Spike TV Green Lights Original Series 'Surviving Disaster' and 'Deadliest Warrior' for 2009
Network Announces Season 2 Renewal For 'DEA'
NEW YORK, Oct. 16 -- Spike TV has given the green light to
two of its most ambitious new projects for series and has renewed its
successful original series, "DEA," all slated to premiere in 2009.
Production on the new distinctive original series "Surviving Disaster"
(working title) and "Deadliest Warrior," and season two of "DEA" will begin
this fall, it was announced today by Sharon Levy, senior vice president of
original series for Spike TV.
"Spike TV is taking action-packed programming to an entirely new
level," says Levy. "We're thrilled to be in business with some of the most
talented and successful producers in the industry and bring this
programming to viewers."
In "Surviving Disaster," Spike TV presents a series, unlike any other
on television, that may actually save a life. What's the best way to
survive an earthquake, shark attack, plane crash, bioterrorism, hostage
crisis or deadly tsunami? For the sake of viewers and their families, it's
imperative to know how to survive disaster, both natural and man-made, and
former Navy SEAL Cade Courtley (Mark Burnett's "Combat Missions") is just
the guy to lead viewers to safety in this elaborate step-by-step weekly
series. With some of the most elaborate disaster simulations ever created
for television, "Surviving Disaster" is a look at how people can arm
themselves with knowledge that could save their lives in the event of
disaster.
Ten one-hour episodes of "Surviving Disaster" will be produced by Wall
to Wall Media ("Man On a Wire," "Frontier House," "Spymaster," "Ancient
Egyptians") with Alex Graham and Jonathan Hewes serving as executive
producers.
With the series "Deadliest Warrior," Spike TV will settle once and for
all the age-old bar bet of who is history's ultimate fighting machine. Each
week, this original, action-packed yet historical narrative series will pit
two of the most feared warriors civilization has ever known against one
another. Who would come out the victor in a battle of Genghis Kahn's Mongol
Barbarians versus Viking warriors or Roman gladiators against Japanese
samurai? Utilizing the latest in CGI technology, Spike TV will enlist
experts on these warriors to provide insight into what made these feared
combatants tick and analyze everything from their weaponry to their unique
skills of destruction. Each episode will culminate when the two legends of
the battlefield go head-to-head in a final fight that will produce the
deadliest warrior.
Nine one-hour episodes of "Deadliest Warrior" will be produced by
Morningstar Entertainment ("Battleground: The Art of War," "Manhunters --
Fugitive Task Force") with Gary Tarpanian and Paninee Theeranuntawat
serving as executive producers.
"DEA" returns for a second season on Spike TV as the network once again
was given exclusive access to follow a group of Special Agents and Task
Force Officers in the DEA as they put their lives on the line in a daily
battle against the ruthless illegal drug industry with individuals ranging
from street level dealers all the way up to international traffickers.
Production begins this fall for season two in a city to be announced at a
later date.
"DEA" averaged 1.2 million viewers for its premiere season (April-May,
2008) and gave the network a 132% increase in viewership in its timeslot.
"DEA" ranked #4 in all of cable in its timeslot among Men 18-34 and 18-49.
Nine new episodes of "DEA" will be produced for Spike TV by Al Roker
Entertainment, Inc. and Size 12 Productions. Executive producers for the
series are Al Roker for Al Roker Entertainment and Russell Muth and Hank
Capshaw for Size 12 Productions. Co-executive producer for Al Roker
Entertainment is Michael Kaufman. Tim Duffy is Spike TV's executive in
charge of production.
Spike TV is available in 97.3 million homes and is a division of MTV
Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the
world's leading creators of programming and content across all media
platforms. Spike TV's Internet address is http://www.spike.com.
|