Discovery Communications Reveals Programming Slates for U.S. Networks

LOS ANGELES: Discovery Communications has released the slew of new and returning titles it will be premiering across its several networks, including the flagship Discovery Channel, along with Investigation Discovery, Science Channel and Animal Planet, among others.

Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid, which began airing last month, strands a man and a woman with no food, water or clothes in extreme environments with the goal of surviving for 21 days. The new season of American Muscle debuted this week, following the personal trainers at Barwis Methods Training Center as they work with several pro athletes. The latest run of Mythbusters also airs this month, along with the brand-new program Beasts of the Bayou, which explores the marshes of Louisiana. Additionally, the iconic summertime special Shark Week returns to the network on August 10 for its 27th season. Also returning are Airplane Repo, Alaska: The Last Frontier, Bering Sea Gold and Fast n’ Loud.

The new series Heartbreakers joins Investigation Discovery on August 13, using Hollywood actors from the ’80s and ’90s to recreate true stories of dreamboats who turned into total nightmares. Vanity Fair Confidential, airing later in Q4, features great crime dramas covered in the pages of the titular magazine, while the documentary A Question of Innocence explores the state of the death penalty in the U.S. and premieres tomorrow. The channel has also acquired the documentary The Joe Show, which tracks the career of controversial sheriff Joe Arpaio, for a Q4 debut, and has slated the original production about modern-day racism, Hate in America, for an early 2015 showing.

Animal Planet is moving into the scripted arena this fall with the two-hour feature The Whale, headlined by Martin Sheen. It is inspired by the classic Moby Dick. The network is also bringing back Pit Bulls & Parolees. This season, which launches September 27, marks the show's sixth.

Science Channel has scheduled the second season of The Unexplained Files for a July 29 premiere. The series takes a scientific look at paranormal mysteries.

Over at American Heroes Channel, the docudrama Gunslingers has been lined up to launch on July 20. The six-parter tracks the infamous icons and legendary conflicts from the Wild West.

Destination America’s Hillbilly Blood returns August 9 for a new season of backwoods living with Eugene Runkis and Spencer “Two-Dogs” Bolejack, the so-called country MacGyvers. The network has also given the go-ahead to the new series Buying the Rockies (working title), which features home-seekers looking to move up to mountain-top residences. That show is due out in the fall, along with a second season of Railroad Alaska.

Finally, Velocity debuts Dream Car Week, seven nights of exclusive programming focused on automobiles starting July 27. Series showcased during this event include the second-season premiere of Fantomworks, all-new episodes of Chasing Classic Cars, Overhaulin’, Wheeler Dealers and Graveyard Carz, and the debut of new series Garage Squad. The week ends with the two-hour TV event PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge 2, a competition where the prize is a sponsorship for one racecar drive.