MUMBAI: The US-based non-fiction broadcaster Discovery has strengthened its presence in the Middle East by announcing an agreement to acquire Dubai-based media company Takhayal Entertainment and its affiliated companies in Dubai and Egypt, including its flagship TV food network, Fatafeat.

The parties are in final stages of formalising the transfer with the competent authorities. The announcement was made by Takhayal CEO Youssef El-Deeb and Discovery Networks International CEO Mark Hollinger.

The transaction is a targeted step by Discovery to further extend its reach in the growing Middle East and North Africa television market, and to further complement and strengthen its existing portfolio of female-targeted lifestyle pay TV brands, including TLC and Real Time, which are now available in more than 150 countries outside the US. The acquisition will also provide access to a vast library of cooking recipes and shows and the company?s production facility.

Hollinger said, "Discovery?s guiding principle has always been to customise our strategy on a region-by-region and market-by-market basis to build the strongest global nonfiction media company bar none. The acquisition of Takhayal, the premier company for cuisine and culinary programming in the Middle East, significantly strengthens our portfolio in this important region and adds content in a genre that has proven popular with our viewers around the globe, including on Real Time in Italy and the UK and on TLC in Poland, Latin America and India.

Takhayal?s executives, such as Youssef El-Deeb are exceptionally smart and creative and we look forward to working with them to leverage Takhayal?s strong position in the Arab-speaking world and take Discovery?s female-targeted lifestyle content even deeper into the marketplace."

Takhayal CEO Youssef El-Deeb said, "We have had great success with our TV brand Fatafeat, which has become one of the leading TV channels in the Middle East since it launched five years ago, and our slogan ?Al Hayat Helwa? (Life is Wonderful) which has been the driving force across our business and we are excited by how the rich expertise of Discovery will enable us to take the business to the next level. We are very honoured to become part of Discovery Communications.

"The core expertise of our team is its great creativity and dedication, and this combination has enabled us to achieve very clear brand positioning and stand out amongst the hundreds of Arab TV channels as the leading the lifestyle brand across the Middle East."

Fatafeat broadcasts to approximately 55 million TV households in the Middle East and North Africa and the in-house studio contains a library of 700 hours of programs, which is added to by 150-200 new hours each year. The popular line-up of shows includes Teslam El Ayadi (family cooking show), Matbakhna El Arabi (Our Arabian Cuisine hosted by chef, Mohammad Orfali), Shourba Wi Naknaka (Soups and Snacks), Houriyat Al Matbakh (Arabic and international cooking) and Wala Bil Ahlam (?Dream Desserts? from Egyptian award winning chef, Nermine Hanno).

MUMBAI: Infotainment broadcaster Discovery will kick off the show ?Gator Boys? on 19 November at 10 pm.

Gator Boys involves the death-defying exploits of Paul Bedard and Jimmy Riffle, two alligator trappers who risk injury and death to hand-capture nuisance alligators that have invaded the back yards, swimming pools, garages and bedrooms of Florida Everglades residents.

Bedard and Riffle are two fearless enthusiasts and they?ve become Florida?s most dependable guys when local residents find themselves crossing paths with deadly 1,000-pound reptiles in shocking locations. The goal of Gator Boys? Alligator Rescue Team is to capture nuisance gators with their bare hands and move them to safety before rival trappers, who kill and sell the animals for their skin and meat, get to them. Viewers will follow every crazy adventure and sticky situation these death-defying partners encounter.

Alligators are Florida?s ultimate predator. Alligators used to be present in abundance in South Florida, with the Everglades stretching as far as the eye could see, but times have changed; today there?s an on-going struggle between man and beast. These reptiles can easily flatter your skull, crush your head, break your neck or drown you.

The ?Gator Boys? get to action, defending blameless gators and other wildlife displaced by urban sprawl and keeping people safe from these unpredictable animals. With 30 years of wild-animal experience between them, the guys run an animal facility in the Everglades, where they educate and entertain the public using a menagerie of ferocious creatures they?ve captured in populated areas.

It takes serious skill to do this guy?s job, and Paul is known for his personality and expertise, capturing any-sized gator underwater with his bare hands. He?s a record-breaking triathlete who spends his off season heading up ?Gator Boys Alligator Rescue? side by side with Jimmy. Despite brother-like bickering between the two, Jimmy looks to Paul as a mentor since they met while Jimmy was alligator wrestling at only 11-years-old! Paul is quick to tell anyone that today, ?Jimmy is the best gator wrestler in the world.?

Viewers will see Paul and Jimmy hard at work, rescuing and wrangling gators from unlikely places and saving people from many precarious situations.

MUMBAI: US non-fiction media company Discovery has reported fiscal-third quarter revenue of $1,076 million, marginally down from the year-ago period, as seven per cent growth at International Networks was offset by four per cent decline at US Networks primarily due to additional revenues in the prior year from extending and expanding certain licensing agreements.

Adjusted Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortisation (AOIBDA) grew by four per cent to $498 million, driven by an 11 per cent increase at International Networks and a two per cent increase at US Networks that included the impact of licensing agreements partially offset by higher content impairment costs in the prior year.

Third quarter net income from continuing operations available to Discovery stockholders of $214 million decreased $26 million compared to $240 million for the third quarter a year ago as the strong operating performance in the current year was more than offset by the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, increased mark-to-market equity-based compensation, other and interest expense as well as higher taxes.

Discovery president and CEO David Zaslav said, "Discovery delivered another quarter of strong operating results as a sustained focus on developing compelling content and leveraging it globally provided additional growth opportunities and continued financial momentum. In the U.S. we expanded market share, built new hits and capitalized on the ongoing strength of the ad market, while, internationally, we further leveraged the universal appeal of our programming and increased penetration of global pay-tv platforms to expand our unparalleled distribution footprint. Going forward we remain committed to thoughtfully investing in our brands and platforms while delivering sustained financial success and returning capital to our shareholders."

Free cash flow was $353 million for the third quarter, an increase of $39 million from the third quarter of 2011, as improved operating performance was partially offset by higher content investment and cash taxes. For the last twelve months, free cash flow increased by 13 per cent over the previous twelve month period.

MUMBAI: Lifestyle channel TLC will kick off the show ?Man V Food Nation? on 5 November.

The show will air every night at 10 pm.

TV host Adam Richman is back with a new objective. He gives up his seat at the dining table to let a new generation of fans try their hand at conquering their own hometown challenges.

The show is the follow up to ?Man V. Food? as Adam continues his quest to bring the best eats and food challenges in the US.

After three years of competition, he is on a mission to recruit people while he continues to showcase popular food joints across the US.

Since the start of his journey from coast to coast, he has accumulated and inspired a legion of fans that have supported him in the 59 legendary challenges he has faced. On the show not only does he continue to sample the local flavour during his visits on the streets but invites his loyal fans to rise up to the occasion while guiding them during their once-in-a-lifetime chance to make it or break it in various food challenges.

Discovery South Asia senior VP, GM Rahul Johri said, "Cuisine is an integral part of lifestyle programming and TLC has pioneered this genre with its inimitable treatment to the subject which goes beyond cooking to showcase the culture and the lifestyle. Adam Richman enjoys tremendous popularity in India and our viewers will be delighted to see him don a new role of being on the other side of the table."

Eating challenges showcased will include a massive burrito covered in a spicy sauce coupled with a mountain of French fries or finishing ten grilled cheese sandwiches in record-breaking time.

MUMBAI: Own: Oprah Winfrey Network and Discovery Networks International have announced that singer Justin Bieber will be featured in a special episode of ?Oprah?s Next Chapter? airing in more than 100 countries worldwide.

The interview first premieres on 25 November on Own: Oprah Winfrey Network and will then air throughout the world on Discovery?s channels TLC, Home & Health and Real Time.

Winfrey attended Bieber?s sold-out Believe concert at the All-State Arena in Rosemont, Illinois and got a backstage look at how one lady among thousands of "Beliebers" was chosen to go on stage for Bieber?s signature ?One Less Lonely Girl? performance.

Winfrey and Bieber then sat down today at RL Restaurant in Chicago for a discussion. Bieber opens up to Winfrey about his growth as an artist, the pitfalls of fame and living in the spotlight. Later, the two go holiday shopping together at Chicago?s Ralph Lauren and Bieber surprises onlookers with an impromptu acoustic performance.

Bieber has become the first music artist to reach three billion views on Youtube through his official page http://www.youtube.com/justinbiebervevo. Bieber?s current album is ?Believe? (Island Def Jam). The platinum album?s first two singles ?Boyfriend? and ?As Long As You Love Me? are both multiplatinum.

MUMBAI: With the F1 race taking place in Delhi this weekend, Discovery Turbo has kicked off another season of the show ?Inside Grand Prix?.

The half-hour show airs every night at 9 pm.

The episode, featuring Buddh International circuit, will air on 28 October at 9 pm. The show will also present Nico Hulkenburg, the Force India driver talking about the India circuit. Other drivers that will be showcased include Nico Rosberg, Michael Schumacher Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

Discovery South Asia senior VP, GM Rahul Johri said, "Discovery Turbo continues to provide the best entertainment to the speed and motor enthusiasts through its exclusive programming. After the great response to Inside Grand Prix last year, I am confident that viewers will enjoy this year?s edition as well, with unique insights into a Formula One race and magnificent racing circuits.

The 20-part series features 20 Formula 1 racing circuits across globe including India, Australia, Malaysia and China.

The show showcases the tracks which are hosts to some of the most challenging motorsports events in the world and are well suited for the requirements of powerful, high-spec racing cars and motorcycles. The series chronicles original shots and contemporary witnesses to recollect records, touching moments, legends and tragedies. In each episode, fans go behind the scenes for exclusive interviews and stories of Formula One.

The series also captures the build up, competitive drive and racing drama from the world of F1 racing. The racers introduce the race track and answer all questions in the techno segment and the 3D-animation, demonstrating the particularities of each track, its turns, weather conditions and car performance. There is more excitement if you want to know how Pit Stop is set up. Each episode features the legends of the Formula 1 race recalling the ?Old days? with original shots of the races and victories on the race.