Spike TV Green Lights Original Series 'Surviving Disaster' and 'Deadliest Warrior' for 2009

Spike TV Green Lights Original Series 'Surviving Disaster' and 'Deadliest Warrior' for 2009

Network Announces Season 2 Renewal For 'DEA'

NEW YORK, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Spike TV has given the green light to two of its most ambitious new projects for series and has renewed its successful original series, "DEA," all slated to premiere in 2009. Production on the new distinctive original series "Surviving Disaster" (working title) and "Deadliest Warrior," and season two of "DEA" will begin this fall, it was announced today by Sharon Levy, senior vice president of original series for Spike TV.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060322/NYW096LOGO )

"Spike TV is taking action-packed programming to an entirely new level," says Levy. "We're thrilled to be in business with some of the most talented and successful producers in the industry and bring this programming to viewers."

In "Surviving Disaster," Spike TV presents a series, unlike any other on television, that may actually save a life. What's the best way to survive an earthquake, shark attack, plane crash, bioterrorism, hostage crisis or deadly tsunami? For the sake of viewers and their families, it's imperative to know how to survive disaster, both natural and man-made, and former Navy SEAL Cade Courtley (Mark Burnett's "Combat Missions") is just the guy to lead viewers to safety in this elaborate step-by-step weekly series. With some of the most elaborate disaster simulations ever created for television, "Surviving Disaster" is a look at how people can arm themselves with knowledge that could save their lives in the event of disaster.

Ten one-hour episodes of "Surviving Disaster" will be produced by Wall to Wall Media ("Man On a Wire," "Frontier House," "Spymaster," "Ancient Egyptians") with Alex Graham and Jonathan Hewes serving as executive producers.

With the series "Deadliest Warrior," Spike TV will settle once and for all the age-old bar bet of who is history's ultimate fighting machine. Each week, this original, action-packed yet historical narrative series will pit two of the most feared warriors civilization has ever known against one another. Who would come out the victor in a battle of Genghis Kahn's Mongol Barbarians versus Viking warriors or Roman gladiators against Japanese samurai? Utilizing the latest in CGI technology, Spike TV will enlist experts on these warriors to provide insight into what made these feared combatants tick and analyze everything from their weaponry to their unique skills of destruction. Each episode will culminate when the two legends of the battlefield go head-to-head in a final fight that will produce the deadliest warrior.

Nine one-hour episodes of "Deadliest Warrior" will be produced by Morningstar Entertainment ("Battleground: The Art of War," "Manhunters -- Fugitive Task Force") with Gary Tarpanian and Paninee Theeranuntawat serving as executive producers.

"DEA" returns for a second season on Spike TV as the network once again was given exclusive access to follow a group of Special Agents and Task Force Officers in the DEA as they put their lives on the line in a daily battle against the ruthless illegal drug industry with individuals ranging from street level dealers all the way up to international traffickers. Production begins this fall for season two in a city to be announced at a later date.

"DEA" averaged 1.2 million viewers for its premiere season (April-May, 2008) and gave the network a 132% increase in viewership in its timeslot. "DEA" ranked #4 in all of cable in its timeslot among Men 18-34 and 18-49.

Nine new episodes of "DEA" will be produced for Spike TV by Al Roker Entertainment, Inc. and Size 12 Productions. Executive producers for the series are Al Roker for Al Roker Entertainment and Russell Muth and Hank Capshaw for Size 12 Productions. Co-executive producer for Al Roker Entertainment is Michael Kaufman. Tim Duffy is Spike TV's executive in charge of production.

Spike TV is available in 97.3 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV's Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at http://www.spike.com/press.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060322/NYW096LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Spike TV

CONTACT: Debra Fazio, of Spike TV, +1-212-767-8649,
debra.fazio@spiketv.com, or David Schwarz, of Spike TV, +1-212-767-8639,
david.schwarz@spiketv.com

Web Site: http://www.spike.com/
http://www.spike.com/press

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