Travel Channel Announces 2012 Programming Slate

Travel Channel has greenlit a robust slate of programming for 2012 including eight original docu-series that will both entertain and inspire viewers who are passionate about discovering new places while enjoying the unexpected side of travel.

New series launching in 2012 include: "Baggage Battles," features the "auction specialists" of the lost luggage world; "Hotel Impossible," introduces hotel "fixer" Anthony Melchiorri; "Miami International Airport" (Working Title), provides a day-in-a-life at one of the countries busiest airports; "America Caught on Camera," combines hilarious and irreverent video footage captured by visitors to some of America's greatest cities; "Park Secrets," uncovers must-visit spots not featured in the usual guidebooks; Trip Flip," pairs host Bert Kreischer with unsuspecting vacationers; "Vegas Stripped," allows a peek behind the curtain at a Vegas casino; and "Unpacked," spotlights intriguing stories and characters that shed light on familiar and iconic locations. The announcement was made today by Andy Singer, SVP, Programming & Production, Travel Channel.

In addition to the docu-series, Travel Channel is producing pilots for two new shows in development including: "Slice of Brooklyn," which features Tony Muia, his neighborhood buddies, and their unique Brooklyn pizza tour operation; and "Vacation Hunters," a twist on how to pick a perfect vacation where participants are given a one day "speed tour" of three different itineraries in their chosen destination, and at the end, they must make the ultimate decision of which path to take.

"Our viewers are passionate about discovering new unique destinations and embrace the surprise of rediscovering the places found just around the corner - but from fresh angles," said Singer. "We are really excited about our new slate of programming that showcases the authentic characters and experts that not only entertain, but are guaranteed to inspire our viewers."

To anchor the new series premiering in 2012, Travel Channel has renewed new seasons of six popular series:

· "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations" (season eight): The Emmy award winning series continues with Anthony exploring off the grid and discovering the underlying stories behind a locale's traditional cuisine

· "Ghost Adventures" (season six): Paranormal investigators Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and equipment technician Aaron dive deeper into the culture and history of spooky locations before conducting their overnight ghost investigation

· "The Dead Files" (season two): Returns for a new season of dark investigations and unexpected discoveries

· "Truck Stop USA" (season two, formerly "Truck Stop Missouri"): Midway Truck Stop returns with more quirky characters and stories, as proprietor Joe Bechtold attempts to make his truck stop the next great American tourist destination

· "Off Limits" (season two): Host Don Wildman is back crisscrossing the country exploring everything from the inner workings of Denver Airport's advanced luggage system to the repair of Abe Lincoln's nose at Mt. Rushmore - he takes viewers to places the average visitor can't go, but wish they could

· "Mysteries at the Museum" (season three): From the Smithsonian's cursed Hope Diamond to the Computer History Museum's technology that outwitted a chess master, Don Wildman returns to search for the most fascinating stories in the country's premiere institutions and off-the-beaten-path special interest museums

· "Sand Masters" (season two): Features an incredible team of artists who travel across the globe to create unimaginable, massive structures made from sand

New Original Series:

"Baggage Battles" (six half-hour episodes) Produced by My Tupelo Entertainment with Travel Channel's Daniel Schwartz as Executive Producer

This half hour series follows three teams of savvy "auction specialists," who travel the world looking to snatch up unclaimed and lost personal property in an attempt to turn huge profits. Follow these specialists as they travel to some of the most important and unknown auctions, where pickers and resale experts bid on everything from lost luggage to abandoned personal property to seized goods of unusual merchandise.

"Hotel Impossible" (eight one-hour episodes) Produced by Atlas Media Corporation with Travel Channel's BrIan Leonard as Executive Producer

Competition is fierce in the hotel business. With the stroke of a key, one bad review on an online site like Trip Advisor can kill a business' reputation. So what's a struggling hotel operator to do? Hire Anthony Melchiorri, one of the most sought after hotel "fixers" in the country. His no-nonsense approach can turn any establishment around in weeks...and he plans to do just that in "Hotel Impossible." Each episode features a hotel fighting for its life.

"Miami International Airport" (Working Title) (six half-hour episodes) Produced by 2C Media with Travel Channel's Bill Howard as Executive Producer

Go behind the scenes at one of the busiest airports in the country. "Miami International Airport" features an unprecedented cross section of an exciting airport staff as they deal with the stresses of getting over 100,000 strangers through its airport safely, every day.

"America Caught on Camera" (12 half-hour episodes) Produced by Brad Lachman Productions, Inc. with Travel Channel's Julie McCully as Executive Producer

"America Caught on Camera" is an outrageous and unpredictable clip show that combines jaw-dropping video footage with an ironic and irreverent tone. Videos from by-standers and surveillance cameras expose people at their wildest, while their inhibitions are more relaxed on vacation.

"Park Secrets" (12 half-hour episodes) Produced by Lusid Media with Travel Channel's BrIan Leonard as Executive Producer

"Park Secrets" takes viewers around the back door of the nation's most popular park destinations and uncovers the best foods, unique hotels, and secret adventures that happen off the beaten path.

"Trip Flip" (13 half-hour episodes) Produced by High Noon Entertainment with Travel Channel's Stone Roberts as Executive Producer

Host Bert Kreischer surprises unsuspecting American vacationers by throwing away the guidebook and taking them off-the-beaten-path. It's the vacation they never saw coming.

"Vegas Stripped" (six half-hour episodes) Produced by Left Field Productions with Travel Channel's Daniel Schwartz as Executive Producer

In "Vegas Stripped," get an exclusive all access pass behind the scenes at a 39,000 square foot hotel resort casino. From the massive volume of foods to be ordered and prepared, to overseeing a security team equal to a mid-sized town's police force, there is a lot of competition from the big boys on the strip.

"Unpacked" (six half-hour episodes) Produced by Tremendous! Entertainment Inc. with Travel Channel's Sean McKnight as Executive Producer

"Unpacked" digs deep to discover how some of our favorite places and attractions came to be and why they keep wowing visitors today. Viewers will come to expect the unexpected as they are surprised with fascinating revelations about popular destinations they thought they knew well.

Series in Development:

"Slice of Brooklyn": Production Company - Happy Owl Media

"Slice of Brooklyn" is a fun and informative glimpse into the lives of native Brooklynites Tony Muia, his cousin Paula and friends from the old neighborhood, who run a small but successful company, specializing in tours of the best pizza spots in Brooklyn, NY.

"Vacation Hunters": Production Company - Leopard Films ("House Hunters International")

When people plan a vacation, they generally have an idea of where they want to go and how much they can afford. The big question is, how will they spend that budget? "Vacation Hunters" gives participants a one day "speed tour" of three different itineraries in their chosen vacation destination. At the end of their three "speed tours," they must make the ultimate decision of which path to take.

TRAVEL CHANNEL (http://www.travelchannel.com) is a multiplatform travel lifestyle brand with the core mission of providing inspiring and compelling programming that takes viewers beyond their every day destinations, making the unfamiliar familiar, whether it's around the world or around the block. A dual feed network that is also available in HD, Travel Channel is the world's leading travel media brand, and is available in 96 million U.S. cable homes. Owned and operated by Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), Travel Channel has offices in Chevy Chase, MD, and New York, NY. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI) also owns and operates HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country.

To post a comment, you must register and login.