Debmar-Mercury Secures Syndication Rights for Discovery Series

LOS ANGELES, October 30: Debmar-Mercury has acquired the
U.S. syndication rights for two of Discovery Communications’ highest-rated
series—Deadliest Catch and American
Chopper—marking the first time that
Discovery has entered into the broadcast syndication market.

American Chopper will
be made available to broadcast stations for weekend scheduling beginning in
fall 2008, followed by Deadliest Catch in fall 2009.

Produced by Pilgrim Films and Television with executive
producer Craig Piligian, American Chopper
debuted on Discovery Channel in March 2003 and averaged more than 2.4 million
total viewers during its run on the network. The series re-launched in January
2007 on TLC as part of the TURBO
programming block. It centers on the lives of Paul Teutul Sr., Paul Teutul Jr.
and Mikey of Orange County Choppers, creators of outrageous custom motorcycles.
Each episode follows the day-to-day drama of this father and son team, as they
are up against deadlines and each other while pushing the limits of motorcycle
design and fabrication.

Deadliest Catch
debuted in 2005 and will begin its fourth season on Discovery Channel in April
2008. This Emmy-nominated series was Discovery Channel’s highest-rated series
in 2006, taking in a premiere average of more than 2.5 million total viewers
and delivering more than 3 million total viewers in 2007. The program explores
life-or-death voyages on the Bering Sea, following the brave captains and crews
of eight crab-fishing vessels as they battle treacherous weather conditions
while performing one of the deadliest—and most lucrative— jobs in
the world. Deadliest Catch is
produced for Discovery Channel by Original Productions, with Thom Beers and
Jeff Conroy serving as executive producers.

David Zaslav, the president and CEO of Discovery
Communications, commented: "The tremendous franchises we have built with Deadliest
Catch and American Chopper, coupled with our unique position among our
competitors in owning all of our content, has made this opportunity with
Debmar-Mercury possible. We look forward to introducing new audiences to our
previous seasons of these series and drawing them to upcoming premieres."

—By Kristin Brzoznowski