Discovery Times Triples Original Lineup

Cable World, Sept 8, 2003

Byline: SHIRLEY BRADY

The Discovery Times Channel is now the exclusive TV home of the News and Documentary Emmy Awards, which last week presented 11 Emmys to cable programmers. The never-before-telecast event will run on Discovery Times starting with the 25th annual awards in Sept. 2004, marking a first for both the network and the National Television Academy.

Showcasing the best in journalism and documentaries is on-brand for Discovery Times, which was known as the Discovery Civilization Channel before rebranding in March following a partnership with the New York Times Company. "We're not a news network," says Vivian Schiller, SVP and GM of Discovery Times, "but we engage the viewer through compelling documentaries that go beyond the headlines."

The network has tripled its original programming lineup this year, adding new specials such as Making the Grade, its exploration of national testing standards that ran last week, and Learning the Hard Way (Sept. 9), which shows how California's budget deficit hurts students. The network is also marking the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with two specials that evening. Why US?, a documentary that examines the roots of hatred toward America, started shooting on Sept. 12, 2001, with a cross-country roadtrip capturing Americans' reaction to the attacks. The evening will also feature an updated version of New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman's unflinching documentary on post-9/11 fallout.

Discovery Times next sets its sights on racism with three exclusive docs premiering in prime time in October. Peter Gilbert, creator of Hoop Dreams, tells the tale of some unsung heroes of the civil rights era in A Southern Town (Oct. 14). MLK Boulevard (Oct. 21) visits some of the nation's more than 500 thoroughfares named in tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Hajj (Oct. 20) follows five pilgrims (including an American) en route to the holy city of Mecca.