SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL(TM) HEADS TO THE FROZEN FORESTS OF NORTHERN EUROPE TO WITNESS A BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL IN

"WOLF VS. BEAR"

NEW SPECIAL PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 AT 9PM ET/PT

NEW YORK - February 27, 2019 - Smithsonian Channel's new special WOLF VS. BEAR brings two archenemies together in a fight for food and survival. Shot over the course of a full year across the far northern wild of Norway, Finland and Russia, this one-hour special follows the tracks of two of nature's most formidable predators and shows what makes both creatures optimal predatory machines, albeit with remarkably different strategies. Their goals are the same and are driven by the most basic of primal instincts - to hunt and breed. Each must do what it takes to endure the harsh northern wilderness and make it through the year. The competition unfolds in WOLF VS. BEAR, premiering Wednesday, March 27 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

As winter turns to spring, the hibernating brown bears awaken and compete with alpha wolves on the hunt. Swampy clearings become the perfect place to search, but it also becomes a contested battleground between the two, each vying for the same territory and prey. Filmmakers were able to capture stunning film of these animals' behaviors, tracking their every move and often waiting weeks on end for these incredibly timid and circumspect characters to present themselves. Cameras caught the wolves' buffet of reindeer carcass and the bears' spring feast of frozen carrion, each event a rare glimpse into the ingenuity and resilience of the wild.

WOLF VS. BEAR reveals how the wolf's agility and wit is a match for the brown bear's size and brute strength, but when survival is on the line, who will come out on top? While these meetings between wolves and bears do not occur often, this fascinating clash of predators offers a unique glimpse into the hidden world of nature's battlefield.

WOLF VS. BEAR is produced by Earth Touch Productions and Smithsonian Networks. Graeme Duane serves as executive producer and Mea Trenor serves as producer for Earth Touch. Tim Evans and David Royle serve as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel(TM), owned by Smithsonian Networks(TM), a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing factual entertainment, available in HD and 4K Ultra HD across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel, winner of Emmy(R) and Peabody awards for its programming, combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME(R) with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, travel, history, science, nature and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, America in Color, The Lost Tapes, Mighty Ships, Million Dollar American Princesses, The Pacific War in Color and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include The Coronation, The Mountain Lion and Me, Earth from Outer Space and Titanoboa: Monster Snake. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Channel Plus(TM), a subscription video streaming service delivering over a thousand hours of the Channel's stunning and diverse library of documentaries and series in HD and 4K Ultra HD. Smithsonian Channel is also available internationally in Canada, Singapore, Latin America and the UK. To learn more, go to www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.