NEW YORK – September 22, 2017 – Smithsonian Channel announces a lineup of wildlife programs set to premiere through 2018. Smithsonian Channel has become a destination for the best in factual television, including blue-chip nature and wildlife programming. These four upcoming programs capture, in stunning 4K, that standard of entertainment and enlightenment through smart stories, unique perspectives and breathtaking visuals.
"We are making an ongoing commitment to wildlife and conservation programs, and have become a world leader in natural history production," said David Royle, Executive Vice President of Programming and Production, Smithsonian Channel. "We are one of the few channels to commit an entire night of prime time programming, every week, to exploring and celebrating the natural world, and we are proud to feature today's most talented wildlife filmmakers."
AMERICA'S BADLANDS, set in the harsh yet beautiful landscape of South Dakota, features one of the last remaining outposts of black-tailed prairie dogs. Life is tough as blistering heat, ceaseless winds and punishing cold pummel the colony. The documentary follows their hardships, competition and fight for survival as seasons change, and neighbors and predators encroach on their beloved territory. AMERICA'S BADLANDS is produced by Mike Birkhead Associates. It is a co-production between Terra Mater Factual Studios and Smithsonian Networks set to premiere in December.
THE MOUNTAIN LION AND ME (WORKING TITLE) chronicles Casey Anderson's quest to document the life of a female mountain lion that hunts in his backyard in southwest Montana. Over a one-year period, Anderson follows in the tracks of the lion, capturing an unprecedented intimate look at mountain lion behavior as she struggles to raise three kittens. The documentary is produced by Vison Hawk Films and set to premiere in February 2018.
FISHING FOR GIANTS follows extreme angler Andy Coetzee as he travels the world in search of the largest and most elusive fish species on the planet. He's obstinate, passionate and determined to catch these monster fish with only a rod and a line. To catch these giants, he must immerse himself in their world and push himself to the limit in some of the wildest places on earth. The series is produced by Earth Touch and set to premiere in April 2018.
THE LIZARD'S TALE (WORKING TITLE) follows biologists and wildlife filmmakers Neil Losin and Nathan Dappen on their year-long journey to discover how lizards have evolved to meet every new challenge they face with an ingenious adaptation. Traveling from remote forests and tiny islands to high-tech labs and big cities, they reveal how simple rules can explain the complexity of nature and how these unassuming lizards could change the way people think about life on Earth. The documentary is produced by Day's Edge Productions, and a premiere date has not been set.
Smithsonian Channel™, owned by Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME® with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, Million Dollar American Princesses, Polar Bear Town, The Weapon Hunter, The Lost Tapes, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Building Star Trek, The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima, MLK: The Assassination Tapes and The Day Kennedy Died. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Earth(TM), through SN Digital LLC., a new subscription video streaming service delivering spectacular original nature and wildlife content. To learn more, go to https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/&source=gmail&ust=1506544881549000&usg=AFQjCNGUjQoLIkQoLeBz7DAKo7igMKRGRw">www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://facebook.com/SmithsonianChannel&source=gmail&ust=1506544881549000&usg=AFQjCNFY3sxvuZxupWZuGaC1HKZmxoxn1w">Facebook, https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://twitter.com/@SmithsonianChan&source=gmail&ust=1506544881549000&usg=AFQjCNFCWnLfzmzYCfDtskl02iit6Gxgzw">Twitter, and https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.instagram.com/Smithsonian_Channel/&source=gmail&ust=1506544881550000&usg=AFQjCNGhHg_yPebWkQqwgd8qbKd7zk4lNA">Instagram.
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Whitney Bell
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