DISCOVERY CHANNEL'S LANDMARK SERIES LIFE LAUNCHES IN UNPRECEDENTED SIMULCAST ACROSS SEVEN DISCOVERY U.S. NETWORKS ON MARCH 21, 2010
Series to Premiere Across All Discovery Networks with HD Simulcast Feeds
(Silver Spring, Md.) - Discovery Communications announced today that Discovery Channel's next landmark natural history series, LIFE, from the makers of PLANET EARTH, will have its two-hour premiere across seven Discovery U.S. networks. In addition to Discovery Channel, LIFE will debut simultaneously on TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery, Planet Green and Discovery Health Channel from 8-10PM ET on Sunday, March 21, 2010. The remainder of the series will air on consecutive Sundays from 8-10PM ET through April 18 only on Discovery Channel.
"PLANET EARTH captivated the world unlike any other natural history series before or since...until now," said Clark Bunting, president and general manager, Discovery Channel and president, Science Channel. "LIFE embodies Discovery's 25-year mission to satisfy viewers' curiosity about the world and its inhabitants. We want to give as many viewers as possible the opportunity to experience LIFE in its premiere telecast; we are confident they will be astounded."
Discovery launched six HD simulcasts for its networks over the past three years, which will allow HD subscribers to watch the premiere of LIFE in high definition on the following channels: Discovery Channel HD; TLC HD; Animal Planet HD; Science Channel HD; Investigation Discovery HD; and Planet Green HD.
"Our investment in HD allows us to drive extraordinary value for our distributors and give millions more viewers access to this groundbreaking television event as it was meant to be experienced, in true high-definition," added David Zaslav, president and CEO, Discovery Communications.
Narrated by global media leader and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey and more than four years in the making, the 11-part series LIFE is the definitive exploration of the adaptability and diversity of life on earth, revealing the most spectacular, bizarre and fascinating behaviors that living things have devised to thrive. The premiere episode of LIFE, Challenges of Life, provides an overview and sets the stage for the ambitious series. A special Making Of episode caps the series and tells the incredible stories of the dozens of men and women who spent days, weeks and months patiently waiting for a perfect shot. Other episodes showcase Birds, deep sea marine invertebrates (Creatures of the Deep), Fish, hunting mammals (Hunters and Hunted), Insects, Mammals, Plants, Primates and Reptiles & Amphibians.
Following its premiere across the seven Discovery U.S. networks, LIFE will air in two-episode installments each Sunday on Discovery Channel and Discovery Channel HD from 8-10PM ET, culminating with The Making of LIFE at 10PM ET on April 18.
Discovery Channel's epic series PLANET EARTH rewrote TV history in 2007 when it became cable's highest-rated natural history program of all time, with more than 65 million viewers. (cume, all dayparts, 1-min. qualifier, including the two-hour "Filmmakers' Story" special). For its achievements, PLANET EARTH earned four Emmys, a George Foster Peabody, and a Television Academy Honors Award.
LIFE is a BBC and Discovery Channel co-production. Mike Gunton is the executive producer for the BBC. Susan Winslow is the executive producer for Discovery Channel. Discovery Channel and the BBC also created the award-winning natural history series PLANET EARTH and BLUE PLANET.
LIFE will be available on DVD and Blu-ray at Discoverystore.com and retailers nationwide June 1. Discoverystore.com is now accepting pre-orders.
LIFE on Discovery Channel will be presented by Target. Other major sponsors include Sprint, Volkswagen, GEICO and Discover.
For more information and to begin exploring LIFE, visit www.discovery.com/life.
About Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel (DSC) 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 reaches 99.8 million viewers in the US, 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 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 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.
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