MUMBAI: Infotainment broadcaster Discovery will air a new series ‘Extraordinary Women‘ starting 19 June every Tuesday at 8 pm.

This will reveal the stories of women, who overcame adverse conditions and social prejudices to rise to the top of their field to earn the admiration of millions across the world.

They rewrote the rules for women of their time, stepping out of the shadows of men to make their own mark in history. Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn and Agatha Christie are some of the women who will be profiled on the show. The women featured achieved success in fields as diverse as fashion, cinema, politics, philanthropy, technology and activism.

They seemed to have it all, but often the trials and tribulations of their personal lives were masked by their public success. Featuring archive, interviews and dramatic re-enactment, the show reveals the price these extraordinary women paid for their achievements. Yet in the end, they overcame all adversities to emerge as triumphant, inspirational icons of the 20th century, the channel said.

A Special Ambassador to Unicef, Hepburn was one of the first to recognise that her celebrity status could be used to improve the lives of many less fortunate people. Hedy Lamarr is best known as a star of MGM‘s golden age, but she was also the co-inventor of an early form of spread spectrum communications technology, a key to modern wireless communications. Coco Chanel was an illegitimate child, born into a poorhouse and abandoned in an orphanage, but she rose from unimaginable poverty to create the most iconic fashion brand of the 20th century, The House of Chanel.

Josephine Baker a black entertainer took the world by storm; determined to escape a life of deprivation and racial prejudice, she danced her way to New York and then Paris. In a remarkable life spanning eight decades, Maria Montessori challenged convention to pioneer a new system of education; she leaves a legacy of thousands of Montessori schools across the world. Agatha Christie, the Queen of Crime Fiction wrote 80 novels and short stories; but, her private life remains as mysterious as any of the characters in her novels.

MUMBAI: Infotainment broadcaster Discovery has announced that it will produce a programme on the Indian Army?s Women Expedition to Mount Everest. The show will air later this year.

Discovery?s production team will follow the expedition to capture the summit, attempted by a group of seven Indian Army Women officers. The cameras will follow the contingent as they endeavour to reach the summit and achieve the ultimate mountaineering goal. For the first time, an Army Women Contingent is scaling the summit from the South ridge route. This route was used by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

Discovery South Asia senior VP, GM Rahul Johri said, "Discovery Channel is delighted to cover this unique and distinguished expedition by Indian Army?s Women Officers. We are committed to present stories of success and achievement from India to audiences around the world."

Johri adds that Discovery has been working on this project for a few months. "The adventure wing of the army has given us support. We have been following the progress of these women who were trained for months. This year we have done a few local shows already. We did one on the evolution of Indian television. We also did another on the making of Ra.One. So local shows are an important part of what we do."

Indian Army AVSM, Director General of Military Training Lt Gen SP Tanwar said, "Indian Army has appreciated the efforts of Discovery Channel to undertake the coverage of such an expedition for the first time. Such coverage besides projecting the unique and glorious feat of the Indian Army, will be a boon to the large international audience that watches this esteemed channel and will provide a platform for future joint ventures with the Discovery Channel on issues related to sports and adventure in the Indian Army."

The team is led by Col Ajay Kothiyal, KC, SC, VSM, and includes seven Indian Army Women officers: Capt Deepika Rathore (Rajasthan), Capt Namrata Rathore (Uttarakhand), Capt Prachi R Gole (Maharastra), Maj N Linyu (Nagaland), Maj Neha Bhatnagar (Rajasthan), Capt Poonam Sangwan (Haryana), and Capt Smitha (Karnataka).

Meanwhile, Discovery has also soft launched its kids channel Discovery Kids. Johri said, "35 per cent of this country is under the age of 14. That is why we are confident about the scope of this genre. The official launch will take place in the second half of this year. An announcement will be made shortly."

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has signed a deal with RTL that sees the German commercial broadcaster become a co-production partner on the BBC Natural History Unit?s forthcoming series ?Hidden Kingdom?.

This will be the first time RTL has worked with BBC Worldwide to co-produce a natural history series and the broadcaster joins other co-production partners Discovery and France 2.

Commissioned for BBC One, ?Hidden Kingdom? takes a microscopic look at nature and transforms small worlds into giant places. The series will take viewers on an immersive journey into strange lands where tiny animals are living incredible and dramatic lives.

RTL head of infotainment Agnes Ostrop will act as executive producer on behalf of RTL and a tailored 1x90 German language version of the series will deliver to the network for broadcast in primetime.

BBC Worldwide head of German speaking territories Isabelle Helle said, "?Hidden Kingdom? is an exceptional project using innovative storytelling techniques to bring audiences a new and in depth perspective on this fascinating world. RTL has long been a valued partner of BBC Worldwide and we are thrilled they are venturing for the first time into natural history co-producing on this phenomenal project."

Executive produced by Mike Gunton, the three part series will take the BBC Natural History Unit?s renowned photographic techniques and shrink them down to show the world on a different scale. The series will be filmed in some of the planet?s most iconic places, likely to include the Amazon Rainforest, African Savannah and Mojave Desert.

BBC Worldwide has also signed a new programme licensing deal with RTL for 45 hours of content.

Factual titles ?Bomb Squad? and ?Bomb Hunters? will premiere on RTL?s new free-to-air channel RTL Nitro. Also going to free-to-air on SuperRTL will be Robin Hood (S3) and the adventure drama Sinbad.

?Brazil with Michael Palin? leads a slate of informative titles
premiering on RTL Living including ?Jimmy?s Forrest?, ?How to Grow a Planet? and ?After Life - the Strange World of Decay?, while RTL Crime will host suspense drama ?The Body Farm? and Left Bank?s thriller ?Mad Dogs?.

MUMBAI: Discovery Network?s lifestyle channel TLC will premiere My Cypriot Kitchen on 1 May and will air every night at 10 pm.

The show will take viewers to island nation of Cyprus in the
Mediterranean region known for its fabulous cuisine.

My Cypriot Kitchen will be hosted by celebrity chef Tonia Buxton who will return to her homeland of Cyprus on a culinary tour of her favourite places.

Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific SVP and GM South Asia Rahul Johri said, "TLC is proud to be the home of iconic and world famous hosts such as Nigella Lawson, Anthony Bourdain, Bobby Chinn amongst many others. We are delighted to present a new celebrity Chef Tonia Buxton who will host My Cypriot Kitchen which is a fabulous series that showcases the culture of Cyprus through its exotic food."

MUMBAI: US non fiction media company Discovery Communications announced today that Planet Green will turn red, white, and blue when it is renamed ?Destination America? on 28 May.

Kicking off Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of the summer season, ?Destination America? will be the first network to celebrate the people, places, and stories of the United States, emblazoned with the grit and tenacity, honesty and work ethic, humour and adventurousness that characterise the nation.

The inclusive network, targeting adults 25-54, will be available in 59.5 million homes and feature original series covering such diverse subjects as American food from Tex Mex to barbeque; American mysteries from Jesse James? lost fortune to Area 51; America?s heroes from those who embody the values of the past to
those who invent the technology of the future; as well as never-before-seen footage of America?s iconic landmarks, including Yellowstone National Park and the Everglade swamps.

On Destination America, barbeque isn?t just good cooking but an expression of that country?s roots. A job is never just a job - it?s our ingenuity made real. Places like Alaska are more than untamed beauty - they?re a living symbol of our need to press ahead and walk where no one has tread before.

Destination America president, GM Henry Schleiff said, "Americans may be divided by politics, but we are united by our love of country. As a network inclusive to all, Destination America will celebrate this connective spirit by curating the common ground among us: the pluck of the worn saddle, the promise of exploring new territory, and the diversity that has made this nation great."

With a 360-degree experience that spans across digital platforms and social media sites, the company will also launch an original iPhone App, allowing consumers to share favourite destinations and themes across America. Users can browse images by location or in diverse categories ranging from beautiful to nostalgic to restaurants, mountains and more. And for those seeking inspiration, "Only In America" will feature Top 10 activities and suggestions ranging from majestic National Parks to hilarious road signs, food sculptures to outrageous hobbies, patriotic pets to hairstyles.

Destination America senior VP of content strategy Marc Etkind Said, "Our research, coupled with my own experience developing shows about America over the last 20 years, has shown that viewers have a huge appetite for content focused on our unique culture and spirit. By collecting the very best of travel, adventure, food, home, and natural history into one brand, we?re excited to create a new lifestyle destination for programming that Americans love."