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Tag: Discovery Plus

  • After 3 years, 3 months and 3 days it’s a wrap at Discovery for Megha Tata

    After 3 years, 3 months and 3 days it’s a wrap at Discovery for Megha Tata

    Mumbai: Megha Tata parts ways with Discovery as managing director of South Asia ending an association that lasted three years, three months and three days.

    The announcement of her departure was first made by Warner Bros. Discovery president and managing director India, Southeast Asia and Korea Clement Schwebig in June.

    Embed Link: Warner Bros. Discovery consolidates India’s business; appoints Arjun Nohwar as GM, India | Indian Television Dot Com

    “After 3 years, 3 months, 3 days it’s a wrap! Leave with many happy memories and proud of what we achieved as a team in the country. Amongst the many milestones we achieved, successfully launching #discoveryplus in the middle of the pandemic was a class act by the super talented team I have had the privilege to lead! Thank you to my super awesome team for helping me grow professionally and personally. A special mention to Simon Robinson without whose support and trust I couldn’t have done what I did! Onwards and upwards,” said Tata in a LinkedIn post.

    Tata is a TV broadcast industry veteran with over three decades of experience. She has been associated with leading broadcasters including Star India, Turner International, HBO India, BTVI before joining Discovery.

    She leads several industry forums and is the president of International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter. She is on the board of Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation as co-opted director. She is also a broad-member of the National Media and Entertainment Committee of FICCI and member of CII National Committee on Media and Entertainment.

    Tata has been a Jury member of many leading industry awards like International Emmys, Promax, Children’s Film Festival, Golden Mikes Awards, International Women in Sales Awards and many more.

    Besides being involved in industry initiatives, she has been engaging and shaping young minds through guest lectures at leading educational institutes including IIT, IIM, ISB, UBS and more.

  • Discovery+ to launch ‘Legends of Ramayana’ docu-series with Amish Tripathi

    Discovery+ to launch ‘Legends of Ramayana’ docu-series with Amish Tripathi

    Mumbai: Discovery Inc-owned streaming platform Discovery+ has announced a new docu-series “Legends of the Ramayana” featuring author Amish Tripathi as the host. The show will begin streaming on the platform on 7 April. 

    Tripathi is a celebrated Indian author renowned for the “Shiva Trilogy” and “Ram Chandra” novel series. As the host, he will traverse across geographies in the footsteps of ‘Lord Ram’ to retrace his journey and unravel the under-explored mysteries around the text, said the platform in a statement. 

    “It has been said that no Indian hears the Ramayan for the first time. We are all born with it. It’s a part of our genes, a part of our bones. It is our collective eternal heritage. And to be able host a documentary on this subject, would, I thought, be a bit like coming home,” said Amish Tripathi. “And yet, even though we were covering the familiar, one still had experiences that one would not expect! For example, we actually shot in small caves where an underground river flows! Or discovered a tribe that tattoos the holy name of Ram all over their bodies! Or actually found floating stones at Rameshwaram; stones that despite being so light were still strong enough to be used in the modern era in the construction of a church! All of us Indians think we know Lord Ram’s journey. But there is still so much more to discover.”

    “I couldn’t have dreamt of a better programme where I could make my debut as a host. It was enlightening, it was fun, it was surreal,” he further said.

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  • Discovery Plus, HBO Max to merge into one streaming service

    Discovery Plus, HBO Max to merge into one streaming service

    Mumbai: Discovery, which is expected to close its acquisition of WarnerMedia in the second quarter of 2022, confirmed its plans to combine its streaming service Discovery Plus and WarnerMedia’s HBO Max into one service rather than offer the two platforms as a bundle.

    Discovery chief financial officer Gunnar Weidenfels who addressed the Deutsche Bank 30th Annual Media, Internet and Telecom Conference said that Discovery is making preparations to combine the two streaming services. But before they are combined, the first step of integration will be some form of bundling as the company figures out the best way to merge the two platforms.

    On 11 March, Discovery Inc stockholders approved various matters relating to the acquisition of WarnerMedia from AT&T to create Warner Bros-Discovery Inc. The transaction will bring together WarnerMedia’s entertainment, sports and new assets with Discovery’s non-fiction, international entertainment, and sports business.

    Direct-to-consumer service Discovery Plus had 22 million subscribers, while HBO Max had 73.8 million subscribers at the end of 2021.

  • Discovery lines up special shows on World Environment Day

    Mumbai: A special lineup of shows will be unveiled from 12 pm to 5 pm on Discovery Plus and Discovery Channel for Indian audiences on 5 June to mark World Environment Day. The popular host of Jeremy Wade’s Mighty Rivers, will also provide a special feature on the increasing pollution levels of the Amazon, Ganges, Yangtze, Mississippi, Danube, and the Zambezi river networks that will be an added attraction on the channels.

    Wild Karnataka

    Karnataka is the home to some of the richest wild places on the planet and boasts of rich biodiversity, most of it still unknown to the public. The film also appreciates the efforts of people, the government, and the forest department who are committed to saving nature for future generations to marvel at.

    The movie spotlights the state government’s initiative called The Tiger Foundation of Karnataka Forest Department (TFKFD), as a crusade to save the majestic tigers and elephants found more abundantly here than anywhere else in India. The money raised through the show was donated to the TFKFD. The documentary sends a message of hope, not just across India but the whole world. Leading film stars lent their voice over for the narrative in the documentary in different languages. Sir David Attenborough narrates the English segment; Rajkumar Rao does the voice-over in Hindi, Prakash Raj in Telugu and Tamil, and Rishab Shetty in Kannada.

    The Story of Plastics

    The documentary focuses on the timeline of the growing plastic pollution crisis. It exposes the ugly truth behind plastic pollution and the fallaciously recommended solution of plastic recycling. It also highlights the excessive environmental damage that it causes along with the human rights abuse that occurs in the industry throughout the production of plastic products.

    India 2050

    This documentary gives us a glimpse into the potential damage climatic change can bring upon us in the future if we do not take responsible steps to safeguard our environment today. The documentary feature articulates the potential danger of uncontrolled environmental degradation and serves as a much-needed wake-up call. This world environment day, India 2050 will urge every Indian to take the first step to become a responsible citizen.

    Jeremy Wade’s Mighty River Monsters

    In this new, six-part series, Jeremy sets out to examine and explore some of the planet’s largest waterways with the same immersive style that made Jeremy Wade’s Mighty River Monsters a global success. He’ll be taking the pulse of the Amazon, the Ganges, the Yangtze, the Mississippi, the Danube, and the Zambezi to understand how exploitation and pollution contribute to the ruin of rivers that were once the lifeblood of communities and home to majestic freshwater giants.

    Great Global Clean-up

    The show focuses on people from across the world who got together in clean-up drives in parks and beaches at an event called the “Great Global Clean-up”. It features Zac Efron and Zach King with local superstars and people from across the world who lent a helping hand to clean as much waste as possible, setting a target to collect a hundred billion pieces of trash from public places across the world.

  • Discovery Plus brings India: The Forgotten Army

    Discovery Plus brings India: The Forgotten Army

    MUMBAI Discovery Plus an aggregated real-life entertainment streaming app, has announced the digital premiere of India: The Forgotten Army. Commemorating the 102 anniversary of the end of World War 1, the gripping documentary traces and documents the courage of Indian soldiers, shipped to distant shores to live and fight in deplorable conditions during the First World War, featuring expert insights by Dr. Shashi Tharoor. The film is an adaptation of the book World War Sikh: Memoirs Of An Indian Cavalryman 1913-45 by Rana TS Chhina; and also uses first-person accounts to tell the story of the war and the circumstances that Indian cavalrymen faced, as revealed in the letters they wrote to their families, more than a hundred years ago.

    India: The Forgotten Army looks at the crucial yet unnoticed role played by the Indian soldiers during World War I with expert inputs of notable personalities, including Dr. Shashi Tharoor- former minister of external affairs, India, Tony McClenaghan- Military Hostorian, England and Dr.Santanu Das- Professor of English Literature, King’s College London amongst others.The documentary brings to light the extraordinary contribution of the Indian soldiers in the war, bringing to the fore many overlooked sacrifices.

    Dr. Shashi Tharoor said, “It is not widely appreciated that World War I also involved soldiers from faraway lands that had little to do with Europe’s bitter traditional hatreds. Of the 1.3 million Indian troops who served in the conflict, you hear very little. As many as 74,187 Indian soldiers died during the war and another 67,000 were wounded. Their stories, and their heroism, have long been omitted from popular histories of the war, or relegated to the footnotes.” He adds, “These men were undoubtedly heroes: pitchforked into battle in unfamiliar lands, in climatic conditions they were neither used to nor prepared for, fighting an enemy of whom they had no knowledge, risking their lives every day for little more than pride. Yet they were destined to remain largely unknown once the war was over: neglected by the British, for whom they fought, and ignored by their own country, since they were fighting a colonial war.History had orphaned them. This film is a valuable contribution to their overdue rehabilitation”

    “The brave feats by Indians during the First World War had so far, gone unnoticed. We are humbled to be able to shine a light on their tales of courage and sacrifice with  the release of India: The Forgotten Army on Discovery Plus. Our users have repeatedly expressed their interest in knowing more about the storied past of our brave soldiers and this release reaffirms our brand’s commitment to listen to our users,” said Discovery  digital (South Asia)  business head  Issac John. “At Discovery Plus, we aim to bring meaningful and relevant content for our passionate users. It is our constant effort to offer world class documentaries to discerning Indian fans who are looking for such content which not only entertains but also encourages and inspires them.”

    India: The Forgotten Army brings together military and history experts and takes the viewers to the battle sites with animations and footages. Adapted from the book World War Sikh: Memoirs Of An Indian Cavalryman 1913-45 by Rana TS Chhina, India: The Forgotten Army is now streaming on Discovery Plus.
     

  • Discovery Plus inspires Indian audiences with Emmy nominated sports docu-series “Being Serena”

    Discovery Plus inspires Indian audiences with Emmy nominated sports docu-series “Being Serena”

    MUMBAI:  Discovery Plus, a real-life entertainment streaming app hits an ace with its latest Emmy nominated sports docu-series that follows pivotal moments in the life of former world Number one Tennis champion, Serena Williams. Titled Being Serena, the five-episode documentary series produced by HBO Sports and IMG’s Original Content showcases game-changing moments in her professional and personal life, tracking her pregnancy, motherhood, comeback and more. The India-exclusive launch of this unique, first-person account starts 17 November, thus further expanding the range of sports offerings on Discovery Plus.

    Serena Williams’ success story goes well beyond her 23 singles women’s grand slam titles, 39 grand slams overall and four Olympic Gold Medals. Since her return to the court after embracing motherhood, Serena rose to dominance once again, qualifying for four grand slam finals between 2018 and 2019. While not serving in the court, Serena supports minorities and women by funding their businesses through her VC Serena Ventures.

    Serena Williams said, “Being Serena is very close to my heart – it captured my life during some of the most unforgettable and challenging moments in a really honest way. For me, Being Serena is a tribute to all of the women who have gotten back to work – or in my case back on the court – after becoming a mother. I am excited that my fans in India will have a chance to see my story.”

    Discovery APAC Digital Head Issac John said, “Serena Williams is not only an extraordinarily talented sporting hero, but she has also lived an exemplary life off the court, making her a true role model. One doesn’t have to be a tennis fan to be awed by her incredible resilience and grit and we are delighted to provide Indian audiences with this never-seen-before access into the life and the journey of a living legend.”

    Apart from her grand slam success, the women’s tennis legend has also been bestowed with many awards due to her sheer dominance in the world of women’s tennis which include Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year honours in 2015 and a four-time awardee of the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, first in 2002 and most recently in 2015.

  • Discovery Plus releases a gripping biopic for Indian football fans with “ANDRES INIESTA- THE UNEXPECTED HERO”

    Discovery Plus releases a gripping biopic for Indian football fans with “ANDRES INIESTA- THE UNEXPECTED HERO”

    Discovery Plus, India’s first aggregated real-life entertainment streaming app further builds on its exciting sports offering with an all-new documentary on the life of the Football legend, Andrés Iniesta. Titled Andrés Iniesta – The unexpected hero. The 85-minute movie is the first-ever documentary on the player and provides an intimate view on one of the most beloved players on and off the field, with unpublished footage & touching testimonials from teammates, family and officials.

    The documentary focuses on Iniesta’s life and an incredible career spanning the beginning of his path at Barcelona Youth Academy, La Masía, through to his meteoric rise to fame playing for FC Barcelona and Spain, where his on-pitch skills secured the victory at the 2010 World Cup, and his arrival at Vissel Kobe in Japan. Alongside testimonials directly from Iniesta, the film also brings together tributes from globally-renowned football players such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suárez, Manager Pep Guardiola and Xavier Hernández.

    The documentary also goes on to take viewers through an extremely emotional journey where Iniesta recalls his tryst with depression just before the 2010 World Cup following his injury and the death of his friend Dani Jarque, the 26-year-old Espanyol Captain & defender.

    Iniesta commented, “I am delighted to know that through this documentary my Indian fans will get a glimpse of my journey in the world of football. It is a story about my life and all the things I’ve lived””. He also added, “I hope people will find inspiration after watching my journey. It’s their love and constant support that has played a very notable role in me fighting some of the most difficult times in my playing career”.

    Issac John, Digital Head, APAC – Discovery, said, ““Andres Iniesta is an extraordinary soccer player and there's a lot more than just football that makes him an icon. We are delighted to present the football fans of the country with a glimpse into Iniesta's personal life, his tremendous football career and his peerless humility above all. He further added, “Discovery Plus as a platform has thrived on building passionate communities and our exclusive sports specials will provide sports fans in India numerous gripping yet inspiring stories of struggle and triumphs of some of the most legendary athletes they admire.”

    A legend of the game and widely considered one of the best of his generation, Iniesta came through La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy and after a long association of 22 years, moved to Japanese club Vissel Kobe in 2018 where he played an instrumental role in helping the club win the Emperor's Cup earlier this year.

    'Andres Iniesta- The Unexpected Hero' is streaming now on Discovery P

  • Condé Nast India, Myntra, TLC, Discovery Plus join hands for a cause

    Condé Nast India, Myntra, TLC, Discovery Plus join hands for a cause

    NEW DELHI: Condé Nast India announces the launch of ‘Behind the Mask’, a mammoth, multilayered social awareness campaign with Myntra, helmed by a five-episode video series, to be showcased on TLC, TLC HD and Discovery Plus with a call-to-action that benefits Indian karigars (craftspeople). These videos ‘unmask’ five of India’s leading fashion designers – Manish Malhotra, Anita Dongre, Tarun Tahiliani, Gaurav Gupta and Rahul Mishra on film, giving us an intimate peek into their lives during the pandemic. In these episodes, each designer also creates a prototype of a mask using elements from Indian art and culture, based on the current times. These designs then serve as inspiration for five unique mask collections, each an ode to a craft or a community. Myntra will be offering an assortment of 34 styles and 20 designs that will be available in packs of one, four, five and 20.

    Condé Nast India managing director Alex Kuruvilla elaborates, “Behind the Mask’ is one of the most ambitious projects we’ve ever undertaken. From video concept and production to packaging and product design to bringing on board multiple partners, this activity was entirely orchestrated by Condé Nast India during the lockdown, managed remotely by multiple stakeholders. Our objective is twofold: to promote the wearing of masks, and to raise funds for the karigars (artisans) who tirelessly work behind the scenes of the Indian textile industry and are among those worst hit by the pandemic. This initiative achieves the first objective by mass-producing masks inspired by the designers’ prototypes. And it raises funds by donating all profits from the sales of these masks to GiveIndia—all this while creating great content that is at the core of Condé Nast India’s legacy.”

    This is also the first time two Condé Nast India titles, Vogue and GQ, have joined forces for a campaign of this scale. What makes this project interesting is the extent of collaboration required to pull it off, especially since it was entirely produced in the era of lockdown and self-isolation where nothing but the “essential” was permitted. The making of the video series is a case study in itself, with everything from conceptualising to scripting and shooting done remotely, with help from the designers’ loved ones who happily agreed to play co-filmmakers. Using mobile phones and digital cameras, with extensive notes from the director and DOP and briefings over video calls, the team managed to pull off these videos, that too in broadcast specifications.

    To execute this project, Condé Nast India brought onboard Myntra to produce and sell the masks, TLC, TLC HD to broadcast and Discovery Plus to stream the episodes, and GiveIndia to ensure the profits from the sales reach the right NGOs.

    Myntra CEO Amar Nagaram added, “Behind the Mask’ is an extraordinary initiative, a coming together of enthusiastic and dedicated folks for a common, but the profound cause. We wholeheartedly appreciate the efforts of Condé Nast and are proud to be a part of this ‘one-of-a-kind’ association. Our wide shopper base and reach will enable these masks, inspired by the concepts of India’s leading fashions designers, to reach millions of consumers across the country, thereby supporting this fundraiser campaign in a big way.”

    Discovery Managing Director south Asia- Megha Tata said, “Given the pandemic, there is a need for various stakeholders to come together for the larger good of society. This cause led initiative has the potential to engage audiences in a very endearing way and leave an indelible mark on the audiences. We are proud to have played our part in supporting Kaarigars and remain committed to support such meaningful initiatives in the future as well.”

    GiveIndia President Ashok Kumar ER says: "Our crafts artisans represent the backbone of India's rich heritage and these have been extremely challenging times for them. So we are very grateful that through this partnership Condé Nast India will not only support the karigars but also highlight the crucial role they play in the textile industry. For those of us continuing to stay safe at home, 'Behind The Mask' also acts as a reminder not to take the lives of those less fortunate for granted. Since mid-March GiveIndia has been supporting communities worst-hit by the COVID2019 crisis through our India COVID Response Fund, having disbursed Rs 114+ crore so far. And we welcome Condé Nast India's contribution."

    The episodes will be streamed on the Myntra app on 12 August 2020 and aired on TLC and TLC HD and streamed on Discovery + on 17 August/18 August 2020. The masks will be available for sale on Myntra from 12 August onwards.

    To buy the masks go to www.myntra.com

  • Discovery Plus celebrates 15 Aug with new episodes of ‘Tales of Valour’

    Discovery Plus celebrates 15 Aug with new episodes of ‘Tales of Valour’

    MUMBAI: Discovery Plus has strengthened its offering in the armed forces-led content by dropping new episodes of Tales of Valour in the month of August. Beyond Tales of Valour, another series which will enthrall audiences seeking investigation led content is ‘Autopsy: The Last Hours Of…’ which will explain what killed some of the most famous celebrities including the likes of Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Whitney Hoston & Anna Nicole Smith. While, Planet Child, a three-part series, delves into the way children experience life exploring areas such as risk-taking, independence, morality, and gender awareness.

    Independence day special

    The line-up includes documentaries such as ‘India’s Paratroopers – Earning the Badge’, ‘Revealed: LOC’,’ Battle Ops’, ‘Revealed: National Defence Academy’, ‘Revealed Siachen’, ‘1965: India’s Battles and Heroes’ and Breaking Point franchise on Air Force Academy, Indian Submariners, High Altitude Warfare School, Women Fighter Pilots and Commando School Belgaum.

    The OTT platform will add new episodes of Tales of Valour this August focusing on

    ·   Battle of Namka Chu releasing on August 05- During the Indo-Sino war of 1962, the Indian army fought in unfamiliar terrain. Celebrate the sacrifice of Subedar Dashrath Singh who lived to tell his tale of valour.

    ·   Battle of Rezang la releasing on August 10 – The battle of Rezang La in 1962 was one of the toughest battles fought in the highest of mountains. Rezang La was the last stand of the C Company of 13 Kumaon, during the Sino-Indo War in 1962 where only about 120 Indian soldiers went up against Chinese troops.

    ·   Battle of Longewala releasing on August 15 – The Battle of Longewala was fought during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri and his brave band of soldiers led the defence at the Indian border post of Longewala, against the Pakistani forces.

    ·   Battle of Asal Uttar releasing on August 24 – The Battle of Asal Uttar was one of the largest tank battles fought during the Indo-Pak War of 1965.

    ·   Battle of Haji Pur and Dograi releasing on August 31- In the second Indo-Pak war, India launched many aggressive operations to push the enemy out. The courageous capture of Haji Pir Pass and Battle of Dograi were part of it.

    Other highlight shows which will keep audiences hooked include

    Autopsy: The Last Hours Of…:

    This Discovery Plus exclusive looks at crucial medical evidence that explains what killed some of the most famous celebrities as a forensic pathologist attempts to understand what their last days looked like. Celebrities covered in the series include Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Whitney Hoston & Anna Nicole Smith.

    Planet Child:

    This three-part series, streaming exclusively on Discovery Plus, delves into the way children experience life. The series explores key areas such as risk-taking, independence, morality and gender awareness in a range of scenarios, in order to understand how the development of kids is influenced by how they are raised and where they live.

    Restaurant Stakeout

    Willie Degel is known for running a tight ship at his restaurants. His secret: cameras canvassing every inch of his restaurant, allowing him to keep a close eye on his floor, staff and patrons. Starting August 24, Restaurant Stakeout follows as Willie takes his practices to troubled restaurateurs looking to find and rectify the hidden problems that lie within their establishments.

    Mountain Life

    The series follow families who want to get away from the hustle and bustle as they search for the ultimate mountain retreat. From the wooded peaks of the East Coast's Blue Ridge to Hawaii's tropical Mauna Loa, there are remote mountain locations you didn't even know existed.

    Killer Whales: The Mega Hunt

    Killer Whales: The Mega Hunt takes you inside the world of the predator that rules the oceans. Orcas – also known as killer whales – confidently and effortlessly stalk their prey fearing no other living creature. This fascinating programme streaming on the app on August 28, will give you an insight into how they live, feed and hunt; as well as a variety of incredible facts about their anatomy, behavioural traits and survival techniques.

  • Discovery Plus to add 5 exclusive titles in the month of July

    Discovery Plus to add 5 exclusive titles in the month of July

    KOLKATA: Discovery Plus, India’s first aggregated real-life entertainment streaming app, which offers of thousands of hours of exclusive content across 40+ genres including Science, Adventure, Military, Survival, Food and Lifestyle, is further augmenting its content portfolio with five new titles this July.

    New additions in the month of July include:

    Tales of Valour:

    Military is one of the strongest content verticals of Discovery Plus. The addition of Tales of Valour gives more options to military enthusiasts to explore on this diffrentiated app. Curated and narrated by Maroof Raza, one of India’s foremost military experts, Tales of Valour brings forward factual documentaries, which showcase 12 stories of valour, many of which are unknown to most Indians.  3 episodes of Tales of Valour drop on Discovery Plus on July 20.

    Covid-19: India’s War Against The Virus:

    This Discovery Plus special follows both, the global and the Indian timeline, of how the virus spread and shines light on key developments that have taken place ever since India’s first Coronavirus victim was detected in Kerala.  The documentary premieres on July 16 in 7 languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Bengali, Notably, the Hindi voiceover for this documentary has been provided by Bollywood star Manoj Bajpayee and the Tamil voiceover by celebrated writer, director, actor Gautham Vasudev Menon. This will be the 4th Covid-19 documentary to be dropped on Discovery Plus.

    Project Runway S18:

    Emmy-winning competition series “Project Runway” returns for another season of high stakes and fierce fashions. Fashion aficionados can binge-watch the entire season in one go as sixteen new hopefuls fight it out to take the runway by storm and make fashion history. Host Karlie Kloss is back, along with Christian Siriano as the mentor and returning judges Nina Garcia, Brandon Maxwell, and Elaine Welteroth, to decide who has what it takes to make it in the world of cut-throat fashion.

    Expedition Unknown – Season 6:

    Intrigued by legendary mysteries and driven by curiosity, Josh Gates is on a mission for answers. `Exhibition Unknown' chronicles his global adventures as he investigates iconic unsolved events, lost cities, buried treasures and other puzzling stories in this brand-new season.  Starting July 27, 3 episodes from Expedition Unknown – Season 6, will be available on Discovery Plus.

    Richard Hammond’s BIG:

    Richard Hammond is going behind-the-scenes of the largest structures and machines in the world to understand the science of ‘big’ – how engineers go about building, maintaining and using these superstructures. Starting July 06, each episode of Richard Hammond’s BIG! takes him to a new location and mega structure, where he meets the unsung heroes at the front line making them work and explores the science behind them with a series of experiments.

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