Military Channel Annnounces 2012/2013 Programming Slate

Building upon the network's most successful year ever, the Military Channel is tripling its programming investment with a 2012/2013 Upfront slate that features new series and specials showcasing the best of the armed forces, while adding compelling original programming that takes the network in an exciting new direction - back in time to explore the epic stories and iconic figures that changed the course of history.

"With our upfront theme of 'The Year the Military Channel Makes History,' we have put together an exciting new slate that not only chronicles high-action drama from the world's battlefields but also encompasses historic turning points like the Cold War, the race for space, and the struggle for civil rights," said Ed Hersh, senior vice president of content strategy for the Military Channel.

Leading this new vanguard for the Military Channel is a world premiere series from legendary broadcast journalist and best-selling author Tom Brokaw, who revisits some of his most memorable stories from his NBC News career with updated interviews and exclusive, never-before-told insights from his unique front row seat to history. Premiering in the fall of 2012, THE BROKAW FILES (wt) will be produced exclusively for the Military Channel by NBCUniversal's Peacock Productions.

Also in the fall of 2012, the Military Channel presents the network's most ambitious project ever, COMMANDER IN CHIEF (wt). The President of the United States is the one person who has the power to alter the course of history when the nation is threateneD. Peeling back the secrecy of the Oval Office, COMMANDER IN CHIEF (wt) is a gripping television event that reveals untold stories behind the critical military decisions made by the president using never-before-seen footage, newly-released presidential documents, and exclusive interviews with those who were there. This television event will be produced by Stephen David Entertainment, known for its critically acclaimed History Channel specials THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA and SECRET ACCESS: THE VATICAN.

The new programming slate is complemented by returning hit series like Lou Diamond Phillips' AN OFFICER AND A MOVIE, which pairs the greatest military movies with exclusive interview segments featuring the men and women who offer unique "on the ground" insight to the real stories and situations behind these blockbusters. Whether it is a female helicopter pilot with hundreds of hours over Iraq discussing Courage Under Fire or a submarine commander placing the Hunt For The Red October in a modern context, AN OFFICER AND A MOVIE presents these audience-pleasing Hollywood blockbusters while providing the real-life perspective of true heroes from across our armed forces as only the Military Channel can.

Military Channel's 2012/2013 Upfront programming slate includes:

NEW SERIES:

THE BROKAW FILES (wt)

THE BROKAW FILES revisits pivotal moments in history through the eyes of Tom Brokaw, one of the most trusted and respected journalists of today. With Brokaw's first-hand accounts drawn across his award-winning career, this new series provides viewers with new interviews and fresh insights from Brokaw himself that place these memorable news stories into a modern context.

SPY VS. SPY (wt)

Told by the men and women who risked their lives in the deadly "wilderness of mirrors" of international espionage, SPY VS. SPY features real-world tales of deception and intrigue. While the stories and methods seem to be ripped from the pages of a Hollywood screenplay, they are all true and highlight the life and death stakes within the shadowy realm of spies, including the gadgets, secret identities, and villains. Each episode takes viewers inside the gripping, cat-and-mouse narrative from the height of the Cold War, full of double crosses and blind drops.

AIR ACES (wt)

Ambitious, spectacular, and supercharged with thrilling action, AIR ACES profiles the most harrowing airborne combat missions ever, many of which were recently declassified. Combining CGI and real-life aerial reenactments featuring actual historic aircraft, AIR ACES provides a comprehensive look at these dynamic dogfights and the pilots who survived. Despite often facing insurmountable odds, the pilots profiled in this action-packed series exemplified bravery as they squared off with enemies over hot spots across the globe.

SECRET WEAPONS REVEALED (wt)

SECRET WEAPONS REVEALED features the top secret weapons - some brilliant, some far-fetched, and even some epic failures - that paved the way for future successes in weapons development. These arms were not developed by chance. Each was constructed to solve a tactical or strategic problem, such as overcoming Nazi defenses on D-Day, mounting a surprise attack over water, or safely moving an agent back and forth across enemy lines. SECRET WEAPONS REVEALED explores never before seen weapons and introduces viewers to the extraordinary people that invented these ingenious devices.

ULTIMATE WARFARE (wt)

ULTIMATE WARFARE takes an exciting new look at some of the greatest battlefield conflicts in modern history. Using cutting-edge CGI animation and "on the ground" interviews to bring a new perspective to each battle, every episode profiles the decisive missions, heroes, and weapons, all of which played critical roles in turning the tide within historic battles.

BLACK OPS (wt)

BLACK OPS pulls back the curtain shrouding the top secret world of successful special ops missions. Whether taking out fanatical terrorists or halting implacable enemies, in the words of General Stanley McCrystal, there are times when military forces realize they're dealing with "irreconcilables" and extraordinary measures are required. BLACK OPS reveals the workings of the elite special operations units charged with these assignments and shares the inside story of some of the most dramatic military actions in recent history.

INFAMOUS ASSASSINATIONS (wt)

Military Channel's new series goes behind the scenes of assassination attempts that changed the course of history. Using rare archival footage, recreations, and CGI animation, each episode focuses on a notorious attempted homicide. First-hand accounts of the most scandalous, history-altering assassination attempts of our time reveal the mysterious, often unknown motives and the devastating aftermaths of INFAMOUS ASSASSINATIONS.

RETURNING SERIES

AN OFFICER AND A MOVIE

Hollywood film and television star Lou Diamond Phillips - a former "Navy brat" himself - hosts the hit franchise AN OFFICER AND A MOVIE, which brings the biggest military blockbusters to the Military Channel including The Hunt for Red October, Courage Under Fire and A Few Good Men. AN OFFICER AND A MOVIE pairs Phillips with military experts and officers who lived through major battles or have an expertise in the conflicts at the center of these Hollywood films, asking them to reflect on its themes and provide personal insight that puts each movie into modern context. Interviewees include top military leaders like 4-Star General Barry McCaffrey (Ret.); Major General Daniel B. Allyn, Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division currently deployed in Afghanistan; and Dick Marcinko, 1st Commanding Officer of SEAL Team VI and Red Cell.

COMBAT TECH

Mankind's greatest engineering feats are often its most powerful weapons. Helicopters, stealth technology, guns, bombs, planes are among the tools of war, and they often provide the key advantage that secures victory on the battlefield. COMBAT TECH takes an in-depth look at the greatest military engineering accomplishments, revealing how they work, how they came to be, and how they made a difference in the theater of war.

TOP TENS

TOP TENS continues to get bigger and better with all-new stories that showcase game-changing technology by ranking the greatest achievements within different categories of weapon systems. Each episode selects ten machines that have left their mark on the history of warfare and ranks them based on expert opinion, audience polls and technical comparison. Viewers have the opportunity to travel the world to see this military technology in action and meet the brave soldiers who put it to use every day.

SPECIALS

COMMANDER IN CHIEF (wt)

The most important presidential decisions are not decided after months of contemplation, but in the days, hours, and minutes when action is of the utmost importance. And at the end of the day, these globally influential decisions are left to one man, America's Commander in Chief. As the most ambitious special in Military Channel's history, COMMMANDER IN CHIEF profiles the complicated missions, high-stakes decisions, and tussles for power that originate within the White House during times of national crisis.

12 MINUTES OF INFAMY (wt)

12 MINUTES OF INFAMY is a revealing one-hour special that illuminates the untold stories of the minute-by-minute set of events of Pearl Harbor, from the shocking arrival of the first wave of Japanese aircraft over the harbor to the dropping of the bomb that destroyed the U.S.S. Arizona only 12 minutes later. Viewers experience a ticking-clock forensic dissection of "a date that which will live in infamy" that galvanized the world and led America to declare war the very next day. 12 MINUTES OF INFAMY will premiere in December 2012 to commemorate this dark day in American history.

About Military Channel

The Military Channel brings viewers compelling, real-world stories of valor, heroism, and courage on the battlefield. It also goes back in time, telling the enduring stories of the people and events from the great turning points in history. Currently available in more than 60 million homes, the network takes viewers "behind the lines" to celebrate the personal stories of servicemen and women who defend freedom across the globe. As the only cable network devoted to the armed forces, the Military Channel incorporates the best state-of-the-art CGI animation and never-before-seen footage to offer in-depth explorations of military techniques, aviation technology and cutting-edge weaponry. For more information, please visit Military.Discovery.com, facebook.com/Military, or twitter.com/MilitaryChannel. Military Channel is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in 210 countries and territories.

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