SPIKE TV ORDERS 26 ADDITIONAL EPISODES OF "AUCTION HUNTERS" AND 13 EPISODES OF "AMERICAN DIGGER"
New York, NY, August 7, 2012 - Spike TV has ordered new seasons of two of the network's highest-rated non-scripted series that have successfully broadened and expanded the channel's audience. Spike has picked up a fourth season of 26 episodes of "Auction Hunters," starring the two best prospectors in the business, Allen Haff and Ton Jones. The network also ordered 13 episodes of "American Digger," following the American Savage team, led by former professional wrestler-turned-modern-day relic hunter Ric Savage. The announcement was made today by Sharon Levy, Spike TV's Executive Vice President, Original Series.
The recently completed season three of "Auction Hunters" (March 21-June 6) delivered 1.9 million viewers and improved the timeslot with Men 18-49 by +102% and Men 35-49 by +121%. The debut season of "American Digger" (March 6-June 6) delivered 1.2 million viewers and upped the timeslot with Men 35-49 by +36% and +11% with Men 18-49.
"We are thrilled to bring back new episodes of two of our most popular shows that speak to the network's mission of delivering bold, non-scripted entertainment with real stakes," said Levy.
Both "Auction Hunters" and "American Digger" will go into production this fall and new seasons will air in 2013.
"Auction Hunters" and "American Digger" are produced by Gurney Productions and executive produced by Scott Gurney and Deirdre Gurney.
About "Auction Hunters":
Every year in America, 50,000 storage facilities hold auctions for abandoned storage units and, at these auctions, over $1 billion worth of goods changes hands. Each unit has the potential to be a goldmine or a bust for those who make their living hunting unclaimed property. "Auction Hunters" cuts the lock and opens the door into the high stakes, financial risks and potential rewards where the right purchase can bring in serious cash. The series follows Haff and Jones in their quest to win auctions, dig for abandoned historical treasure and sell them for a profit.
About "American Digger":
In the US, there are millions of historical relics buried in backyards just waiting to be discovered and turned into profit. "American Digger" hopes to claim a piece of that pie as the series travels to a different city each week searching for high-value artifacts and relics, some of which have been untouched for centuries. After pinpointing historical locations such as Civil War and Revolutionary War battlefields, Savage's first task is to convince reluctant homeowners to let his team dig up their property using state-of-the-art metal detectors and heavy-duty excavation equipment. The team will then sell any artifacts found for a substantial profit by consulting experts and scouring the antique and collectible markets, but not before negotiating a deal to divide the revenue with the property owners.
About Spike TV:
Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV's Internet address is www.spike.com.
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