Dr. Zahi Hawass of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Grants Discovery Channel Exclusive Documentary Rights to Film KV63 in Valley of the Kings

Dr. Zahi Hawass of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Grants Discovery Channel Exclusive Documentary Rights to Film KV63 in Valley of the Kings

CAIRO, Egypt and SILVER SPRING, Md., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Zahi Hawass, Head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, has signed an agreement giving Discovery Channel exclusive documentary television rights to the newly discovery KV63 tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Dr. Hawass has granted permission for news organizations to film and photograph, while Discovery Channel retains the only worldwide documentary television rights.

Effective immediately, Discovery Channel will chronicle each phase of the team of University of Memphis archaeologists as they explore KV63, culminating in a documentary to air on Discovery Channel in the US in early summer 2006. KV63 was first discovered on February 8, 2005 by a team of archaeologists from the University of Memphis.

The tomb, which is located near Tutankhamen's tomb, is named KV63 and includes several caskets and sarcophagi, which are yet to be opened. The archeologists said the style of the coffins and pottery dates to the late 18th Dynasty, which ruled around 1500 BC to 1300 BC and included Tutankhamen.

Dr. Hawass stated, "This new discovery reveals more secrets from the Valley of the Kings. The valley has been silent for more than 83 years. Now the mystery begins, and the world will witness the magic of another great discovery."

"Exclusive right to chronicle one of the most important finds in the Valley of the Kings in the past 80 years is quite an honor for Discovery Channel," said Jane Root, General Manager of Discovery Channel. "Being part of major scientific finds is core to the mission of Discovery Channel. We strive to continually deliver knowledge television and filming KV63 and its contents is exactly that -- science and archaeology as it is happening. Our viewers get a first row seat in the action."

Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Cairo, is the most influential archaeologist in Egypt, responsible for supervising his own excavations as well as the work of foreign expeditions to all of the sites under his jurisdiction. He received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, has taught at the University of California in Los Angeles, Cairo University, and the American University in Cairo, and lectures widely throughout the world.

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. Discovery has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in more than 160 countries and territories with 1.3 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI's over 100 networks of distinctive programming represent 27 network entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Military Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery en Espanol, Discovery Kids En Espanol, Discovery HD Theater, FitTV, Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir), Discovery Home & Health and Discovery Real Time. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery Education and Discovery Commerce, which operates more than 100 Discovery Channel Stores in the U.S. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ:DISCA)(NASDAQ: DISCB), Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.

Source: Discovery Channel

CONTACT: Elizabeth Hillman, +1-240-662-2664, or
elizabeth_hillman@discovery.com, or Josh Weinberg, +1-240-662-5274, or
Joshua_Weinberg@discovery.com, both of Discovery Channel

Web site: http://www.discovery.com/

-------
Profile: intent