Discovery en Español, Discovery Familia Ramp Up Programming

NEW YORK: At the Discovery U.S. Hispanic Upfront, a host of new and returning series were introduced for Discovery en Español, which is full of adrenaline-charged shows, and for the female-skewed Discovery en Familia, which will be building thematic nights to support key genres.

Discovery en Español continues to build up its "adrenaline" genre, with new additions such as Bear Grylls: Escape from Hell (Bear Grylls: escapando del infierno), which reveals true-life stories of people who have survived extreme situations. Manhunt (Hombre en la mira) challenges an experienced Special Operations warrior to survive, evade, resist and escape in a foreign land. There’s also the original production Dual Survivor Brazil (Desafio x 2: Brasil), in which two survivalists with very different training are dropped in remote and dangerous areas, tasked with finding civilization.

There are several real-life dramas coming to Discovery en Español as well. These include Forbidden (Prohibido), which explores extreme human behavior around the world; The Unbelievable Truth (Le verdad increible), criss-crossing the globe on a voyage of discovery; The Unexplained (Lo inexplicable), examining anomalies; and Monsters & Mysteries in America (Monstruos y misterios en América), featuring stories of the unknown.

There are three series in the category of "ingenuity." They include two original productions: Soccer Lab (Fútbol Lab), a studio-based series hosted by a soccer journalist, and Exclusive Access Los Tuzos del Pachuca, a docu-reality series returning for a second season. There’s also Building the World Cup (Armando el Mundial) about Brazil’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup.

A new category for the network is "vroom." This will feature shows dedicated to motoring. Original productions in development include El Rey del Low Rider and Texas Chrome. The strand also includes Fast N’ Loud (El dúo mecánico), Overhaulin’ and the original One Car Too Far season two (Aventura 4×4).

Discovery en Español also has series dedicated to "wild discovery." Among them Underworld (Mundo Profundo) follows expert cave diver Curt Bowen and his team as they look for history’s buried secrets, while Africa comes from the documentary team behind the natural-history series Life.

Discovery en Familia will be focused on the genres of parenting, health, beauty and home. Its schedule will be structured on thematic nights to support these key genres.

In the way of parenting programming, there are Family SOS with Jo Frost (Jo Frost al rescate); One Born Every Minute (Un bebé por minuto), set in a maternity ward; and Secretly Pregnant season two (Embarazo secreto). The network’s health-based programming includes Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners (Limpieza obsesiva) as well as Food Hospital (Comida curativa) and Health Minute with Dr. Velasco (Un minto de Salud con la Dr. Velasco).

Two new beauty programs have made the schedule: Beauty and the Beast (La bella y la bestia), which watches as people with facial disfigurements confront self-confessed beauty addicts, and Stitch me, Lift me, Tuck me (Cóseme, estírame, emparéjame!), which looks at an exclusive cosmetic surgery clinic.

The network’s "my home" category will see a fourth season of Love It or List It (Vívala o véndala) join the schedule alongside Mad About the House (Locos por la casa).

Two new shows were announced for the Discovery Kids programming block on Discovery Familia. They are Monster Math Squad (Matemonstrous) and season two of Rob the Robot (Rob el robot).

“Our U.S. Hispanic networks offer the best of Discovery, which resonates well with the Spanish-language Hispanic community and allows us to continue to grow across all major demos of this key demographic,” said Ivan Bargueiras, the general manager of Discovery U.S. Hispanic’s networks. “Based on our proven success, we are strengthening our programming slate with new series based on our viewers’ well-known passions and preferences, along with returning favorites that support our traditional quality content.”