Mike Baker Returns for New Season of 'Black Files Declassified' March 9 on Science Channel

STRANGER THAN SCIENCE FICTION: FORMER CIA OPERATIVE MIKE BAKER RETURNS TO INVESTIGATE TOP-SECRET GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS IN NEW SEASON OF 'BLACK FILES DECLASSIFIED'

'BLACK FILES DECLASSIFIED' Premieres Wednesday, March 9 at 9 PM ET/PT on Science Channel

(NEW YORK) - Every year, there are billions of dollars allocated to clandestine government programs around the world known as the 'black budget.' Each individual operation is known as a Black File, and each is shrouded in secrecy and mystery. What are these classified government programs? What is their purpose, and what do they reveal about our world? In an all-new season of BLACK FILES DECLASSIFIED, former CIA operative, Mike Baker, follows the money trail each week to reveal the many secrets at the core of these Black Files and pull back the curtain on the secret government programs that sometimes sound more like science fiction than truth.

A new season of BLACK FILES DECLASSIFIED premieres Wednesday, March 9 at 9pm ET/PT on Science Channel. Follow the conversation on social media with #BlackFilesDeclassified, and follow Science Channel on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.

With unprecedented access, Mike is able to dig into these top-secret government programs steeped in cutting edge science and conduct his own research by speaking with experts, journalists, and former government and Black File officials.

This season, Mike will explore a top-secret aerospace program that, according to recently uncovered documents, has been involved in investigations into the paranormal such as werewolves, ghosts, cattle mutilations and more. When the US Navy recently confirmed the existence of a covert group investigating unknown aerial phenomena, AATIP, or the Advanced Aerial Threat Identification Program became front page news. But there is a much more secretive and equally shadowy precursor to AATIP known as AAWSAP, or the Advanced Aerospace Weapon Systems Applications Program. Their focus was firmly on what can only be termed as "the real-life X Files." But how and why was our government investigating such phenomena? And how does it affect the safety of our nation?

Also this season, Mike investigates what's been called one of America's best kept secrets - a list of emergency powers the President has at their disposal during extreme events like nuclear war or governmental collapse. Recently, there have been calls in Congress to limit the powers coming from a Black File called PEADS, short for 'Presidential Emergency Action Documents.' These highly secretive documents confer extraordinary and unlimited Presidential powers during "Acts of Wartime" without any congressional approval or oversight. What are the scenarios that trigger PEADS and what powers do they contain?

Each week, BLACK FILES DECLASSIFIED will seek out the truth behind some of the world's most intriguing secret operations. From unraveling the mystery behind a sighting of the famous Black Budget funded squadron known as the Red Eagles 30 years after they were decommissioned, to exploring one of the most daring Black Budget funded special operations in history known only as Mission 7, each week Mike will choose another truth to seek behind some of the world's greatest mysteries.

BLACK FILES DECLASSIFIED is produced for Science Channel by Espiritus Productions and Arcadia Entertainment. For Espiritus Productions executive producers are Bill and Michelle Katz. For Arcadia Entertainment, executive producer is John Wesley Chisholm. For Science Channel, Neil Laird is Executive Producer and Andrew Lessner is Producer.

About Science Channel

Science Channel, a multi-media business unit of Discovery, Inc. is the home of all things science around the clock, including series such as MYTHBUSTERS, WHAT ON EARTH?, HOW THE UNIVERSE WORKS, UNEARTHED, and MYSTERIES OF THE ABANDONED. Science Channel's programming also includes timely, expert-driven specials covering breaking science news and discoveries. Science Channel is the premiere TV, digital and social community for those with a passion for science, space, technology, archeology, and engineering, providing immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment across all Science Channel assets including: Science Channel television network, available in more than 63 million homes in the U.S; complimentary Video On Demand offering; SCI Go app allowing viewers to catch up on full episodes of their favorite shows anytime; deep video, interactive storytelling and virtual reality at www.sciencechannel.com; and conversations on Science Channel's popular social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat via @ScienceChannel.

About Discovery

Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Eurosport Player, Food Network Kitchen and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discovery's portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and the forthcoming multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.