Discovery adds spice to its programming

Discovery Channel has decided to spice up its programming with 'Egypt Week'. As Raja Balasubramanian, brand director, Discovery Networks India, says, “Egypt week is full of glamour, intrigue and mystery.” He claims that the treatment of these shows is no less than a Hollywood movie.”

Starting April 24 at 8 pm, the channel has lined up a four-episode series on the mysteries of Egypt. The episode features the discovery of a skull that may have ties to the Biblical story of Exodus.

In the show, 'Rameses: Wrath of God or Man', Egyptologist Kent Weeks attempts to determine whether the skull is of Rameses’ firstborn son. Assisting him in this project is investigative reporter Charles Sennott, who tracks the highlights of exodus at the Nile Delta, the dry deserts of southern Egypt and Mt. Sinai on the edge of the Red Sea.

In the second episode on April 25, Discovery Channel investigates the murder mystery behind Cleopatra's death. In the show, 'The Mysterious Death of Cleopatra', criminal profiler Pat Brown with a team of experts, including an underwater archaeologist and a toxicologist, uses techniques of 21st century criminal investigations to re-examine the circumstances of her alleged suicide.

In the show 'Sphinx Unmasked', on April 26, Egyptologist and Old Kingdom expert of the French Institute in Cairo, Vassil Dobrev unveils the mysterious sphinx. As Dobrev’s plot unfolds, carefully crafted dramatisations complemented by computer generated imagery from a special effects team, resurrect the Sphinx in all its former painted glory and answer questions that have baffled Egyptologists for centuries.

The fourth story is more contemporary. On April 27, 'Pharaoh's Revenge: Egypt's Lost Treasure', tells the story of the mummy of Rameses I on its return to Luxor in 2003. In the 1850s, the mummy was spirited out of Egypt for display in a Canadian museum. Now, with help from a museum in Atlanta, the Egyptian relic makes its way back home to a spot reserved specially for the mummy.

Industry experts are of the opinion that special programmings work out very well for niche channels such as Discovery.

The 'Science of Star Wars' is another mega property that Discovery is banking on. Balasubramanian says, “While the first movie on Star Wars was made, a lot of fictional stuff shown in the movie has now turned out to be a reality. This show will disclose several such aspects.” This show will be aired in June. He also confirmed that just like other mega properties, this show will also be promoted very aggressively.

The other huge property for Discovery is 'The Da Vinci Code', where the channel discovers the truth behind the story of Dan Brown's best-selling novel.

The channel has recently introduced a specific time band. For instance, every day after 11 pm, there is a new band, 'After Dark' – dedicated to murders and mysteries. The 9 pm time band is for history-specific programmes.

Balasubramanian says, “These specific time bands will certainly make viewers more regular to the channel, even if they don't increase appointment viewing.” © 2005 agencyfaqs!