Spike TV Greenlights AUCTION HEROES

Forget playing the stock market. Storage-container auctions are a place for high-stakes financial risks and rewards where the right purchase can bring in serious cash. Spike TV has announced it will go into production with a new series showcasing two business-savvy friends who make their fortune by purchasing storage containers at these auctions and re-selling the contents for a profit at pawn shops. This world is as cutthroat and angst-filled as Wall Street, where only the most brazen can turn someone's unclaimed goods into treasure.

"A century ago it was the gold rush or the search for pirates' buried treasure," said Sharon Levy, Spike TV's executive vice president, original series and animation. "In 2010, storage container auctions are the new frontier for uncovering riches. And the stars of "Auction Heroes" will show the audience just how you can strike it rich by outsmarting the competition."

Spike TV has ordered eight half-hour episodes. Cast and airdate will be announced at a later date.

Produced by Gurney Productions, Spike TV will have unprecedented exclusive access to one of the country's largest storage facility chains. "Auction Heroes" follows two of the most successful guys in this underground business as they travel across the country hoping to make a living on the "storage bin auction" circuit. These abandoned storage bins can be hiding everything from prized valuables to priceless artifacts, some worth hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Allowed only a peek inside the unit using flashlights, both skill and technique come into play as our heroes analyze everything from the type of lock on the container to the thickness of the dust on the boxes. How does the unit smell? What's written on the boxes? Where did these items come from? How long have they been sitting here? All these questions will help to determine whether the contents contain trash or treasure and how much the guys will bid.

Gurney Productions is owned by Scott and Deirdre Gurney whose credits include "I'm Alive" for Animal Planet and "I Was Bitten" for Discovery Channel.

Spike TV also announces a new special, "Wild Animal Repo." In the one-hour show, Scott Lope (Animal Planet's "2009 Hero of the Year") puts his life on the line as he rescues extraordinary, wild, and endangered creatures from unfit owners, illegal trade, and harmful environments. No animal is too dangerous or too forgotten for Lope as he works with law enforcement teams from around the world to rescue tigers, lions, alligators, chimpanzees, wolves and many more all with the goal of finding them a worthy home. Viewers will follow Lope as he plans the rescue and outlines all the risks, and ultimately, follow him and his team on the mission. Jay Blumenfield and Tony Marsh of The Jay and Tony Show Productions serve as executive producers, along with Tom Forman. Date and time will be announced shortly.

Sharon Levy is Spike TV's executive vice president, original series and animation, Tim Duffy is vice president of original programming for Spike TV and Joe Weinstock is director, original programming.

Spike TV is available in 98.6 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV's Internet address is www.spike.com.

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