or


[10/29/07 - 01:16 PM]
Debmar-Mercury Secures First Ever Discovery Domestic Syndication Rights
"American Chopper" will be made available to broadcast stations for weekend scheduling beginning in Fall 2008 and "Deadliest Catch" in Fall 2009.

[via press release from Debmar-Mercury]

DEBMAR-MERCURY SECURES FIRST EVER DISCOVERY DOMESTIC SYNDICATION RIGHTS

Two of Discovery 's Highest-Rated Shows, Deadliest Catch and American Chopper, Will Be Available to Broadcast TV For First Time

LOS ANGELES (October 29, 2007) � Debmar-Mercury has acquired domestic 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. It was announced today by Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein and Discovery Communications President and CEO David Zaslav.

American Chopper will be made available to broadcast stations for weekend scheduling beginning in Fall 2008 and Deadliest Catch in Fall 2009.

"We are thrilled to work with Discovery Communications on their very first syndication deal," said Debmar-Mercury Co-President Mort Marcus. "We are seeing a big after market for cable series on broadcast television and anticipate strong station demand for Deadliest Catch and American Chopper because they are of such high caliber," added co-president Ira Bernstein.

"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," said David Zaslav, President and CEO, Discovery Communications. "We look forward to introducing new audiences to our previous seasons of these series and drawing them to upcoming premieres."

American Chopper debuted on Discovery Channel in March 2003 and averaged more than 2.4 million total viewers during its run on the on the network. The series relaunched in January 2007 on TLC as part of the network's TURBO block of action-packed programming. The series profiles the lives of New York natives Paul Teutul Sr., Paul Teutul Jr. and Mikey of Orange County Choppers, creators of the world's most outrageous custom motorcycles. Each episode captures the day-to-day drama of this volatile father and son team as they battle impossible deadlines and each other and push the envelope of motorcycle design and fabrication. American Chopper is produced by Pilgrim Films and Television with executive producer Craig Piligian.

Deadliest Catch will begin its fourth season on Discovery Channel in April 2008, having debuted in 2005. This Emmy�-nominated series was Discovery Channel's highest-rated series in 2006, garnering a premiere average of more than 2.5 million total viewers and in 2007, the series delivered more than 3 million total viewers. The program takes viewers on a life-or-death voyage to the Bering Sea to follow the brave captains and crews of eight crab-fishing vessels as they struggle against treacherous weather conditions doing one of the deadliest � and most lucrative � jobs in the world. Deadliest Catch is produced for Discovery Channel by Original Productions. Thom Beers and Jeff Conroy are executive producers.

About Debmar-Mercury

Debmar-Mercury is a worldwide production and distribution media company specializing in syndication, cable, network, VOD/Pay-Per-View and Pay TV. The company distributes Tyler Perry's first-run syndicated sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne, which premiered on TBS June, 2007 to record-breaking ratings and will be followed in September, 2008 with a four year concurrent syndication run on FOX owned television stations. Debmar-Mercury also owns the domestic distribution rights to the groundbreaking sitcom, South Park, as well as Family Feud, The Surreal Life family of celebrity-based reality shows, the Sci-Fi Channel's hit series Farscape, USA Network's The Dead Zone, National Geographic's Really Wild Animals and an extensive movie library featuring titles from Revolution Studios and Lionsgate. Debmar-Mercury is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the premier independent filmed entertainment studio.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications is the number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Through TV and digital media, Discovery's 100-plus worldwide networks include Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, The Science Channel, Discovery Health and HD Theater. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.





  [october 2007]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· AMERICAN CHOPPER (DISCOVERY)
· DEADLIEST CATCH (DISCOVERY)





[03/03/26 - 03:30 PM]
ABC's Beloved Comedy "Scrubs" Returns with Over 11 Million Total Audience to Date
On linear over three days, "Scrubs" was the top comedy telecast among Adults 18-49 (0.74 rating) on any network (excluding post-NFL telecasts) in over a year.

[03/03/26 - 03:00 PM]
"Marshals" Premiere on CBS Is the Most-Watched New Scripted Debut Without a Football Lead-In Since 2018, with 9.5 Million Viewers
"Marshals," "Tracker" and "60 Minutes" are the top three series on television for the week.

[03/03/26 - 02:04 PM]
FOX's "Doc" and American Red Cross Rally Fans to Give Blood During Red Cross Month
FOX is kicking off the campaign with a $20,000 donation to the Red Cross and encouraging fans across the country to help give others a second chance at life by giving blood and engaging on social media to further amplify the campaign and support critical blood collection efforts nationwide.

[03/03/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of February 23 - "Bridgerton" Season 4 Lives Happily Ever After at No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
Coming in at No. 2 on the English TV list is Season 3 of "The Night Agent" with 9.9 million views.

[03/03/26 - 11:01 AM]
Here Come the VIPs: Celebrities Are Entering the World of "Squid Game"
With more on the line than ever before, players and celebrity VIPs enter the "Squid Game: The VIP Challenge" for the chance at winning it all.

[03/03/26 - 11:01 AM]
Lacey Chabert and Scott Michael Foster Star in "Paris Is Always a Good Idea" A New, Limited Series Premiering Later This Year Exclusively on Hallmark+
Based on the bestselling romance novel of the same name by Jenn McKinlay, the six-episode limited series is shooting on location in Paris and Spain.

[03/03/26 - 10:42 AM]
"Foul Play with Anthony Davis" Star Studded Lineup Including LeBron James, Jordan Chiles, Tara Lipinski, Howie Mandel, Cooper Flagg, Puka Nacua and More Ignite the Ultimate Prank Wars
Hosted by 10-time NBA All-Star and Washington Wizards' Anthony Davis, the series will premiere on Monday, April 6 following the NCAA Championship Game and will simulcast across TBS,?TNT?and truTV.

[03/03/26 - 10:16 AM]
NBC Renews Innovative Reality Travel Competition Series "Destination X" for Season Two
Produced by Twofour and Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group, production on "Destination X" will begin later this year.

[03/03/26 - 10:02 AM]
HBO Original Documentary Series "Born to Bowl" Debuts March 16
The series takes viewers inside the colorful world of professional bowling, chronicling five stars of the sport - Kyle Troup, Anthony Simonsen, EJ Tackett, Cameron Crowe, and Jason Belmonte - as they chase glory, respect, and much-needed prize money on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour.

[03/03/26 - 10:01 AM]
"Little House on the Prairie" Renewed for Season 2 Ahead of Series Premiere
Netflix's upcoming adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's enduring, almost 100-year-old book series about growing up in the American West in the 1800s, will premiere on July 9, 2026 - and it's already coming back for more.

[03/03/26 - 09:43 AM]
OWN Celebrates Women's History Month with a Special OWN Spotlight Honoring the Life and Legacy of Roberta Flack
"OWN Spotlight: Roberta" airs Thursday, March 12 at 9pm ET/PT on OWN.

[03/03/26 - 09:09 AM]
TNT Sports Announces Multi-Year Extensions with Jimmy Rollins and Jeff Francoeur
MLB Tuesday on TBS will open its 2026 regular season coverage on Tuesday, March 31, with a matchup of baseball's home run leaders from the past two seasons: 2025 Home Run Champion Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners will host 2024 Home Run Champion Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees at 9:30 p.m. ET.

[03/03/26 - 09:06 AM]
Meet Your Max and Chloe in the Upcoming "Life Is Strange" Series on Prime Video
Tatum Grace Hopkins and Maisy Stella have been cast as Max Caulfield and Chloe Price, respectively.

[03/03/26 - 09:01 AM]
The History Channel Announces Global Rollout of Landmark Series "World War II with Tom Hanks" Launching This Memorial Day
The landmark 20-episode documentary series reexamines World War II through the lens of a new century, offering a deeply human portrait of how the modern world was forged in the fires of global conflict.

[03/03/26 - 08:54 AM]
Intense, Action-Packed Ukrainian Series "Double Stakes" Makes Exclusive U.S. Debut Thursday, March 19, 2026 on European Streamer Viaplay
Arriving at a cultural moment when American audiences are hungry for authentic stories from Ukraine, this eight-part series blends the moody atmospherics of Nordic Noir with the gritty realism of a modern Ukraine.