Discovery Channel Announces Second Ted Koppel Special, 'IRAN - THE MOST DANGEROUS NATION'

Discovery Channel Announces Second Ted Koppel Special, 'IRAN - THE MOST DANGEROUS NATION'

Koppel Team was the Last Group of Journalists Allowed into the Country Before Iranian Government Stopped Granting Journalist Visas

SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning journalist Ted Koppel was allowed three weeks of rare access to examine the roots of 27 years of distrust between Americans and Iranians. In KOPPEL ON DISCOVERY: IRAN - THE MOST DANGEROUS NATION, Koppel talks to Iranians in all parts of the country about the harsh rhetoric of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and about his determination to pursue nuclear technology. The two-hour world premiere special airs Sunday, November 19 at 8 PM (ET/PT) on Discovery Channel.

Koppel was able to travel outside Tehran to the holy city of Qom, the old capital Isfahan, to the busy border with Iraq, and into the rural areas that are a significant base of support for President Ahmadinejad. In so doing, he conveys the deep sense of Persian pride in their 2,700-year history and rich culture.

As the reporter whose groundbreaking coverage of the Iran hostage crisis held the nation's attention for 444 days, Koppel brings unparalleled perspective to the troubled relationship between our two countries. He takes a comprehensive look at the personalities of today's Iran to reveal a nation with a rich culture and a sensitive, well-educated people who regularly welcome Americans warmly. Sixty percent of the university students are women and seventy percent of Iranians are under the age of thirty. Consequently, these numbers reflect a huge generational gap between the aging clerics who currently control the social and moral direction of Iran.

Iranians are polarized on many issues, but agree on one thing -- their anger at the U.S. for trying to block Iran's access to nuclear technology.

Iran has come under strong pressure from the United States since the President declared it part of the "axis of evil" in his 2002 State of the Union address. That pressure intensified after the U.S.-led war against Iraq, with the Bush administration accusing Iran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons and of trying to subvert U.S. efforts in Iraq. Iran, which is building its first atomic power station with Russian aid, claims its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.

Adding to the power and timeliness of this story, the Koppel team was the last group of journalists allowed into the country before the Iranian government stopped granting journalist visas. This was a direct response to claims that the U.S. blocked Iranian journalists from coming to the U.S. to cover President Ahmadinejad's trip to the UN. It is unlikely that, in the near future, U.S. journalists will be given the access to Iran or its people that Ted Koppel had while making this film.

KOPPEL ON DISCOVERY is produced by Discovery Channel Managing Editor Ted Koppel and Executive Producer Tom Bettag. They are joined by a team of some of the best researchers and producers in the industry. Together they are producing a slate of long-form programming exclusively for Discovery Channel that touches on some of the most important events, people and places changing lives today. From field reporting to script writing, every aspect of the series is shaped by Koppel's 42 years of experience and unparalleled journalistic integrity.

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media company. Discovery has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in 170 countries and territories with nearly 1.4 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.

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Source: Discovery Communications, Inc.

CONTACT: Elizabeth Hillman, +1-240-662-2664,
Elizabeth_Hillman@discovery.com, or Amy Hagovsky, +1-240-662-2931,
Amy_Hagovsky@discovery.com, both of Discovery Communications, Inc.

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

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