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Tag: Discovery Channel

  • Discovery’s ‘HRX Heroes’ hosted by Hrithik Roshan to launch on 2 November

    Discovery’s ‘HRX Heroes’ hosted by Hrithik Roshan to launch on 2 November

    MUMBAI: Hrithik Roshan is all set to host a new show for Discovery channel called HRX Heroes, which will launch on 2 November.

     

    The show is based on real stories about people who have come over their physical limitations and challenges and come out as heroes in real life. Incidentally, HRX is also a fitness and sportswear lifestyle brand launched by Roshan with the tagline – Push Your Extreme.

     

    HRX Heroes will consist of nine episodes, which will be aired on Discovery Channel twice a week on Monday and Tuesday at 9 pm with a repeat over the weekend. The show, which is an original concept created by the Discovery creative team, will be filmed across India and it will be directed by Samar Khan. 

     

    The promotions for the show will be done across platforms on digital, print and television. Speaking on choosing Roshan as a host and the brand HRX, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific EVP and GM-South Asia Rahul Johri said, “Discovery is known for real and compelling stories. These are great stories about courage and endorsement, which we are bringing to the audience. Hrithik Roshan and the brand HRX are examples of the same. He has overcome physical disabilities when he suffered from stuttering. It will give a personal touch as he will be playing the host.”

     

    Commenting on the show’s content Johri asserted, “We went through many proposals and ideas, which keep coming to us and found this script. Each story line is very strong and inspiring. It is amazing how they have come such a long way, the amount of success they have achieved despite obstacles. Moreover, the way in which Hrithik has presented the show is fantastic. The format of the show is engaging and will appeal to masses. That is the reason why we thought it would be the right thing to do it. Apart from that, the show will showcase different stories and diversities in India with the help of the nine stories.”

     

    Impressed with the script and the theme of the series, Roshan added, “I wish to share with the world and spread the belief that it is possible to look adversity in the face and emerge victorious by overcoming it. HRX Heroes will bring to focus these incredible real life stories, which the entire nation needs to admire. I believe Discovery Channel is the ideal platform to spread the message of courage and determination, which in turn will inspire thousands of more such heroes.”

     

    The actor further added that he relates to the series as it is about overcoming obstacles to become real life heroes. While Roshan has previously been seen on the small screen as a judge for a dance reality show, with HRX Heroes he will make his debut as a host.

     

    The nine-part series will present real life stories of men and women from across India, who had very little going for them but they did not give up on their dreams and emerged as heroes. The channel will kick start the series by featuring wrestler Sangram Singh, who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at a very young age. After fighting for several years, trying to overcome his illness, Singh became Commonwealth Heavy Weight champion in 2015.

     

    Other real life heroes, who will be featured on the show are Harshini Kanhekar – India’s first female fire engineer, overcoming gender discrimination; Kalpana Saroj, who was born in poverty, married at very young age but later went on to become a celebrated entrepreneur and Navin Gulia, an accident survivor who is now a recognised adventurer, philanthropist and a motivational speaker.

     

    The show will also feature Sajo Thomas, who built his own aircraft even after being congenitally deaf and mute; Sudha Chandran who became an accomplished actor and dancer even after losing her one leg in an accident when she was 17 year old; Shekar Naik, under whose his captaincy, The Blind Cricket Team of India won the Blind Cricket World Cup in 2014 and Shibhareet Kaur Ghumman, who followed her dreams to become a dancer even after losing her one leg.

     

    Discovery has roped in as many as six sponsors for the show.

  • Discovery Channel commemorates 50th anniversary of India-Pak 1965 war

    Discovery Channel commemorates 50th anniversary of India-Pak 1965 war

    MUMBAI: Marking the 50th anniversary of 1965 India-Pakistan war, Discovery Channel will present 1965: India’s Battles and Heroes, a special programme that will recount the valour and sacrifice of the Indian soldiers who put their lives on the line in defence of the country.

     

    To premiere on 14 September at 9 pm, 1965: India’s Battles and Heroes will narrate the complete story of the war by using rare archival footage, reconstructions and first hand experiences of the 1965 war survivors.

     

    1965: India’s Battles and Heroes captures the circumstances of the battle and each milestone. The programme will highlight the various war equipment used during the war and daring challenges encountered. It will also recount the battle fought on the ground and in the air.

     

    Rahul Johri, EVP & GM-South Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, said, “1965: India’s Battles and Heroes will recount the war through the eyes of the soldiers who were at the battlefront. It will piece together the circumstances of the war and the bravery of the war heroes through rare archival footage and captivating narration.”

     

    The special programme will present the sequence of significant battles alongside the inspiring stories of the war heroes who led these battles, brought victories and eventually left behind proud memories fighting for their regiments and their countrymen. Some of the war heroes covered in the programme includes Lieutenant Colonel A.B. Tarapore, Major Bhupinder Singh, Major R.S. Dyal, Lieutenant Colonel Desmond Hayde, Company Quarter Master Havildar (CQMH) Abdul Hamid, Squadron Leader Denzil Keelor and Flying Officer V.K. Nebb.

     

    1965: India’s Battles and Heroes will start with the war in the Rann of Kutch in August triggered by Pakistan under the aegis of Operation Desert Hawk. This led to a ceasefire in April 1965 brokered by British Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Thereafter, in August 1965, Operation Gibraltar was launched by Pakistan where Pakistani soldiers in civilian outfits crossed the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir. This was followed with Operation Bakshi which saw the Indian Army capturing the highest mountain Haji Pir Pass – the main route for infiltration into Kashmir.

     

    The programme will then take the audience through the launch of Operation Grand Slam by Pakistan to take the border town of Akhnoor. Highlighting the crucial role played by the Indian Air Force, India reinforced Akhnoor.  It was soon after this victory, Indian Prime Minister Shastri in his radio broadcast told the citizens to be prepared for a long battle ahead.

     

    The programme will also have the 1965 heroes who survived the war reminisce about their heroic tales of valour, the war-room strategies, the achievements and immense sacrifices made by the Indian soldiers. These include Colonel JS Bindra (Retd), Brigadier VK Vaid (Retd), Brigadier Jasbir Singh Hundal (Retd), Lieutenant General Ajai Singh (Retd), Brigadier Kanwaljeet Singh (Retd), Major General B.R. Varma (Retd), Wing Commander V.K.Nebb(Retd) and Air Marshall Denzil Keelor(Retd).

  • “India programming is the key growth pillar of our content strategy:” Rahul Johri

    “India programming is the key growth pillar of our content strategy:” Rahul Johri

    Completing twenty years of operations in India this year is Discovery Channel and it can be safely said that since its launch in 1995, the network has not only grown in terms of the number of channels but also in terms of producing original content.

     

    Helming it for the past 13 years is Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific South Asia senior vice president & general manager Rahul Johri. In his decade plus stint, Johri built a robust portfolio of 11 brands in the South Asia region including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, ID-Investigation Discovery, Discovery Kids, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Discovery HD World, TLC HD World, Animal Planet HD World and Discovery Tamil. Moreover, he is also credited with generating revenue, affiliate partnerships, viewership growth, content creation, government relations and talent management.

     

    In conversation with Indiantelevision.com’s Seema Singh, Johri throws light on the network’s journey in India so far and more.

     

    Excerpts:

     

    How has the network’s 20 years journey been in India? From setting up operations to getting in viewership, what were the challenges that the network faced?

     

    It’s been a fantastic journey for Discovery in India. We have presented and engaged the viewers with new brands and compelling content over the years. We expanded penetration in the country with our localisation strategy.

     

    We have brought in an eclectic programming mix across networks that have the right blend of Indian and international content. We have consistently presented India themes that can travel the world and international themes relevant to India.

     

    Throughout the last 20 years in India, Discovery Channel has demonstrated its commitment to satiate the curiosity of viewers by showcasing them some of the most fascinating stories from the past, current and future; breathtaking locations across geographies, continents and universe; and astonishing and most passionate personalities from across the world.

     

    What have been the high points of this 20 year journey?

     

    The last 20 years have been quite a fascinating journey for us. Discovery pioneered factual entertainment in India with the launch of Discovery Channel in 1995 and introduced a refreshing new wave of programming and completely changed the viewer’s expectations from television. 

     

    One of the high points has been the encouraging feedback from the viewers on our content. The success of our languaging strategy was immensely satisfying as it brought the viewer in every corner of the country closer to the Discovery world.

     

    Having unmatched access to produce shows of remarkable stature like Rashtrapati Bhavan, National Defence Academy in India and present them to Indian audience and around the world is extremely gratifying.

     

    And of course the expansion of our portfolio into 11 unique content channels catering to distinct viewer segments is a testimony of the value our brand offers and the trust it enjoys among its core audience.

     

    What was the thought behind launching these 11 different channels? Are there any new channel launches in the pipeline?

     

    We have expanded our portfolio three times over the last five years. Each channel launch was aimed to offer new and distinct entertainment experience to the Indian viewers. We expanded the definition of factual entertainment by launching Animal Planet in 1998, which presented wildlife programming.

     

    When we launched India’s first international lifestyle channel – TLC, viewers announced their liking for it almost overnight. It was a strong inflection point for the burgeoning Indian television market. The entire industry, including the advertisers and affiliate, took note of the refreshing content and what it meant to viewers.

     

    The aspirational, well-travelled and globally active Indian viewer demanded more unique content, 24-hours 365 days a year. Therefore, we launched two successful media brands from our global portfolio– Discovery Turbo and Discovery Science in 2010.

     

    We brought in premium viewing experience with the finest HD portfolio in the country with the launch of three HD channels – Discovery HD World, Animal Planet HD World and TLC HD World.

     

    We entered the Hindi entertainment genre with the launch of India’s first Hindi entertainment channel dedicated to true stories of mystery, investigation and suspense – ID.

     

    Filling in the gap for meaningful entertainment we launched Discovery Kids delivering smart fun programming to millions of kids in India.

     

    We are committed to the Indian market and will continue to present the best brands, content and finest viewing experience to India.

     

    What is the current viewership of the network in general and Discovery Channel in particular? What are the steps being taken to improve these numbers?

     

    The network has grown to a total of 11 channels, reaching 267 million cumulative households. We will continue to invest in content, communication and availability across all our networks. 

     

    The JV with MSM to distribute its channels has now ended. What is the plan now? Has the distribution team started working on the deals?

     

    Discovery has the finest team and with the addition of the affiliate team, we are a formidable strength and fully geared to capitalise existing opportunities and create new growth avenues.

     

    Our success depends on the power of our brands and we continue to offer maximum value to our partners.

     

    What is the content strategy for the network going forward? How many hours of content would we see getting added to the network by this year end and how many of these would be Indian productions? Can you elaborate on the content strategy for each of the channel in the network?

     

    The content strategy of the network is to deliver high-quality and differentiated programming that satiates the curiosity of the viewers. We will continue to make a difference, ignite minds and entertain viewers.

     

    Discovery globally spends over a billion dollars on content every year and Indian audience, similar to other markets around the world, get access to this content through the various networks present in the country.

     

    In India, Discovery Networks launches the maximum variety of programmes in the industry. India programming is the key growth pillar of our content strategy. We started with Indian Rendezvous as the first India series back in 2002. We went on to present path-breaking India shows ranging from exclusive accesses such as Revealed: World’s Biggest Elections, Line of Control, Humayun’s Tomb, Living with KKRand many more.

     

    Continuing to offer the widest repertoire of programmes, we launch more than 300 high-quality programmes every quarter catering to the interests, passions and demands of children, youth, women, men and families. We strengthened our India content slate with an unprecedented 100 original hours in the last two years bringing unique stories, pristine subjects, and exclusive accesses.

     

    How has advertisers’ interest grown towards the network’s properties?

     

    We are fortunate that advertisers find value on our platforms. We continue to enjoy advertisers’ confidence and respect. We have strived very hard to offer distinct audience segments for different product categories. We have one of the largest client portfolios on our network. As the leader of factual entertainment in India, we believe we are in a good space.

     

    From when the network entered the market to this day, what’s your take on subscription revenues in the country for a network like DNAP? With digitisation in Phase I and II cities, has the condition improved? Do you see the subscription revenues going up with phase III and IV getting digitised by 2016?

     

    Digitisation is a change agent in this country. We are absolutely delighted that it is bringing positive results for the viewer and for other stakeholders including the broadcasters.  

     

    We believe that the networks that are investing in their content and differentiating their brands will continue to reap benefits.

     

    After 20 years… how do you now plan to take the journey forward? What are the future plans?

     

    Our vision moving forward is based on a few key principles. They are:

    – Maintaining leadership across genres

    – Maximising viewership

    – Building on the strength of Discovery kids and establish ID as a “must watch” channel

    – Continue to produce path-breaking India content

    – Continue to innovate and deliver value to advertisers

    – Relentlessly explore new opportunities of growth

     

    How do you plan to stay ahead of competition in the genre?

     

    Our network of channels enjoys strong brand equity and viewership across the country amongst viewers, affiliate and advertisers alike. What differentiates Discovery is its ability to respond to change and innovate in line with the current and emerging viewer trends. From early adoption of new technologies, creating viewer-delighting content and building winning partnerships; we have set multiple industry benchmarks.

     

    If you reflect on Discovery’s track record of last 20 years, we have been ahead of the curve in anticipating trends that match the needs of the viewer. Be it launching the lifestyle channel TLC to being the first high-definition channel available in the country with Discovery HD World. We have offered viewers remarkable and never-seen-before content in innovative formats, delightful themes and finest personalities.

  • Discovery Channel to complete 20 years in India on 15 August

    Discovery Channel to complete 20 years in India on 15 August

    MUMBAI: Discovery Channel will celebrate the completion of its 20 years in India with a special line-up of its most iconic programmes on August 15 and 16, from 8 AM to 6 PM.

     

    The weekend 20-Year Celebration Marathon will cover the wide spectrum of Discovery genres such as natural history, science, technology, adventure, wildlife, survival and engineering which have entertained the viewers across the urban and rural landscapes. The special line-up will also feature the finest India stories, further enriching the television viewing experience.

     

    Throughout the last 20-years in India, Discovery Channel has demonstrated its commitment to satiate the curiosity of viewers by showcasing them some of the most fascinating stories from the past, current and future; breathtaking locations across geographies, continents and universe; and astonishing and most passionate personalities from across the world.

     

    A testimony of the reach and popularity of the channel, Discovery is today watched in five languages in India including Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu and Bangla, from the biggest cities to the smallest village, across digital and analogue platforms.

     

    The surge in Discovery’s popularity and ratings in India is also a strong indication of the changed viewer habits and preferences, the rising aspirations of a young country and an inherent demand for enriching entertainment. Another indicator of its popularity with the youth of India – Discovery has built a distinct community of 7.4 million fans in India on Facebook.

     

    Rahul Johri, EVP & GM-South Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific said, “Discovery Channel has had a life changing impact on millions of viewers in India. The tremendous affection that it enjoys in India continues to fuel our passion to relentlessly push the boundaries of factual entertainment and uncover the finest stories from across the world. On this occasion of completing 20 great years in India, on behalf of the entire team, I would like to express our gratitude to the viewers and clients who have expressed their admiration through this remarkable 20-year journey.”

     

    Discovery pioneered the factual genre in India on 15th August 1995 and introduced a refreshing new wave of programming and completely changed the viewer expectations from television. Mirroring the growth of the Indian television industry over the last 20 years, Discovery has refreshed its content offerings at various intervals while maintaining its core brand promise. Anticipating the changing needs of the viewers, it introduced new and exciting genres over this period such as technology, forensic, survival and adventure to deepen its relationship with viewers. Today, the India content is a significant new addition to its existing programming portfolio.

  • Discovery Channel completes 20 years in India

    Discovery Channel completes 20 years in India

    MUMBAI: Discovery Channel, which celebrates 20 years of airing in India this Independence Day, will telecast a three-part series that will bring alive pages from history books, placing viewers at the epicenter of the story of contemporary India.

     

    Rejoicing historic moments, Discovery Channel’s India Emerges: A Visual History will unfold archival footage to narrate the story of the birth of independent India. The channel will air the programme from 14 to 16 August every evening at 8 pm.

     

    Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific EVP and GM South Asia Rahul Johri said, “It’s a proud moment for us as we complete 20 glorious years in India. What further amplifies the excitement is we celebrate this day on the 69th year of our independence. Marking this momentous occasion, we are happy to bring forth a programme that will narrate the stories of India and its emergence. The special line-up will revive the many memories of independence and unveil some of the intriguing facts of India’s freedom.”

     

    The special line-up will take viewers back into history of India’s freedom struggle, which spans the period of the British Raj in India, winding its way through tumultuous decades of the Indian freedom movement. The programme will talk about the battles of 1948, 1965 and 1971, the regime of Indira Gandhi, the period of Emergency, Operation Blue Star among others. 

     

    The footage will take viewers to the stroke of midnight and also along new borders where a devastating partition will be unfolded. Having made its way through the ages, the series will culminate on the emergence of a strong, progressive and vibrant India that came into being after many challenges.

  • Discovery Channel to premiere ‘Revealed: Humayun’s Tomb’

    Discovery Channel to premiere ‘Revealed: Humayun’s Tomb’

    MUMBAI: Humayun’s Tomb has stood through the great turning points in India’s history. Built over four centuries ago, this architectural masterpiece has served as a template for the Taj Mahal. There have been many theories behind the building of this colossal structure – ‘a symbol of queen’s love for her king’, ‘a son’s memorial to his father’, and ‘an ambitious emperor’s statement of the empire.’

     

    Come 27 July and Discovery Channel will air Revealed: Humayun’s Tomb at 9 pm. The one-hour special will unravel many concealed secrets of this architectural marvel and narrate the majestic story behind the life of the Mughal Emperor Humayun and his dynasty. From Humayun’s exile in Persia to his death as he tumbled down his library staircase to the rise of Akbar ‘The Great’, revealed Humayun’s Tomb will reveal many such intriguing stories. This is the first time ever those true-to-scale 3D frames of the complex structure have been created.

     

    Using dramatic re-enactment, high-end Computer Generated Imager (CGI) animation, extensive research, expert opinion, Discovery Channel has re-created the imagery of the early Mughal era and its key characters.

     

    Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific EVP & GM-South Asia Rahul Johri said, “Our programming strand Revealed uncovers significant stories from India. In the past, Revealed has featured The Line of Control, World’s Biggest Election, and the ‘Rann of Kutch’ among others and now we are bringing the ‘Humayun’s Tomb’. This program will provide our audience the fascinating story of the early Mughal Empire and will uncover secrets about this amazing structure.”

     

    Running parallel to the historical theme, the programme will also follow the restoration work undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in partnership with Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to meticulously restore the lost grandeur of the monument. 

  • Discovery Channel to telecast ‘The Story of Yoga’ in multiple languages

    Discovery Channel to telecast ‘The Story of Yoga’ in multiple languages

    MUMBAI: Celebrating the first International Day of Yoga, Discovery Channel will premiere The Story of Yoga, an inspirational voyage into a discipline that embraces a holistic approach to a healthy mind, body and spirit in five Indian languages.

     

    The Story of Yoga will air on 21 June at 9 pm on Discovery Channel in Hindi, English, Tamil, Telegu and Bangla. The show will also simulcast on Discovery HD World.

     

    The hour-long special will take viewers through a fascinating journey to rediscover the age-old practice and explore the evolution, mysticism, spiritualism and cultural ethos of yoga. It will also capture its journey to the West and its emergence into the modern society and popular culture.

     

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his address at UN General Assembly, called to mark an International Day of Yoga, which has now been declared to be held every year on 21 June.

     

    Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific executive vice president and general manager South Asia Rahul Johri said, “The Story of Yoga is one of the most comprehensive narratives that provide an in-depth view on the evolution of yoga from an ancient practice to a lifestyle choice that’s making tremendous impact on people’s lives around the world. We are delighted to be part of this great initiative led by India’s Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to turn 21 June into a people’s movement and are extremely pleasedto showcase a truly fascinating story of yoga to our viewers around the globe.”

     

    The Story of Yoga offers viewers an elaborate view into prominent yoga schools, the lives of new age gurus and trends. It traces unique forms of yoga, explores the traditional approach to yoga, understands Aurobindo’s philosophy among other things across yoga schools such as Iyengar School at Pune, Bihar School of Yoga at Munger, Internal Yoga at Pondicherry, Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh and many more. The Story of Yoga visits yogpeeths and modern retreats to offer a never-seen-before look into yoga’s techniques, applications and philosophy.

     

    Through the show, viewers meet the Art of Living founder Ravi Shankar, modern yoga exponent Bharat Thakur, Bollywood stars and yoga practitioners like Anil Kapoor and Shilpa Shetty along with yoga guru Baba Ramdev to understand the spiritual and healing powers of yoga.

     

    Navigating through the world, from India to California and Brazil to get a world perspective from new age spiritualist Deepak Chopra and celebrity yogini Deepika Mehta, the programme demystifies yoga’s worldwide appeal.

  • Discovery Channel to launch two new adventure series with Bear Grylls

    Discovery Channel to launch two new adventure series with Bear Grylls

    MUMBAI: Discovery Channel is all set to launch two new series with iconic survival expert on Indian television Bear Grylls.

     

    The series are The Island With Bear Grylls and Bear Grylls: Breaking Point.

     

    Grylls, the host of Discovery Channel’s series – Man Vs. Wild, has been taking on some of the harshest locations on the planet and sharing invaluable survival strategies along the way. He is back in action – but this time, he won’t be alone as he takes ordinary people on a personal journey to face their fears and survive in some of the most unforgiving environments on the planet.

     

     

    In the series The Island With Bear Grylls, a group of men will be dropped on a desert island in the Pacific. Stripped of all the luxuries and conveniences of modern living, these 13 men will be stepping out of their comfort zones and embarking on an empowering journey. With only the clothes on their backs and some basic tools, they are taken to a remote, uninhabited island, where they are left alone to fend for themselves. Bear puts them to the test in order to answer the question, “Can modern man still survive in the wild?” The Island With Bear Grylls will air every Monday at 10 pm this May.

     

     

    On the other hand, in Bear Grylls: Breaking Point, Grylls helps 12 ordinary people to confront their unique phobias and change their lives forever. Set in the wild in some of the world’s toughest places, these terrified individuals prepare to face the stuff of nightmares – from the common (like rats, insects and heights) to the bizarre (such as trees and foods). Beginning 25 May, the show will air Monday to Friday at 9 pm.

     

     

    Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific EVP and GM – South Asia & Southeast Asia Rahul Johri said, “Bear Grylls is one of the foremost survival experts on Indian television. He has built a strong affinity with millions of fans in India providing them with ultimate survival techniques and inspiring them to push their limits of endurance. The two new series follow incredible adventure stories and offer inspiration-filled-entertainment along the way.”

  • Discovery Channel launches ‘How We Got to Now’

    Discovery Channel launches ‘How We Got to Now’

    MUMBAI: Discover the little known innovators whose wild ideas and breakthroughs made our modern world possible.  Discovery Channel’s inspirational and entertaining series How We Got to Now presented by world-renowned innovation expert Steven Johnson charts the twists and turns of history, science, business and technology that have brought us to where we are today.

     

    Premiering April 20, every Monday at 9 pm, How We Got to Now with Steven Johnson reveals the story behind the remarkable ideas that made modern life possible; the unsung heroes that brought them into the world – and the unexpected and bizarre consequences each of these innovations has triggered. Johnson, a 7 times best-selling author and a big thinker on ideas and innovations, will delve into the intense rivalries, terrible failures and moments of heroic achievement of the men and women who have made the modern world. These are hobbyists and garage inventors, ordinary characters who’ve done extraordinary things; and yet have remained almost entirely unknown. In a series unlimited by genre or chronology, Johnson’s fascination with conceptual leaps and unintended outcomes will help us make connections we hadn’t thought of before. Johnson’s bold and provocative thesis suggests that the mirror gives rise to modern science and, that beer can save lives. This is the strange, unpredictable and untold story of How We Got to Now.

     

    In the series, Steven Johnson explores the history of innovations over centuries, tracing facets of modern life – refrigeration, clocks and eyeglass lenses, to name a few, from their creation by hobbyists, amateurs, and entrepreneurs to their unintended historical consequences. Johnson examines unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated fields: how the invention of air-conditioning enabled the largest migration of human beings to cities such as Dubai or Phoenix, which would otherwise be virtually uninhabitable; how pendulum clocks helped trigger the industrial revolution; and how clean water made it possible to manufacture computer chips. 

     

    Johnson tells us about John Leal and how he deliberately poisoned the water supply of 200,000 people but transformed the way we live. Without authorization, Leal added chlorine into the city’s water and made it safe to drink. Imagine if it hadn’t worked? It would have been written into the history books as mass murder.

     

    Revealing the intense rivalries, astounding fortunes made and lost, terrible disappointments and moments of heroic achievement, How We Got to Now tells the stories of the unlikely people whose passion for problem solving led to astonishing practical solutions and inventions that changed the world.

  • Animal Planet launches new series ‘Super Senses’

    Animal Planet launches new series ‘Super Senses’

    MUMBAI: Have you ever wondered why an elephant has huge ears? Why the snake has a split tongue? Why an alligator uses low-pitch rumbles to make the water around them dance and what it is like to be a bat and to see with sound? Animal Planet’s new series Super Senses will reveal why some animals have strange looking sense organs.

     

    Animals use sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing and other special senses to negotiate their way through a sometimes cruel and unforgiving world.  Every feature has a special purpose that has evolved to ensure the survival of the animal. Just like humans, animals rely on their senses to communicate with each other, find their way around, stay safe and most importantly, to find food. The antennae of a butterfly which up close look like feathers, the sensory cells on a crocodile’s skin – these evolutionary traits aren’t just for decoration.  In fact, the size, shape and location of these animal’s sense organs is all for a purpose. Super Senses will give a deep insight into the amazing abilities that animals have, with a focus on vision, sound, taste, touch and scent.

     

    Starting 13 April, Super Senses will air Monday to Thursday at 10 pm only on Animal Planet.

     

    The series will reveal how caribou use UV light to avoid wolves, how nocturnal animals can see in pitch-darkness and how sperm whales’ magnetic superpower senses help in distance migrations.  The viewers will discover how seeing in slow motion gives dragonfly an advantage to make its kill.  It will also showcase how elephant trunks are responsive to touch, that they are capable of receiving pressure differences as low as zero point zero one in depth, and their sensory cells can pick up on the tiniest vibrations.

     

    The episode line-up includes:

     

    Sixth Sense: Sensitivity to the earth’s electromagnetic fields, or to weather pressure, can be used to aid navigation. Some animals can predict earthquakes. Predators put these senses to lethal use: vampire bats detect the infra-red radiation of blood, and rattlesnake sees a ‘heat picture’ of its victim.

     

    Sight:  A vulture can spot a carcass from a great distance, the four-eyed fish can see above and below water simultaneously, a fly’s multi-faceted eye sees a very different world than a human eye, while other insects can see into ultra-violet light. And lions have an area on the retina which actually empathizes with their prey.

     

    Sound: Human ears have a limited range and are deaf to a low-register elephant conversation or the high-pitched squeaking of mice. Whales use sonar to communicate across hundreds of miles of sea, while spiders listen out for the wingbeats of prey and the kangaroo rat has hearing so sensitive that it can hear the rattlesnake’s strike—and avoid it. Birds, meanwhile, use sounds to detect changes in the weather and as an aid to navigation.

     

    Scent:  Smell is invaluable in hunting, protecting a species, mating, and navigation. Petrels use it to find fish in the open sea, springboks emit an ‘alarm’ odour to warn the herd of a predator, salamanders inject their females with aphrodisiac, and a salmon’s epic journey across the ocean to spawn and die is achieved through its sense of smell.

     

    Sense of Timing: Courting, egg-laying, hibernation—the cycles of the earth, moon, and sun are the rhythms which govern all life. Every animal’s perception of time varies, according to its heart rate. A shrew lives 30 times faster than an elephant, so time appears to pass more slowly. Also shown is the rare 17-year eruption of the US cicada.

     

    Making Sense: Each animal has a unique view of the world derived from a combination of different senses. The mind creates mental maps for navigational skills, which can also be affected by genetic programming. Other super-senses have resulted from the need to hunt or avoid becoming a meal. The mind decides what skills it needs to survive.