DISCOVERY STIRS UP A DIGITAL AND SOCIAL FEEDING FRENZY FOR THE RETURN OF THE #KINGOFSUMMER, SHARK WEEK
– First-of-Its-Kind Partnership with Facebook Supersizes Social Offering for the Annual Summer Programming Event –
August 12, 2014
Silver Spring, Md. – SHARK WEEK has been the King of Summer for 27 years, and everyone’s favorite summer celebration reigns online and across social media. Last year’s SHARK WEEK was Discovery’s most social programming event to date, generating more than 10 million Facebook interactions throughout the week. This year, fans will find even more ways to get in on all the jawesome fun online when SHARK WEEK returns on Sunday, August 10th with more programming hours than ever.
Discovery is partnering with Facebook to incorporate several of its TV products into the broadcast, featuring Trending Topics, Hashtag Polling and live Instagram posts, powered by Spredfast, during the toothy premiere lineup. Additionally, each night of SHARK WEEK, fans can see their Facebook posts featured live on air, across 26 hours of programming.
Fans can sink their teeth into SHARK WEEK online at the brand new SharkWeek.com and through:
- Fin Fest: The ultimate summer beach party begins at 10:30am PT on Saturday, August 9th in Hermosa Beach, CA and continues until the sun goes down on Sunday, August 10th. The bash will be streaming live at FinFest.com, and everyone can join in on all the fin-tastic fun, using hashtags to vote on items for SHARK WEEK’s 60-foot mechanical shark, Sharkzilla, to chomp every hour, checking out the bands from the main stage and more.
- Supersized Shark Cams: Fans can get their shark fix through the addition of cams like the Shark Cage Cam, a virtual cage diving experience with Great Whites, as well as the Mega Shark Cam, Jaws Strikes Back Cam,Shark Cage Cam,Seal Decoy Cam, Sharkageddon Camand Shark Fin Cam, featuring compilations of incredible footage from these different species and vantage points. Additionally, Discovery has continued its partnership with the National Aquarium, giving Shark Cam visitors live, 24/7 access to the inhabitants of its Blacktip Reef shark exhibit in Baltimore, through the return of the original Shark Cam.
- #KingOfSummer: Fans can visit the #KingOfSummer hub to keep on top of all things social around this year’s #SharkWeek, as well as upload their own photos to become the #KingOfSummer. Why should Rob Lowe get to have all the fun?
- Shark After Dark Live: SHARK WEEK’s live, late-night show, featuring updates from social media correspondent Taryn Southern, is back.Hashtag voting on Facebook lets viewers determine some of the live activities on-air and fans can stick around for the behind-the-scenes scoop after the show wraps, as the party continues for an extra 10 minutes, only at After Shark After Dark Liveon SharkWeek.com.
- Sharkified Snapchat: Breach the waters of the newly launched Snapchat account and add SharkWeekTV for exclusive updates throughout the week.
“We’re taking SHARK WEEK to a new level this year – complementing the incredible on-air lineup with more social integrations and more live online events than ever before," said Conal Byrne, Vice President of Digital Media at Discovery Communications. "From streaming Discovery's FinFest celebration at the start of the week to Facebook fans deciding the best SHARK WEEK moments of all time at the end of the week, SHARK WEEK 2014 is a non-stop, fan-focused extravaganza.”
This summer, Discovery and Volkswagen of America continue their SHARK WEEK partnership, bringing “Non-Stop Shark Week Challenges” featuring the all-new 2015 Golf TDI to Discovery.com, as well as once again making waves through the #VWSharkWeek hashtag.
Discovery has also teamed up with Dunkin’ Donuts to encourage fans to“Take a Bite, Take a Pic.” SHARK WEEK fin-atics are invited to share a selfie taking a bite out of their favorite breakfast item on Twitter or Instagram using #DDSharkWeek for a chance to win prizes and be featured on Shark After Dark Live.
Discovery’s SHARK WEEK is television’s longest-running, must-see summer TV event and will celebrate its 27th anniversary beginning Sunday, August 10 at 8pm ET/PT.
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About Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 98 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 225 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world’s #1 pay-TV programmer reaching 2.7 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity, engaging and entertaining viewers with high-quality content on worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery and Science, as well as U.S. joint venture network OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Discovery also controls Eurosport International, a premier sports entertainment group, including six pay-TV network brands across Europe and Asia. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, through Discovery Education, and a digital leader with a diversified online portfolio, including Discovery Digital Networks. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.