New Season of the Smithsonian Channel's POLAR BEAR TOWN Premieres Today

Every fall, approximately 10,000 tourists from around the world descend on the tiny, isolated town of Churchill, Manitoba. Known as "The Polar Bear Capital of the World," visitors gather in Churchill to see the annual migration of more than 1,000 polar bears that pass through town. Smithsonian Channel's docu-series POLAR BEAR TOWN follows this extraordinary intersection of humans and the "Lords of the Arctic," as they collide in unexpected and sometimes dangerous ways. This three-episode second season premieres Wednesday, November 22 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

This season kicks off with summer in POLAR BEAR TOWN. Tourists flock to town to see thousands of beluga whales crowding the bay, but this year, an increasing number of bears have arrived in town earlier than usual. While it may prove to be lucrative for the guides who take tourists to see polar bears, it makes life much more dangerous for locals. Guide Dennis is thrilled at the prospect of a second summer bear season, but when his No. 1 client wants to get a risky picture of a swimming polar bear above and under the water, he gets worried. The lure of a polar bear bonanza also brings Kelsey back to Churchill, but when he happens upon a mom and cub swimming toward town, he steps in to try to keep them from getting too close. If the bears reach their destination, it could be disastrous for them - and the locals. At the Mile 5 Dog Sanctuary, Brian Ladoon is set on protecting his dogs from swarms of summer insects, but a tragic bear incident catches him off guard.

Additional episodes of POLAR BEAR TOWN include:

THE SEARCH FOR BIG BEAR

Premieres Wednesday, November 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

After a large polar bear known as Big Bear kills one of Brian Ladoon's dogs right in town, the community is on edge. Everyone wants this bear found before another victim is claimed. Conservation is on high alert while Dennis and Andrew use night-vision cameras to look for the elusive bear; if they can identify Big Bear's path into town, it could help in catching him and keeping both the bear and the community safe. While locals try to avoid the bears, Kelsey and his crew have found a way to get closer to them - in a rundown cabin on the shores of Button Bay. After a sudden storm means an overnight stay for the group, the dilapidated shack is the only thing between them and waves of migrating polar bears.

THE BIG EXODUS

Premieres Wednesday, December 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Summer is coming to an end in Polar Bear Town, and belugas whales are on the move. Now, only the locals and polar bears remain, and there's plenty to do before the onset of fall. Dennis and Andrew are on a treacherous journey to find an uninhabited island where bears and belugas are rumored to be found in abundance. Kelsey and Karine fly to a remote camp on THE HUNT for bears that have little human contact. Travelling to a remote lodge on the fringes of Hudson Bay to observe these wild bears in their native habitat, they have to be ready for anything when they come face-to-face with a group of these dangerously unpredictable bears, miles from any help. Renowned polar bear scientist Robert Rockwell ventures deep into the heart of polar bear country in search of bear DNA while conservation officers release Big Bear from polar bear jail and helicopter him back into the wild. Finally, as the days grow shorter, a local couple takes to the high seas in hopes of incorporating bears and belugas into their unique wedding ceremony.

POLAR BEAR TOWN is produced by Merit Motion Pictures in association with Earth-Touch for Smithsonian Networks with financial investment from Manitoba Film & Music and the participation of the Manitoba Film & Video Production Tax Credit and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. Executive producers are Merit Jensen Carr and Phil Fairclough. Joy Galane and David Royle serve as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel™, owned by Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where CURIOSITY lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME® with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, America in Color, First Ladies Revealed, Polar Bear Town,The Lost Tapes, Amazing Monkeys, America's Secret Space Heroes, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Titanic's Fatal Fire, The Obama Years: The Power of Words, Nightmare on Everest, Diana and the Paparazzi, Diana: The Day We Said Goodbye and Flying High with Phil Keoghan. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Earth™, through SN Digital LLC., a new subscription video streaming service delivering spectacular original nature and wildlife content. To learn more, go to www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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