Discovery Channel will definitively answer the question ‘Do sharks and mummies mix?’ this April with the debut of a series and a movie focusing on each of those two ever-popular topics.
Egypt’s untold secrets will be the focus of a new mini-series starting April 23 at 10 p.m. ET (11 p.m. PT) called Egypt Unwrapped. The six-episode, hour-long show will tackle such time-honoured topics as Ramses the Great, the ‘riddle of the Sphinx’ and pyramid construction. The show should benefit from the hype for all things Egypt that will be whipped up the week before with Egypt Week, a six-day stretch featuring eight hours of new programming. New programs to the channel include Cleopatra: Portrait of a Killer and King Tut Unwrapped.
King Tut Unwrapped will be promoted on-air the week prior to its broadcast in spots that will tease viewers to the upcoming Egypt Week. During Egypt Week, on-air promos will direct viewers to the Discovery Channel website, where a new Egypt fact will be posted on the homepage every day.
The themed programming will be mirrored on sister channel Discovery Civilization, which will also air Egypt Week from April 11 to 16. Much of the programming will be the same as Discovery, but Civilization will air a two-part special called Out of Egypt (2 x 60) focusing on the ‘reasons and motives behind the value we place on treasured flesh and bone. The Civilization version of Egypt Week will be promoted on it and its sister channels, Animal Planet and Travel+Escape that week as well.
April will also be home to the Discovery premiere of Sharkwater, the Canadian feature-length documentary that follows biologist Rob Stewart as he travels the world to expose the destruction of shark populations to myths and nefarious industries. April will also see the return of Deadliest Catch (16 x 60) starting Tuesday, April 20 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Traditional on-air tags will promote the movie leading up to its premiere.
