking, intense, riveting natural history series is also an interactive video game where viewers and users can play along in real time at home - truly a 360 degree visceral experience that gives viewers and players the tools, technology and expertise to study the secrets and dispel the myths of the most critical, most intense, most heart-pounding moment of animal behavior.
JUDI HOFFMAN PROJECT (working title) (Winter 2010)
Judi Hoffman is no ordinary New Yorker. Sure, she has the accent. Of course, she's got the no-nonsense attitude. But there's one thing that truly separates her from the other Upper Eastsiders: Judi knows your future, and so do her psychic cats. In her 30 years as a professional psychic, Judi has distinguished herself from the fakes, the kooks and the cheaters by providing accurate and specific predictions by using her secret weapons -- her cats, Puffy and Beulah. Without her purrfect paranormal powers, Judi's readings become clouded and inaccurate. But with their help, just watch... This new series spotlights Judi and her cats as they give readings to strangers on the street, offer romantic predictions at speed-dating events, and even help police fight crime one suspect at a time. In these new adventures, Judi and her kitty cats will charm, astound and push you to believe the impossible.
PIT BULLS AND PAROLEES (Fall 2009)
Two hundred pit bulls--six convicted felons on parole--and 10 dusty acres in the middle of nowhere--Welcome to Villalobos Rescue Center, the crossroads for a chance at redemption, rehabilitation and rebirth for both man and man's best friend. And, at the center of it all is one extraordinary woman - Tia Maria Torres, one of the country's most renowned pit bull trainers and the founder of the center. Follow the fiery drama and unexpected joy in this new series as felons and ill-reputed dogs come together to rescue one another from their dim pasts and bring new meaning to life. Torres works against all odds to save PIT BULLS AND PAROLEES from dangerous and abusive situations and to help repair their reputations and their lives.
THE HERD (Fall 2009)
Nestled at the foot of Africa's tallest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro, 1,200 elephants comprising the largest group of free, wild elephants on earth are fighting for survival on a daily basis. For the first time, THE HERD provides viewers with a sustained, insider's look at the daily dramas and intimate moments of these magnificent giants as they gather at Amboseli National Park in Kenya. From the young babies to the huge bulls to the mature matriarchs that lead each family group, every elephant is identifiable with its own unique character and name just like a human. Each one of Amboseli's elephants is known individually to Cynthia Moss and her team of local Masai, who have studied them for more than 30 years. With the help of Cynthia and her team, viewers follow the elephants over the course of a year as they battle against drought, predators and hunters and welcome new calves into their ranks. With each day bringing a new set of challenges and adventures, witness the extraordinary drama of wild Africa at its best as we follow THE HERD.
WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS TOWNS (TBD)
There are certain regions of the world where civilization and the wild overlap. As more and more humans encroach upon animal habitats, the lines between civilization and the wild are blurring. Increasingly, humans are coming into extremely close contact with some of nature's fiercest predators. Such places include Churchill; Manitoba, where polar bears have threatened the safety of the town's inhabitants; the Sunderbans delta of India, where tigers and citizens dangerously co-exist; and certain regions of Florida, where a full third of the world's shark attacks occur in once-thought "friendly waters." Large predator expert and zoologist Dave Salmoni travels to these treacherous locales to uncover the truth behind the animal attacks, meet the victims, and better understand just why and how these regions have become so hazardous.
RETURNING SERIES
DOGS 101 (Fall 2009)
The most comprehensive - and most endearing -- dog encyclopedia on television is back! With over 200 dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, DOGS 101 will spotlight the adorable, the feisty and the unexpected. A wide-ranging rundown of everyone's favorite dog breeds-from the Airedale Terrier to Zuchon-this series will survey a variety of breeds for their behavioral quirks, genetic history, most famous examples and wildest trivia. Learn which dogs are best for urban living and which ones are most family friendly. Using a mix of animal experts, pop-culture footage and stylized dog photography, DOGS 101 is an unprecedented look at man's best friend.
IT'S ME OR THE DOG (Winter/Spring 2010)
She's baaack and not a moment too soon! British dog-training expert Victoria Stilwell is back for a second season to help American families at the end of their leashes. From unruly retrievers to pampered pugs, Victoria has seen them all - but what about the owners who are forced to live with them? With homes destroyed and marriages in trouble, it's not just the dogs that need help. This series follows Victoria as she tries to restore harmony in homes from Atlanta to Los Angeles, where pets are running riot and the family is in the dog house. Through observation, interviews, filming with a 'pet cam' and reviewing footage of the family on their own with their dog, Victoria uses her more than 20 years of experience to assemble the evidence and diagnose the problem, offering both pet and owner the chance to change the bad habits of a lifetime.
JOCKEYS (Summer/Fall 2009)
Animal Planet returns viewers to the high-stakes world of horse racing with a sophomore season of JOCKEYS. Dominated by ferocious rivalries, fierce bonds and extraordinary risk, the series documents the behind-the-scenes lives of these athletes and their magnificent racehorses. It is a world ruled by 112 lb. men (and women) on 1,200 lb. thoroughbreds-equipped with oversized personalities and big dreams. Bringing back six previously featured jockeys as well as two new jockeys who are at the height of their career, JOCKEYS follows the cut-throat competition at the pristine Santa Anita Race Track, from pre-race jitters to the finish line-and everything in between.
LOST TAPES (Fall 2009)
This first-person, immersive series blurs the line between fact and fiction as it explores deadly encounters with the mysterious creatures that science refuses to recognize. From werewolves to the Jersey Devil and giant, blood sucking parasites, LOST TAPES second season promises nastier creatures and bigger scares with every spine-chilling, dramatic moment caught on camera. Take an intense journey into terror as we find out what goes bump in the night.
MUTUAL OF OMAHA'S WILD KINGDOM (Spring 2010)
In its eighth season, the timeless natural history series MUTUAL OF OMAHA'S WILD KINGDOM returns in stunning high definition on Animal Planet. One of the longest-running series in television history with several decades of epic wildlife drama, MUTUAL OF OMAHA'S WILD KINGDOM is a viewing tradition on Sundays at 7 PM. The series offers viewers unprecedented, high-quality wildlife adventures and storytelling. This season, enter the worlds of killer whales, leopards, polar bears, snakes, lizards and more as they struggle to survive and thrive in the most challenging conditions.
UNTAMED AND UNCUT (Fall 2009)
Always wild, uncensored and raw, Animal Planet's popular, clip-based reality series is back with brand-new episodes. UNTAMED AND UNCUT returns with the most incredible animal encounters ever caught on tape. From heart-stopping attacks to heartwarming rescues, UNTAMED AND UNCUT showcases the stories, the people and the animals whose lives have been forever changed by unbelievable chance encounters. Animal expert testimonies and 3-D computer-generated recreations help deconstruct the extraordinary events and astonishing footage. You won't believe your eyes!
WEIRD, TRUE & FREAKY (Fall 2009)
Snakes in your sewage, albino animals, panthers as pets. ...These rare and bizarre scenaria may sound like punch lines, but this is no laughing matter. It's serious science, and we've got the pictures to prove it! From an entire elementary school being taken over by monkeys to a deer with two tails and six legs, each episode of WEIRD, TRUE & FREAKY tackles a true-life, truly weird animal story. Animal Planet delivers in-depth analysis of the footage and fresh insight from scholars, including Stanford University animal experts Dr. Jill Helms and Dr. Sophia Yin, exotic animal specialist Dave Riherd, and snake wrangler Jason C. McElroy. Surprising, startling, sensational - and 100 percent real.
WHALE WARS (Summer 2010)
Captain Paul Watson and his Sea Shepherd Conservation Society return in another adrenaline-fueled season of WHALE WARS, waging a life-and-death battle to find and stop Japanese ships from hunting whales in the name of research. For several years, Watson and his eclectic group of international staff and volunteers - labeled activists, heroes or eco-pirates -- have taken a hard-line approach to eradicate whaling, poaching, and shark-finning and alleged ocean-law violations. This year's even more dangerous and controversial campaign garnered unprecedented international media attention, raising the stakes for these crusaders and their foes. WHALE WARS follows a masterful chess match at the far end of the globe as both Sea Shepherd and the Japanese whalers engage in an environmental showdown that could cost millions of dollars - all while drawing global attention to the practice of whaling.
SPECIALS AND STUNTS
AKC/EUKANUBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (Winter 2010)
From Long Beach, California, Animal Planet brings viewers the biggest, most exciting dog show of the year - the American Kennel Club/Eukanuba National Championship. This invitation-only event features the world's best dogs, which have competed all year long in the hopes of getting this coveted invitation. Thousands of canines from around the country and across the globe compete, but only one will come away with "Best in Show" honors and the prestige of being named National Champion. Watch all the action in the ring, and go behind the scenes with Animal Planet's exclusive coverage of the most prestigious canine event of the year.
LIVING WITH ELEPHANTS (Spring 2010)
Follow the remarkable stories of magnificent wild elephants living in Kenya's Samburu National Reserve through the eyes of Kenya's ground-breaking Save the Elephants project. With the help of father-daughter duo Iain Douglas-Hamilton and Saba Douglas-Hamilton and young Samburu protégé David Dabalen, this breathtaking documentary explores the secret beguiling world of elephants as never seen before. For the first time, researchers will follow the astonishing, intimate stories of individual elephants as these beautiful giants raise their families, forge alliances and fight for survival.
PUPPY BOWL VI (Winter 2010)
Get set for some serious mayhem! PUPPY BOWL is back for its sixth year with an all-star, all-adorable cast that's ready to mix it up on the grand gridiron of Animal Planet Stadium. Narrated by famed Phillies and NFL films commentator Harry Kalas, PUPPY BOWL VI brings viewers a fantastic lineup that's itching to play in a winning combination of tackles and fumbles, puppy penalties and fido first downs. From baby beagles and bull terriers to everything in between-we've got the cutest players taking the field on Super Bowl Sunday. And that's not all. PUPPY BOWL VI will feature more than a dozen of the cutest kittens you've ever seen in a hilarious Kitten Half-Time Show that's sure to bring down the house.
THE GREAT RIFT (Summer 2010)
Visible from space, the Great Rift runs for thousands of miles. It creates, connects and defines the wildest, most charismatic landscape in the world which spans from the majestic, snow-capped mountains of the Kilimanjaro to the hustle and bustle of the Red Sea's coral reefs. It touches the dry, open savannas of the Serengeti and the rain-soaked forests of the Mountains of the Moon. A new three-hour mini series, THE GREAT RIFT is a journey through the amazing geography of the rift, depicting how the forces of nature have shaped and evolved the landscape in the cradle of mankind.
WEREWOLVES (Fall 2009)
This two-hour special takes a bite out of the natural history documentary genre as it dares to imagine that werewolves aren't a myth but a small segment of today's society. Shot in a faux-documentary style, the world of werewolves is explored as a deeply disturbing murder mystery unraveling within their clan. As the investigation heats up, a picture is painted of every aspect of these creatures' lives - from how they breed to how they remain undetected, all backed up by scientific explanations so plausible that even the hardiest skeptic will struggle to spot where reality ends and fantasy begins.
About Animal Planet
Animal Planet Media (APM), a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications, 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 95 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 #1 pet-related Web property globally that facilitates pet adoption; PetsIncredible, a major producer and distributor of pet-training videos and includes web service PetVideo.com; and other media platforms including a robust Video-on-Demand (VOD) service; mobile content; and merchandising extensions.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications is the world's number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2009
CONTACT: James Ashurst: 301-244-7520
James.Ashurst@travelchannel.com
TRAVEL CHANNEL ENTERS 2009-10 UPFRONT SEASON WITH RECORD RATINGS, POPULAR RETURNING SERIES AND NEW PROGRAMS THAT OFFER A MULTITUDE OF BRAND EXTENSIONS AND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
-- Travel Channel Delivers Double Digit Year-Over-Year Growth in Demo for Both its Primetime Ratings and Audience Delivery for Six Consecutive Months --
The Travel Channel enters the 2009-2010 Upfront Season with seven consecutive years of record audience delivery. In addition, the network has experienced 13 consecutive months of growth in total day delivery (nine of them in double-digits), and six consecutive months of double digit growth in primetime ratings.
"Riding the wave of increased ratings, excitement over our new series and our Catch It! brand platform, as well as the growing buzz among consumers around our hugely popular social media applications, the Travel Channel enters this Upfront season with unprecedented momentum," said Patrick Younge, president and general manager, Travel Channel. "With our entertaining and engaging travel content leading the charge, we've successfully increased our upscale audience delivery 40% year-on-year with adults 25-54 and 18-49, while moving our median age to 45, down five years in the past 12 months alone. Our reach, frequency and duration of viewing is up over 10% in prime among persons 25-54, illustrating that our investment in establishing consistent program offerings across the week and building on the strength of our brand is paying off with consumers. Further, that strength opens a wealth of turn key opportunities for our partners and their brands both onscreen and across our growing list of distribution platforms."
In October 2009, the new travelchannel.com will re-launch offering even more opportunities for partnering through rich media applications and popular fan sites. Travel Channel's library of short form travel video is unmatched, and Travel Channel Studios can create customized solutions for our diverse array of advertising partners. Travel Channel GO!, the network's mobile platform, offers text, audio and video, and location-based applications to millions of consumers through partners including Blackberry, Nokia and Apple. Additionally, Travel Channel has found success in the social media space on Facebook, with its Kidnap! application ranked as a Top 10 Facebook application - engaging over 3 million monthly users. This year will also see several new Travel Channel branded products and services launched with a variety of licensing partners. Travel Channel now offers comprehensive integration, co-branding, and promotional opportunities across every platform and consumer touch point.
NEW SERIES
SAMANTHA BROWN'S ASIA launches in December of 2009, with eight episodes uncovering the history and the majesty of this enchanting region. As she has done over the past 10 years on the Travel Channel, Samantha uses her charming personality and ability to make the excitement of travel accessible for everyone, leading viewers on a multi-country excursion across Asia.
WORLDWIDE TRIBE will give viewers an unmasked look into the world of tattooing through the eyes of renowned tattoo artists Chris Nuñez, Ami James, and "the apprentice," Yoji Harada. Guided by their vast experience and history in tattoo culture, Chris, Ami and Yoji will travel the world to explore the art, the culture, and the mystique surrounding this centuries old practice. From getting tattooed by monks in Thailand to being inked by gangsters in East Los Angeles, Chris, Ami and Yoji will bring viewers to the artistic hotbed of global tattoo culture and life, as never seen before.
Based on a wildly successful format that has been sold internationally in over a dozen territories, AMERICA'S WORST DRIVER is a competition-based elimination series set out to determine what city really boasts America's worst driver. Each week, five bad drivers from a particular city will compete in a series of driving challenges designed to ferret out that city's 'worst driver'. The 'winner's' from ten of America's most iconic driving cities will come to Los Angeles for a two hour finale. Nine of them will eventually 'graduate' out of the finale until ultimately America's Worst Driver is crowned.
RETURNING SERIES
The 4th Quarter of 2009 marks the return of MAN v. FOOD, with Season two delivering a second helping of humor and hunger from host Adam Richman. MAN v. FOOD achieved record ratings in its premiere run, and Season two promises more of Adam following his gastronomical compass to the best spots to taste America's most iconic dishes and outlandish food challenges.
ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NO RESERVATIONS returns for Season six with Tony continuing his culinary explorations and doing what he does best - delivering authentic experiences and off-the-beaten path locations from around the globe. Through his unmatched honesty, genuine passion for new experiences and keen wit, Tony has earned the adoration of legions of viewers and travelers alike.
Andrew Zimmern continues his adventures in the next season of BIZARRE WORLDS. Exploring locations and its people through it cultural and historical traditions, focusing on those that most would consider unusual or downright strange. As with anything Zimmern - bizarre is better.
Travel Channel's most recognizable host, Samantha Brown, returns with her popular GREAT WEEKENDS series. Travel research continues to show that more and more Americans are looking for shorter excursions closer to home, and GREAT WEEKENDS follows Samantha as she uncovers popular as well as some undiscovered locations that serve as the perfect locale for the 48-hour getaway.
DHANI TACKLES THE GLOBE returns with NFL linebacker and 'Renaissance Man' Dhani Jones, and his ongoing quest to understand how sports represent global cultures. Dhani travels the world to experience the thrills and challenges that each game presents - all the while engaging with the local scene that celebrates each contest.
BRIDGET'S SEXIEST BEACHES returns to explore more of the world's most exotic beaches, with Bridget Marquardt traversing the globe in search of fun and adventure. Each episode features a tantalizing destination, focusing on indigenous cuisine, local fashions, and of course the best places to party the night away.
STUNTS & EVENTS
In recognition of her ten years on the Travel Channel, the network is planning a spectacular week-long cross platform celebration featuring all things Samantha, including special programming, mobile and online extensions. The week will offer encore performances of some of Samantha's best programs from a variety of her series, as well as special vignettes featuring her comments and reactions to past programs. From her first demo tape, to her upcoming series on Asia, SAMANTHA BROWN WEEK promises to be a fun-filled journey down memory lane, highlighting the many cultures she's experienced; the hundreds of places she's visited; some interaction with the many viewers who love to travel with her via television each week; and a comical look into the many changes in her fashion and hairstyles over the years.
Travel Channel's Friday night paranormal hit GHOST ADVENTURES will be taking their lockdown to another dimension, with a ten-hour LIVE event from one of America's most terrifying places in October 2009. The first seven hours of the investigation conducted by Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and equipment tech Aaron Goodwin will be broadcast on Travel Channel in High Definition, and the final three hours will be an exclusive webcast on Travelchannel.com. The live event will be fully interactive - featuring locked off cameras streaming directly to the web, text messaging, and other innovative features throughout the night.
About Travel Channel Media:
Travel Channel Media is an integrated travel media business, and is wholly owned by Cox Communications, Inc., a leading multi-service broadband communications and entertainment company. Travel Channel Media includes: the Travel Channel television network, available in 94 million U.S. cable homes; Travel Channel HDTM, the network's high-definition simulcast; travelchannel.com, the network's broadband travel hub; Travel Channel's video-on-demand (VOD) and HD VOD offerings; its mobile content platform, Travel Channel GOTM; World Hum (worldhum.com), a leading online travel blog; and FlightDeckTM, an innovative content-sharing and advertising network for online publishers and advertisers.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2009
CONTACT: Nicole Nichols, 323-602-5511
Nicole_Nichols@own.tv -OR
Beth Gebhard, 323-602-5516
Beth_Gebhard@own.tv
OWN: THE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK
GIVES SNEAK PEEK OF NEW NETWORK DEDICATED TO LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE
(NEW YORK, NY)-Christina Norman, CEO of OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, today offered a first glimpse of both the network's programming in development and digital strategy to members of the advertising and media communities at New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center. OWN's programming is built around three big ideas: Best Life All Stars, Best Life Experiences, and Best Life Inspiration. The full network launch schedule, to be announced later this year, will be a mix of original and acquired programs, with plans underway for strips, specials, and acquired movies.
OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, the first network about living your best life, will launch throughout the U.S. in early 2010 on what is currently Discovery Health Channel. The digital component, MyOwn.com, begins today with an interactive experience for audiences to play with and create their own version of the network's logo. Oprah Winfrey is the network's inspiration and Chief Creative Officer.
"This is just the beginning for OWN and what we envision will be a new entertainment experience for our audiences," said Ms. Winfrey, Chairman of OWN. "One of the things I love about my work is getting to meet extraordinary people who have done amazing things in life. So, for OWN, I will be hand-picking some of the most engaging and intriguing people of our time and giving them a stage all their own to share their stories and best life lessons with all of us. The unique series is called Master Class, and it will be a truly one-of-a-kind look at the world's most remarkable people."
"Our goal is to create an innovative experience for that broad audience of people who are living their lives with purpose," said Ms. Norman in making the announcement. "Over the coming months, we will unveil our schedule and opportunities for our audience to connect with us and shape OWN."
Among the projects in development announced today:
BEST LIFE ALL STARS:
THE PETER WALSH PROJECT (working title), the de-clutter expert and popular guest of The Oprah Winfrey Show, will be joined by a team of experts in helping people uncover what is really going on in their lives behind the mess. This show is from Harpo Productions.
DR. LAURA BERMAN (working title), sex therapist, relationship expert, bestselling author, and Sirius XM radio show host - will lead a one-hour talk show based in Chicago. This show is from Harpo Productions.
BEST LIFE EXPERIENCES:
EXCELLENT ADVENTURE follows a celebrity and their best friend as they embark on the adventure they have always dreamt of taking together. Whether the adventure is large or small, viewers will get to see the power of friends sharing unforgettable moments together. The show is produced by Ashton Kutcher's Katalyst Films.
INSIDE: LISA LING INVESTIGATES (working title) is a one-hour program featuring reporting with Lisa Ling. Lisa's reports take the viewers to the frontlines, as we have already seen with her in-depth news pieces including a look into a family addicted to heroin, a peek into the FLDS compound one year later, and an expose on America's "tent cities." In this show, from Harpo Productions, viewers will join Lisa in exploring worlds and aspects of a story they would never in their wildest dreams imagine.
BEST LIFE INSPIRATION:
MASTER CLASS (working title) is a unique series produced by Harpo Productions featuring the most extraordinary people of our time, hand-picked by Oprah Winfrey. Here they will share with us who they really are - their stories, their passions, and their best life lessons. Viewers will get an in-depth look at those who have impressed Oprah with their vision, fortitude, and creativity.
SURFER'S HEALING is a docusoap produced by Snackaholic about former competitive surfer Izzy Paskowitz, his wife Danielle, their three children -- one of whom is autistic - and their surf school business. We will watch them, their highs and lows, as they manage a business and a foundation for autistic children.
OWN is also in discussions with other regulars from The Oprah Winfrey Show.
About OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network
A joint venture between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network is a multi-platform media company designed to entertain, inform, and inspire people to live their best lives. OWN will debut in more than 70 million homes, on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel. The venture also will include the award-winning digital platform, Oprah.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
About Harpo
Harpo Productions, Inc. produces the number-one-rated, award-winning The Oprah Winfrey Show; creates and develops original TV programming for primetime, syndication and cable television; and operates Oprah.com (www.oprah.com), a premier lifestyle website. Harpo Print, LLC and Hearst Magazines publish the monthly O, The Oprah Magazine publication. Harpo Films is dedicated to high-quality scripted dramatic programming, and recently announced an exclusive television deal with HBO. Harpo Radio, Inc. produces Oprah Radio (XM channel 156, Sirius channel 195 as part of its "Best of XM" package) on Sirius XM Radio. A joint venture between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a multi-platform company, will debut in early 2010 in more than 70 million homes, on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2009
CONTACT: Kristin Brown, 240-662-5415
Kristin_Brown@discovery.com -OR-
David Schaefer, 240-662-2954
David_Schaefer@discovery.com,
INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY'S 2009-10 UPFRONT PROGRAMMING SLATE SATISFIES AUDIENCES WHO CRAVE MYSTERIES AND APPRECIATE GRIPPING STORYTELLING
- #1 Fastest-Growing Non-News Cable Network for Women 25-54 Builds Upon Its Success
With Dynamic Slate of Original and Returning Series -
(New York, NY.) - Launched in January, 2008, Investigation Discovery is the premier destination, on air and online, for fact-based investigative content that draws audiences to the edge of their seats by unraveling the truth behind real-life mysteries. In its first year, the network launched 16 series, becoming the fastest growing network among its target audience, Women 25-54, for delivery in both primetime and total day, and ranking second for Women 18-49.1 This tremendous audience response also translated to the second highest length of tune in ad supported cable2 and engagement measures at the top of the industry.3
"Investigation Discovery has filled a void in the U.S. cable marketplace, delivering the highest-quality programming focused on fascinating stories of perseverance, courage and justice," said Clark Bunting, president and general manager of Discovery Emerging Networks. "This Upfront season, ID builds upon its success by partnering with top-tier talent, including entertainment icon Whoopi Goldberg and journalist Paula Zahn, to create brand-definitional programming that challenges our viewers on important issues shaping our culture and defining our world."
Honoring the valor and courage of selfless professionals ranging from emergency dispatch operators to law enforcement officers, as well as everyday heroes who unexpectedly rise to help people in need, Investigation Discovery's stories celebrate courage, justice and the human spirit.
Highlights of Investigation Discovery's 2009-10 upfront programming slate include:
NEW SERIES
ON THE CASE WITH PAULA ZAHN
Investigation Discovery and Paula Zahn take viewers on a visually compelling journey inside fascinating mysteries and investigations. Personal stories from the people closest to the cases, along with analysis from experts, will allow viewers to share the experience, through every twist and turn, until the episode reaches its dramatic conclusion.
THE WILL: FAMILY DIVIDED (wt)
Often surprising and always telling - the reading of a last will and testament is an illuminating moment in any family's history. THE WILL is a ten-part series that explores the family intrigue, legal wrangling and high emotions surrounding real-life stories of family inheritance. Whether the issue is life-changing sums of money, irreplaceable heirlooms or dynamics of family pride, the stakes within each episode hinge on the fascinating complexity of the laws governing wills, trusts and estates.
FORENSICS: YOU DECIDE
There are always at least two sides to every story, however only one of them is closest to the truth. FORENSICS: YOU DECIDE allows the audience to draw their own conclusion, testing their armchair forensic investigator skills and asking them to decide between the accuser's and accused's side of the story. The critical clues, forensic evidence and intriguing backgrounds are presented in FORENSICS: YOU DECIDE, but until the end of each episode, the audience is left guessing about what held up in court and ultimately what version of events signified the truth.
THE BUREAU
THE BUREAU profiles the modern Federal Bureau of Investigations and explores the determination required to solve some of the most mystifying crimes of the 21st Century. The challenges range from combating arsonists to tracking down terrorists and the goal is always to bring the culprits to justice. This series not only showcases the heroes behind high-profile investigations, but the role high-tech investigative techniques play in solving these extraordinary cases.
APHRODITE JONES FILES
Journalist and best-selling author Aphrodite Jones leads audiences through the twists and turns of true stories in an attempt to reveal the motivations of perpetrators. As an expert on high-profile trials with extensive experience covering cases that make headlines, Aphrodite Jones is passionate about the truth and determined to explain what drives people to violence. Using investigative work and never-before-seen interviews, APHRODITE JONES FILES breaks down the deception strategies of both notorious and previously unknown culprits, bringing understanding to cases that seem unimaginable.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG'S COLD CASES (wt)
Cold case victims are in danger of becoming forgotten by the public, but never by their loved ones. In this new series, produced by Whoopi Goldberg and her production company Whoop Inc, Investigation Discovery assigns an investigative team to reopen cold cases in hopes of solving the mysteries contained in the files. With an expert criminal profiler, a seasoned detective and a forensic specialist, this series uses cutting-edge technology and old-fashioned detective work to meticulously examine the facts of these cases. The series reaches out to ID's audience to provide leads that may help uncover the truth and ultimately bring peace to the loved ones of these victims.
DISAPPEARED
DISAPPEARED follows the unpredictable twists of missing person cases, tracking investigations aimed at solving how and why people simply vanish. While some of the resolutions are heartwarming and others tragic, many cases remain open to this day and continue to be a source of unbearable frustration for family members and friends. Each episode of DISAPPEARED begins from the time immediately before an individual vanished, searching for clues hidden beneath seemingly everyday behavior that may indicate the person left voluntarily. For the open cases that have gone cold, DISAPPEARED asks viewers to share fresh leads in hopes of deciphering what truly happened to the missing and whether foul play may be involved.
PRISON WIVES
This captivating series introduces audiences to women who have fallen in love with and married a prisoner behind bars. PRISON WIVES examines the compassion and selflessness behind these stories of love, however unexpected. These unconventional families provide audiences a look inside prison life and what keeps these relationships together, for better or worse, richer or poorer.
PAPERBACK MYSTERIES
This series travels inside the minds of some of America's most popular mystery novelists, exploring how their books cross over from fact to fiction. Some mystery writers use real-life cases as inspiration for their narratives to complement the creativity that springs from their imaginations. As each episode of PAPERBACK MYSTERIES unfolds, an author discusses the specifics of a trial that acted as a muse, while taking audiences through the twists and turns of the case as only a true storyteller can do.
INCREDIBLE HEROES
In a blink of an eye, anyone can find themselves in a life-threatening situation where you may need to react out of courage or impulse to save countless others. INCREDIBLE HEROES showcases tales of bravery where ordinary people reacted heroically in extraordinary situations. Whether they disrupted a shark attack or ran into a burning house, this series examines the psychology behind these valiant acts and explores what makes people put their lives on the line and attempt to overcome unthinkable challenges.
I, WITNESS
Through first-person accounts from those who were actually there, I, WITNESS shares people's personal perspectives on dramatic events that captured the attention of the nation. In each episode, viewers relive the heart-pounding action of unique stories like a pilot making an emergency landing without landing gear, a driver witnessing a bridge collapsing in front of his or hr car or a neighbor digging through rubble in the wake of a devastating tornado. I, WITNESS dives into personal experiences to see the unimaginable unfolds.
RETURNING SERIES
THE SHIFT
One of Investigation Discovery's most successful new series, THE SHIFT returns with another full season following the work and lives of a highly effective team of homicide detectives within Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. With exclusive access, THE SHIFT takes an in-depth look at the teamwork, intuition and tenacious commitment required to provide justice for the victims, their loved ones and the entire Indianapolis community. Focused on the efforts of some of the best homicide detectives in the country, THE SHIFT chronicles IMPD's "middle shift" and its chain of command, from the initial radio call requesting officers at the scene to the ultimate satisfaction of clicking the cuffs on a suspect.
DALLAS DNA
DALLAS DNA chronicles the legal drama and the astounding ramifications behind a pioneering unit within the Dallas County's District Attorney's office, where post-conviction DNA testing is being used to clear the innocent, as well as confirm the guilty. A new era of justice is emerging in Dallas County, Texas where the Conviction Integrity Unit has been tasked with re-examining hundreds of petitions submitted by inmates seeking post-conviction DNA testing and reinvestigating the cases that could be examples of injustice. Some of the cases profiled in DALLAS DNA result in exonerations, where inmates are released after decades behind bars for crimes they did not commit.
CALL 911
Using actual 911 recordings, CALL 911 lets the gripping conversations between operators and callers speak for themselves. These powerful human dramas are captured on tape, revealing the heroism of the emergency operators and the courage of those calling out for help. Combined with interviews of those involved, these dramatic stories unfold in real time as the operator, victim, and law enforcement experienced them.
EXTREME FORENSICS
This series features a combination of the sharpest detectives and cutting-edge forensic science to unlock the answers to shocking puzzles and perplexing cases. The stories profiled in EXTREME FORENSICS often involve suspects who try to outsmart authorities, only to be captured due to the use of forensic science. This series highlights the amazing science behind these investigations and showcases the role of forensics in the search for justice.
SOLVED
In each episode of SOLVED, elite law enforcement officers share their first-person accounts of how they cracked their career-defining cases. They explain how incredible investigation techniques, intuition, perseverance and pure luck combined to break cases wide open and put the guilty behind bars.
About Investigation Discovery
Investigation Discovery (ID) is the source for fact-based investigative content about culture, history and the human condition. ID, the premiere destination for real investigations, is expanding partnerships with leading news organizations, production companies and well-known talent to bring the strongest analytic, factual investigative and current affairs programming to more than 52 million U.S. households. Providing the highest quality programming focused on fascinating stories of human nature from the past to the present, Investigation Discovery's in-depth documentaries and series shed light on justice, valor and compassion within our society. For more information, please visit investigation.discovery.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
1. Source: Nielsen, Live +SD, NHI Calendar, Time Period-Based Dayparts, 01/01/07-01/26/08 vs. 01/27/08-02/22/09 ID #1 for W25-54 total day delivery, #2 for W18-49 (only to CNN in election year), #2 for HH and P2+ in total day (only to MSNBC).
2. Source: Nielsen NHI Calendar, Total Day L+SD among W25-54, Time Period Based Dayparts (Dec'08).
3. Source: Simmons Media Engagement Study (Spring 2008).
** For more information, please visit the Investigation Discovery section of Discovery's Press Web at www.press.discovery.com, or visit the online website www.investigationdiscovery.com. * *
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2009
CONTACT: Kristin Brown: 240-662-5415
Kristin_Brown@discovery.com -OR-
Andrew Scafetta 240-662-5519
Andrew_Scafetta@discovery.com
SCIENCE CHANNEL ANNOUNCES LARGEST INVESTMENT IN
ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING IN NETWORK HISTORY
-- Programming Slate for 2009-2010 Upfront Slate Announced --
(New York, NY) - Building upon the successful launch of the new programming strategy in fourth quarter 2008, Science Channel's 2009-10 Upfront Season features a record number of original series and specials, an expanded emphasis on the network's robust talent pool and a new emphasis in simultaneously streamed viewing.
A cornerstone of the network's mission to make science thrilling, entertaining and surprising is adding new experts and unexpected personalities to its robust base of specialists, hosts and presenters. Beginning in the first quarter of 2010, Science Channel will premiere a major new series about the mysteries of the universe created and hosted by space enthusiast and Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. And in the fourth quarter of 2009, Academy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg joins the network as executive producer of Science Channel's first-ever game show. Also in fourth quarter of 2009, Science Channel brings SCI Q Sunday's host Michio Kaku's New York Times best-selling book "Physics of the Impossible" vividly to life in an original series.
Adding to the passionate audience's viewing experience, Science Channel will offer a new "simul-stream" experience on select programs, including the quiz show Head Games (wt). These special offerings will allow fans to simultaneously play along and screen multiple levels of information through online, mobile and traditional on-air experiences. The network will pilot this offering beginning in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Science Channel will also premiere quarterly specials that showcase significant, powerful and life-changing current events from around the globe through quick turn-around "instamentaries" and live events. These specials give in-depth context to major breakthroughs, findings and discoveries, bringing viewers to the forefront of what's next following events such as NASA missions, natural disasters, global news and more.
"With a historic commitment to original programming and an unyielding dedication to growing a diverse slate of experts and personalities, Science Channel speaks to a very broad audience of engaged viewers," said Deborah Adler Myers, senior vice president, programming, Discovery Emerging Networks. "The U.S. is going through an exciting renaissance in science, bolstered by the President's commitment to return science to its rightful place, and Science Channel is proud to be an important part of the national conversation about how science fundamentally changes all of our lives."
The highlights of Science Channel's 2009-10 Upfront schedule include:
NEW SERIES
HEAD GAMES (wt)
In Science Channel's first-ever game show, created by executive producer Whoopi Goldberg and her production company Whoop Inc, contestants bet the bank that they know the answers to some of science's craziest riddles. The "reel" stars of this show are the peculiar video clips used to showcase unexpected science trivia - from nature's oddities to startling lab experiments, HEAD GAMES (wt) will leave viewers learning and laughing.
PHYSICS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE
Based on the New York Times best-selling book, "Physics of the Impossible," Dr. Michio Kaku takes viewers to the frontiers of science with an authoritative exploration of the world of phasers, force fields, teleportation, time travel and more. He investigates the physics behind some of science fiction's wildest offerings and concludes that many of the technologies once thought impossible may actually be inevitable.
THROUGH THE WORMHOLE WITH MORGAN FREEMAN
Academy Award-winning actor and space enthusiast Morgan Freeman executive produces, hosts and narrates this exploration of the greatest mysteries of the universe. This new series, produced by Freeman's Revelations Entertainment, seeks the answers to the big questions: Are we alone? Where did we come from? Is there life on other planets? From the latest work at NASA and private enterprise facilities to the latest theories from futurists and physicists, this series looks at black holes, colonizing the planets, string theory and more. Science Channel invites viewers on the journey as Morgan Freeman picks up where Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" left off and explores the new frontiers of what is beyond earth.
THE WORLD WITHOUT
The premise is simple: what would the world be like if one key element we take for granted every day was removed? In this new series, hosted by geographer and ecologist Ellie Harrison, viewers will find out how the planet would respond if cockroaches, death, snakes, sunlight, earth's natural rotation, wind and more were suddenly taken from daily life. How would the earth change over a period of one year, 100 years and 10,000 years if it were suddenly void of one ingredient?
HOW MACHINES WORK
This series takes an intriguing look inside the massive machines and structures that populate the planet. Each episode dives into the inner workings and sophisticated designs behind jumbo jet aircraft, hydroelectric generators, space shuttles, sophisticated robotic manufacturing machines and more.
FRINGE SCIENCE
Drawing on the work of science visionaries throughout history, this series takes viewers on a journey into the next century. Introducing passionate, classically trained scientists who now spend their lives trying to explain the extreme reaches of science, Science Channel explores, examines and experiments with the scientific theories on the outskirts of accepted science, seeking explanations to the world's most bizarre and unexplained phenomenon.
SUPERHUMANS
From god-like strength and synesthesia to magnetism and telekinesis, this groundbreaking series reveals the amazing stories of real people with extraordinary super powers. These super human abilities completely confound our understanding of what it is to be human, how we use our senses and what the limits to our natural abilities are.
NEW SPECIALS
PUNKIN CHUNKIN 2009
For more than 20 memorable years the Delaware-based "World Championship Punkin Chunkin" has hit the skies. And Science Channel is honoring the backyard engineers who turn pumpkins into projectiles with an inside look at the high flying, far-flung action of the annual championship competition. This year's coverage will feature an additional special On the Road To Punkin Chunkin (wt) as the network examines competitors in their workshops to see how they create their monsters of engineering.
BRINK'S YEAR IN SCIENCE
Science Channel's BRINK takes a look back at the breakthroughs and innovations from the world of science in 2009. Which new idea or discovery will prove to be the most life-changing? What were the seminal moments, who are the people behind the discoveries and how did they do it? YEAR IN SCIENCE will answer these questions as it brings viewers up close to the most incredible scientific research.
CANE TOADS
Cane Toads (or Bufo Marinus) are native to Central America, but were imported by the hundreds to Australia in 1935 in an attempt to rid the country of the Greyback beetle which was rapidly destroying the sugarcane crop. The Cane Toads adapted beautifully to their new surroundings. The problem was that the Greyback beetle could fly and the Cane Toad could not. What the Cane Toad is unusually proficient at, however, is reproducing by the thousands. Now, Science Channel has teamed with documentary filmmaker Mark Lewis to tell the story of the Cane Toads' amphibious assault on Australia.
SPACE WEEK
As THE home for space programming, Science Channel brings you to the one place where the sky isn't the limit-it's just the beginning. In our fourth annual SPACE WEEK, viewers continue a fascinating exploration of one of the last mysterious, awe-inspiring places (un)known to man through in-depth programming on Science Channel, as well as information-rich, interactive experiences online at sciencechannel.com.
RETURNING SERIES
BRINK
Airing weekly, this series immerses viewers on the frontlines of cutting-edge breakthroughs in technology, research, inventions, discoveries and the mysteries of the scientific world. BRINK meets people who are on the brink of changing our lives, provides viewers with a clear understanding of the impact and relevance science has in our lives today, and offers significant insights into how science may profoundly change our world tomorrow.
HOW IT'S MADE
Science Channel's hit series is back! From binoculars and tortilla chips to baseballs and harmonicas, find out how many of the everyday objects we seldom stop to think about become the things they are. In each episode of this series, you'll be amazed to see how common items are manufactured in high-tech factories around the world.
SCIENCE OF THE MOVIES
Host Nar Williams lifts the veil on the science behind moviegoers' favorite films, taking viewers inside the special effects of upcoming blockbusters. Each one-hour episode goes into the world of moviemaking to break down the technology and science of the business, through behind-the-scenes footage, as well as exclusive one-on-one interviews with the visionaries responsible for creating magic movie moments.
POPULAR SCIENCE: THE FUTURE OF...
Science Channel is partnering with Popular Science magazine to bring viewers a rare glimpse of the extraordinary scientific and technological advancements that will shape the way we live in the next 25 years. Each episode will examine one aspect of human life including play, security, pleasure, war and superhuman ability, and uncover the cutting-edge research, maverick scientists and genius prototypes driving our future world.
CATCH IT/KEEP IT
This irreverent and enlightening competition pits a team of engineering and mechanical gurus in a race against time to save a remarkable grand prize from impending destruction. In each episode, the team can only keep that prize if they figure out how to protect it from being annihilated by a diabolical scheme, including: a 50-foot fall from a crane; a dynamite explosion; or a 10,000-gallon flood of water. Each team will have only hours to invent, build, test, and finally, implement their rescue plan, and will either walk away with a prize or with tiny pieces of it.
About Science Channel
Science Channel is broadcast 24 hours a day and seven days a week to more than 56 million U.S. homes and simulcast on Science Channel HD. We immerse viewers in the incredible possibilities of science, from string theory and futuristic cities to accidental discoveries and outrageous inventions. We take things apart, peer inside and put things together in new and unexpected ways. We celebrate the trials, errors and brinking moments that change our lives forever. To find out more go to www.sciencechannel.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
High-resolution artwork is available at www.press.discovery.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2009
CONTACT: Chris Finnegan: 240-662-7589
Chris_Finnegan@discovery.com
DISCOVERY HEALTH CELEBRATES 10 YEARS WITH PROGRAMMING THAT MATTERS
--Discovery Health Will Offer Premiere Episodes of Top Franchises and All-New Specials Through the Transition to OWN: THE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK in Early 2010--
(New York, NY)- For 10 years, Discovery Health has been television's trusted resource for authentic, inspirational and entertaining health programming. Up until the highly anticipated transition to OWN: THE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK in early 2010, Discovery Health will deliver a jam-packed upfront slate for 2009's fourth quarter. Again dominated by amazing stories, identifiable characters and distinguished experts, Discovery Health will continue to bring audiences the programming that matters that they have come to expect over the past decade.
Discovery Health is the network that popularized large families, made medical examiners cool and diagnosed hundreds of mysteries. In response to popular demand, the network's 2009 Upfront slate will continue to focus on Discovery Health's most popular programming genres. Fans of the network will be thrilled to find fresh premieres from their favorite franchises-as well as more than a few surprises.
In addition to new episodes of viewer favorites such as DR. G: MEDICAL EXAMINER, Discovery Health will offer specially themed nights stacked with programs on families and babies, as well as advice-based programming from our esteemed experts like Bob Greene and Dr. Jan Garavaglia. From the puzzling medical mysteries of MYSTERY DIAGNOSIS to the inspiring stories of personal transformations, Discovery Health offers viewers healthy-sized portions of their favorite programs on theme nights, every night of the week. Add in some buzz-worthy specials and events, such as BABY WEEK and Discovery Health's 10-YEAR EVENT, and the result is a quarter that can't be missed.
DISCOVERY HEALTH FOURTH QUARTER 2009 UPFRONT OFFERINGS
DISCOVERY HEALTH KNOWS FAMILY (4Q09)
Twins, triplets, quadruplets and even quintuplets are becoming a part of the modern family experience. DISCOVERY HEALTH KNOWS FAMILY features families navigating the chaos and fun that comes with raising multiples. Featured programming may include TRIPLE THE TRIPLETS, HOUSE OF TWINS, MULTIPLES AND MAYHEM and MULTIPLE MIRACLES.
SURVIVOR NIGHT (4Q09)
Profiling inspiring tales of hope, Discovery Health's SURVIVOR NIGHT is feel-good, heartwarming television. From the bittersweet love story in MARATHON LOVE to tales of incredible births in MIRACLE BABIES, SURVIVOR NIGHT spotlights the perseverance and courageous spirit of individuals thriving in the face of insurmountable odds.
DISCOVERY HEALTH'S EXPERT NIGHT (4Q09)
For 10 years, Discovery Health has been a trusted resource for timely, relevant programming bolstered by advice from esteemed experts in the health and medical field. From the no-nonsense advice of chief medical examiner Dr. Jan Garavaglia to diet and exercise tips for living your best life from Bob Greene and Dr. Mehmet Oz, Discovery Health's EXPERT NIGHT offers audiences information they can apply to their own lives.
DISCOVERY HEALTH'S 10-YEAR CELEBRATION EVENT (4Q09)
Over the past 10 years, Discovery Health has introduced audiences to touching stories of remarkable individuals. This year, in celebration of the network's 10th anniversary, Discovery Health will revisit some of its most memorable characters with update programs. Featured stories to include DOUBLE IDENTICAL TWINS, BORN WITHOUT A FACE and MERMAID GIRL.
BABY WEEK (4Q09)
Who doesn't love babies? Discovery Health's signature programming event showcases the smallest humans in all their glory. From the shocking accounts of women who did not know they were pregnant to the tales of amazing pregnancies and births, BABY WEEK explores the amazing world of babies from every angle. Full of both heartwarming and dramatic stories, BABY WEEK is one that viewers won't want to miss.
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU (4Q09)
Discovery Health will get you primed for 2010 with NEW YEAR, NEW YOU, a weeklong programming event designed to help you revolutionize your mind and body in time for the New Year. Headlined by inspiring stories of personal weight loss and transformation, NEW YEAR, NEW YOU will also feature the debut of HOUSE OF HOARDERS, an all-new series profiling the mysterious world of compulsive hoarders.
About Discovery Health Media:
Discovery Health Media includes the Discovery Health and FitTV television networks and online assets, including www.discoveryhealth.com, as well as its Continuing Medical Education (CME) business and Discovery's first stand-alone VOD service, Discovery Health On-Call. Discovery Health Media is part of Discovery Communications, the number-one nonfiction media company, reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery's 100-plus worldwide networks are led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, The Science Channel, Discovery Health and HD Theater, with digital media properties including HowStuffWorks.com. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Co. (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com/.
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HD THEATER UPFRONT PROGRAMMING FACT SHEET
Offering viewers a visually arresting glimpse into the world around them, HD Theater's schedule is jam-packed with compelling real-world and motorized content from a wide-range of categories including adventure, technology and nature. One of television's most widely distributed high definition networks, with over 22 million households, HD Theater broadcasts nearly all of its content in brilliant 1080i and 5.1 digital surround sound. The cornerstone of programming for HD Theater's upfront programming slate is an array of high-end automotive programs, designed to get viewers' engines rumbling and take them on a journey of discovery from the comfort of their own home.
HD Theater's programming highlights for the 2009-2010 upfront programming slate include:
NEW SERIES
TWIST THE THROTTLE
Millions of people ride motorcycles and millions more fantasize about what it would be like to ride these cultural icons of speed, freedom and personal rebellion. HD Theater's new series TWIST THE THROTTLE takes audiences on a remarkable 36,000 mile journey across the globe to explore eight of the most famous sport motorcycle brands. Each episode focuses on a single brand, showcasing its remarkable history and taking viewers behind the scenes of its factories, design facilities and R&D departments. Ultimately, each episode takes to the asphalt and shows what it is like to ride these magnificent machines on some of the most picturesque roads and spectacular racetracks in the world.
STUNT STARS
Traveling to the sets of popular television and movie productions, STUNT STARS examines how stunt professionals calculate and overcome the risks to bring the action to life on screen. From intentionally crashing cars, lighting themselves on fire or mastering a martial arts fight sequence, these unsung heroes and heroines of entertainment are highlighted in this action-packed series. Featuring Stunt Hall of Fame members like David Boushey, viewers gain a better appreciation for the craftsmanship, science and skill these professionals bring to work every day.
I COULD DO THAT!
This series profiles everyday people, who get their chance at the controls of machines they have always admired from afar and claimed they could master. Whether it is a giant crane operator, helicopter pilot or tug boat captain, each I COULD DO THAT! episode features three adventurous rookies and gives them the opportunity to take the reigns. However, first the participants go through a simulator-type experience and training from experts before getting their big break at the hands-on experience.
SUN-RIDE EARTH
The evolution of the runaway hit SUNRISE EARTH is SUN-RIDE EARTH, a first-person tour of scenic drives from majestic start to end. Just like SUNRISE EARTH, the series does not add music or narration. Instead, just the natural ambient sounds and hum of the engine complement the action as SUN-RIDE EARTH viewers experience the Acacia National Parkway in Maine at the height of fall foliage or cruise around the pristine Great Salt Lake surrounded by snowcapped mountains. Like every amazing journey, points of interest are highlighted along the way until the audience reaches the final destination, a spectacular vista showcased in exceptional high-definition.
MIGHTY SHIPS
Taking to the high seas, MIGHTY SHIPS explores the inner-workings of amazing vessels working the oceans, seas, lakes and rivers of the world. From the luxurious liner, the Queen Mary 2, to the current longest vessel in use, the Emma Maersk container ship, this series goes above and below deck to examine the mechanics and engineering that keep these boats ship-shape. Viewers are introduced to each ship's unique crew, including the Tyco Resolute's cable laying engineers, the veterinarians aboard the livestock ship M/V Becrux and the deckhands of the Canadian Coast Guard's icebreaker, Henry Larson.
THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE RIDES
This series scours the globe to profile the world's most expensive and extravagant cars, planes, boats and motorcycles - meaning anything that rolls, floats or flies and is spectacularly luxurious could be included. THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE RIDES gives viewers a glimpse into the no-limits world of billionaires' cherished toys. Each episode features three "rides" and showcases the precise craftsmanship, extraordinary details and lavish features that make each vehicle special.
RETURNING SERIES
MECUM AUTO AUCTIONS
Building upon the series' continued success, HD Theater returns with more live episodes of MECUM AUTO AUCTIONS: MUSCLE CARS AND MORE. This high-octane, high-definition series features Mecum Auction Company's premier events, which specialize in selling high-end muscle cars, timeless classics and rare exotics to the highest bidders. The bidding action is hot and the cars are hotter, as each live auction unfolds with a team of knowledgeable hosts highlighting the unique features and historical significance of each vehicle hitting the auction block. MECUM AUTO AUCTIONS: MUSCLE CARS AND MORE broadcasts live from outside Chicago on October 1-3 and Kansas City on December 4 and 5.
CHASING CLASSIC CARS, SEASON 2
This fast-paced series follows Wayne Carini, a premier Ferrari expert and master automobile restorer, as he embarks on a personal mission to uncover great cars and secret collections. Scouring the countryside looking for forgotten classic automobiles, Carini searches barns, warehouses and literally goes underground to uncover some of the rarest collectable cars. Once he brokers a good deal, Carini meticulously restores the vehicles before seeing what his hard work garners at auction.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISAD, DISBD, DISCK) is the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
Media Contact: David Schaefer: 240-662-2954, david_schaefer@discovery.com
High-resolution artwork is available at http://www.press.discovery.com.