HIT DRAMA SERIES "BATES MOTEL" AND "VIKINGS" RETURNS TO SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON ON FRIDAY, JULY 22

New York, NY - July 13, 2016 - Hit drama series A&E's "Bates Motel" and HISTORY(R)'s "Vikings" returns to San Diego Comic-Con with several exciting opportunities for fans, including cast panels with new exclusive footage, a "Vikings Vipers Den" at the convention center and a "Vikings" cast autograph session.

Please see details below and join in on the conversation by using #BatesMotel and #Vikings @HistoryVikings

A&E's "BATES MOTEL" PANEL - Friday, July 22 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Room 6A

A&E's hit drama series "Bates Motel" returns to SDCC on the heels of the pivotal Season 4. Join the cast: Vera Farmiga ("Norma"), Freddie Highmore ("Norman"), Max Thieriot ("Dylan Massett") and Nestor Carbonell ("Sheriff Alex Romero") along with creators and executive producers Kerry Ehrin and Carlton Cuse as they reveal exclusive content from the new season. Come join us and find out what's in store for Season 5!

HISTORY's "VIKINGS" PANEL - Friday, July 22 from 5:45-6:45 p.m., Room 6BCF

"Vikings" returns to SDCC. Travis Fimmel ("Ragnar"), Katheryn Winnick ("Lagertha"), Clive Standen ("Rollo"), Alexander Ludwig ("Bjorn"), Gustaf Skarsgard ("Floki") and Michael Hirst (writer/creator) will reveal an exclusive sneak peek of the new season. Don't miss out - come join them and find out what the gods have in store!

Below is a sneak peek to the trailer being shown during the Comic-Con panel, please share with your readers.

"VIKINGS" CAST AUTOGRAPH SESSION - San Diego Convention Center - Friday, July 22 from 4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Hosted by SDCC, 75 lucky fans will be chosen from a random drawing to attend an exclusive autograph signing with the "Vikings" cast. Please visit the autograph area information booth for details on how to participate in a limited signing drawing.

"VIKINGS" VIPERS DEN - San Diego Convention Center - Booth #4215 - July 20-24

There were many ways to die during the Vikings era, however the most brutal and sinister form of death was being thrown into a snake pit. HISTORY assimilates the torture and terror with the "Vikings" Vipers Den on the SDCC floor. Fans will experience the fear of being surrounded by real snakes in a dark, dank abyss with no immediate escape.

Attendees will have their screams and writhing captured on camera in sharable gifs and receive a "Vikings" viper cuff as a token of their triumph over death. Throughout the five day booth activation, there will be opportunities for fans to enter for chances to win tickets to the "Vikings" cast panel or the "Vikings" cast autograph session, both on Friday, July 22.

Also available to fans while supplies last is a custom "Vikings" limited edition comic book from a story created by Michael Hirst, exclusively for SDCC and a "Vikings" drinking horn.

Please join in the conversation by using hashtag #Vikings @HistoryVikings

About "Vikings"

From creator and sole writer Michael Hirst (Academy Award(R) winning film Elizabeth and the Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) nominated series "The Tudors"), "Vikings" is a family saga that tells the remarkable tales of the lives and epic adventures of the raiders and explorers of the Dark Ages. The remaining 10 episodes of season four is slated to air this fall.

About "Bates Motel"

This contemporary prequel to the genre-defining film Psycho gives viewers an intimate portrayal of how Norman Bates' psyche unravels through his teenage years. "Bates Motel" gives fans access to the dark, twisted backstory of Norman Bates and how deeply intricate his relationship with his mother, Norma, truly is. "Bates Motel" returns for a fifth season in 2017.