The True North Strong and Free – Discovery Reveals a Stunning Portrait of this Continent When NORTH AMERICA Premieres May 19

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TORONTO (April 24, 2013) – North America is our home – but few have ever truly experienced first-hand the danger and diversity of this incredible continent, where hungry predators and quick-thinking prey battle daily in the land of unpredictable extremes. Discovery presents NORTH AMERICA, a stunning seven-episode portrait of this continent, premiering with back-to-back episodes on Sunday, May 19 at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET/PT. The series moves to its regular slot with the third episode, beginning Wednesday, May 29 at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT. NORTH AMERICA’s stunning scenery is bolstered by North American star power: the sweeping series is narrated by award-winning actor Tom Selleck (BLUE BLOODS, MAGNUM P.I.); and chart-toppers Bon Jovi’s new song “Army of One” is the theme song for NORTH AMERICA.

Backyard beauty. NORTH AMERICA premieres May 19 on Discovery.

NORTH AMERICA reveals a hidden world where life – ranging from the familiar to the exotic – battles deep freezes, deadly fires, and explosive super storms. For more than three years, Discovery’s determined production crew captured the furthest reaches of North America, including the frigid Yukon Territory, the lush forests of Belize, the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, the barren deserts of the American Southwest, and more. They spent 2,830 days on location on 250 separate expeditions, and utilized 11 different types of cameras to shoot more than 850 hours of footage. State-of-the-art equipment including ultra-high-speed cameras, night-viewing devices, and a one-of-a-kind submarine camera allowed the crew to capture behaviours never seen before on television. Time-lapses shot in HDR transformed the continent’s most severe weather events into truly gripping imagery.

NORTH AMERICA’s first five episodes explore the intimate stories of animals struggling to survive in unforgiving weather and rugged terrain. Never-before-seen sequences range from the elusive desert jaguar in Mexico, to daring grizzly bears diving in more than six meters of water to grab salmon in Alaska. The sixth episode highlights the “making of” NORTH AMERICA, and features the production team and the challenges they faced, including battling the destructive Hurricane Irene and other natural disasters all while attempting to capture the most majestic animals in the continent. The seventh and final episode reveals what online voters chose as the #1, natural North American destination via Discovery’s “My North America” Facebook page.

Highlights from the first episodes of NORTH AMERICA – airing day-and-date with the U.S. premiere – include:

NORTH AMERICA: “Born to Be Wild”

Premieres Sunday, May 19th, 2013 at 9:00 PM ET/PT

The epic series begins with an extraordinary journey across the entire North American continent, revealing an incredible array of wildlife – both familiar and exotic – that lives just beyond our backyards. The immersive premiere journeys to the tip of the Canadian wilderness with mountain goats, and dives into frigid waters with a whale and her calf facing numerous predators at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. From there, viewers follow the intense journey of sea turtles on the beaches of Costa Rica as they face hungry jaguars all while attempting to lay their eggs, and watch wild mustangs fight for a valuable watering hole in deserts of Utah.

NORTH AMERICA: “No Place to Hide”

Premieres Sunday, May 19th, 2013 at 10:00 PM ET/PT

The fight to survive in this land full of extreme storms and unpredictable weather tests all those who dare to call this unforgiving place home. Animals struggle to find shelter in a region where exposure to the elements means certain death. This episode goes from larger-than-life hunts to courtships invisible to the naked eye. Viewers experience a dramatic hunt as a pack of wolves stalk mother bison and their calves; peer into the lives of bunker-building prairie dogs as they search for shelter from the inhospitable sun in the plains of South Dakota; and see the hidden world of a male jumping spider’s search for love in an endless ocean of grass.

About Discovery:

The world is just awesome! With compelling real-life programming that inspires and entertains, Discovery reveals the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. Discovery offers a signature mix of adrenaline-charged stories, larger-than-life personalities and vivid imagery for viewers with curious minds. With the best non-fiction programming from Canada and around the world, Discovery captures the excitement of a passion for life – one lived fully and at its most extreme. With exceptional and immersive storytelling, the channel offers in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the extraordinary people and places that shape our world. Launched in Canada in 1995, Discovery is now available in more than eight million Canadian homes. Discovery is offered in standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) simulcast – for viewers who want an even bigger and bolder experience. Discovery Canada is a joint venture between Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company, and Discovery Communications Inc. Find more information and interactive online features at Discovery.ca.

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SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Discovery Canada on Facebook:                               facebook.com/discoverycanada

Discovery Canada on Twitter:                                    twitter.com/DiscoveryCanada

For more information:
Jodi Cook, Discovery, 416.384.4603 or jodi.cook@bellmedia.ca 

Noah Zatzman, Discovery, 416.384.5903 or noah.zatzman@bellmedia.ca