Discovery Communications and Planet Green Take a 360 Approach to Earth Day 2009 with a Month-Long, Company-Wide Celebration for the Planet

Discovery Communications and Planet Green Take a 360 Approach to Earth Day 2009 with a Month-Long, Company-Wide Celebration for the Planet

SILVER SPRING, Md., March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Every day is Earth Day at Planet Green and now the brand will lead Discovery Communications' company-wide, multi-platform initiative to inspire, inform and motivate people of all ages to take action for the future of the planet. Discovery will feature original eco-focused content across its family of networks, digital platforms and mobile channels. Celebrating the 39th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, the month-long effort will include participation by some of the world's leading non-profit organizations, and events across the country through a partnership with America's largest Earth Day event, the Green Apple Festival. PlanetGreen.com will present a special feature that will serve as a one stop destination for a wealth of information, "take action" resources and volunteer activities.

"Celebrating and promoting environmental awareness has been at the heart of Discovery's mission since its inception, when John Hendricks made the Earth the centerpiece of the company's logo and synonymous with its very identity," said David Zaslav, president and CEO of Discovery Communications. "It is a responsibility and commitment we take very seriously. From the launches of Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and last year's debut of Planet Green - the first and only network fully dedicated to protecting and preserving the planet - to the airing of the historic Planet Earth series in 2007, and now, our month-long, multi-platform Earth Day celebration, Discovery is continuously looking for innovative, inspiring and engaging ways to spread the word about environmental stewardship."

"Earth Day gives us the opportunity to engage people at a time when interest and awareness about the environment is elevated," said Laura Michalchyshyn, President and General Manager of Planet Green. "Whether it's original programming, special online content and resources or volunteer events, we are committed to helping people take that next step toward a sustainable future."

   Discovery's Earth Month campaign includes the following elements:   --  Beginning Sunday, April 19, Planet Green will host the coolest week on       TV with "Turn Back the Temp" week.  Debut programming will feature new       episodes of viewer favorites like Emeril Green with Emeril Lagasse,       Wa$ted! with Annabelle Gurwitch and Holter Graham, Renovation Nation       with Steve Thomas, Total Wrecklamation with Jodi Murphy and Focus       Earth with Bob Woodruff (complete schedule follows);   --  Special programming and premieres will air across Discovery's family       of networks including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, Science       Channel and Discovery Health (complete schedule follows);   --  As Earth Day approaches, PlanetGreen.com takes the opportunity to       celebrate all month long with special features that delve into the       most current green concepts and  helps readers understand which       actions they can take that are truly meaningful.  PlanetGreen.com will       serve as a gateway to information and resources to help people of all       ages and backgrounds take action in their homes and communities.  From       videos and quizzes to articles contributed by environmental       visionaries including Bill McKibben and Alice Waters, PlanetGreen.com       will serve up the news, events, and information readers need to take       worthwhile action during Earth Month;   --  In honor of Earth Month, TreeHugger.com will roll out its first ever       Best of Green Awards.  From architects to chefs, politicians to       activists, and corporate social responsibility to energy projects,       TreeHugger.com will name which people, organizations, and concepts are       at the top of their game in hundreds of categories across the world of       green. Reader's Choice awards will allow their audience to participate       too;   --  Planet Green has joined forces with Green Apple Festival to host       volunteer events and concerts in 10 U.S. cities including Atlanta,       Austin, Boston, Denver, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, New York, San       Francisco and Seattle.  Volunteers can register at       planetgreen.com/volunteer;   --  Planet Green's non-profit partners including Ashoka, Earthwatch       Institute, Global Green USA, Green Belt Movement, Global Inheritance,       National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Natural Resources Defense Council       (NRDC), Oceana, Ocean Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy will       participate with content and volunteer opportunities on       PlanetGreen.com and TreeHugger.com;   --  Planet Green and TreeHugger.com's mobile websites available through       any web-enabled wireless device at m.planetgreen.com and       m.treehugger.com will include the latest tips, resources and trends       for green-on-the-go;   --  Discovery On Demand will offer an exclusive premiere of the season two       opener of Wa$ted! more than a week prior to its linear debut and       subsequent episodes on a next-day basis in addition to a collection of       the network's most popular series and exclusive green shorts;   --  Discovery's international networks will feature eco-programming       premieres and programming as well as online games and special content       reflecting local environmental trends and issues;   --  The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge is a national K-12       sustainability education initiative created by Discovery Education,       the Siemens Foundation and the National Science Teachers Association.        This month, www.wecanchange.com, the online home of the challenge,       continues to offer teachers a wide variety of environmental education       resources in advance of the May 18th finalist announcement.  Also,       Discovery Education streaming, the digital service scientifically       proven to improve student achievement, will add special       environmentally focused content to support student engagement with the       world around them.   --  Discovery Commerce's Home Entertainment division will release select       episodes of Renovation Nation including Renovation Nation: Learn How       To Recycle, Reuse & Reclaim and Renovation Nation: Learn How To Save       Water, Save Money.  Home Entertainment will also release the complete       first seasons of Alter Eco and Greensburg.   

Continuing Discovery's commitment to living and working green, employees will participate in a variety Earth Month activities throughout April at the company's Platinum LEED certified and Energy Star Rated(R) global headquarters and around the world.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications (NASDAQ:DISCA) (NASDAQ:DISCB) (NASDAQ:DISCK) is the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

   Please see full program schedules attached    PLANET GREEN  

Planet Green, the first ever 24/7 television network dedicated to green living, is celebrating Earth Day with a week of programming premieres during Turn Back the Temp Week (The "Coolest" Week on TV).

   FOCUS EARTH: SIX PEOPLE SAVING OUR PLANET   World Premiere: Sunday, April 19 from 9-10PM ET/PT    EMERIL GREEN   World Premiere: "Eco-Friendly Birthday Party"   Monday, April 20 from 9-9:30PM ET/PT    EMERIL GREEN   World Premiere: "RV Livin'"   Monday, April 20 from 9:30-10PM ET/PT    TOTAL WRECKLAMATION   World Premiere: "Kitchens, Toilets and Doorknobs, Oh My!"   Tuesday, April 21 from 9-9:30PM ET/PT    WA$TED!   World Premiere: "Green Preservation"   Wednesday, April 22 from 9-9:30PM ET/PT    WA$TED!   World Premiere: "Sisterhood of Wa$te"   Wednesday, April 22 from 9:30-10PM ET/PT    RENOVATION NATION   World Premiere: Friday, April 24 from 8-9PM ET/PT    Network Premiere Planet Green   JON & KATE PLUS 8 GO GREEN   Friday, April 24 from 9-10PM ET/PT    For more information please visit PlanetGreen.Discovery.com    DISCOVERY CHANNEL   PROJECT EARTH: SPACE SUNSHIELD   Wednesday, April 22 from 9-10AM ET    PROJECT EARTH: INFINITE WINDS   Wednesday, April 22 from 10-11AM ET    PROJECT EARTH: BRIGHTER WORLD   Wednesday, April 22 from 11AM-12PM ET    PROJECT EARTH: HUNGRY OCEAN   Wednesday, April 22 from 12-1PM ET    PROJECT EARTH: RAINING FORESTS   Wednesday, April 22 from 1-2PM ET    PROJECT EARTH: WRAPPING GREENLAND   Wednesday, April 22 from 2-3PM ET    PROJECT EARTH: ENGINEERING THE FUTURE   Wednesday, April 22 from 3-4PM ET    For more information about please visit Discovery.com    TLC   JON & KATE PLUS 8 GO GREEN   World Premiere: Sunday, April 19 from 9-10PM ET/PT   Encores on TLC 4/20 from 10-11PM ET and 4/22 from 8-9PM ET    LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG WORLD: "Bright Ideas"   Wednesday, April 22 from 4PM-5PM ET    WHAT NOT TO WEAR: "Tara K."   Wednesday, April 22 from 6PM-7PM ET    JON & KATE PLUS 8: "Sara Snow Visits!"   Wednesday, April 22 from 9-9:30PM ET    JON & KATE PLUS 8: "A Cow Purchase!"   Wednesday, April 22 from 9:30-10PM ET    JON & KATE PLUS 8: "Garage Makeover"   Wednesday, April 22 from 10-10:30PM ET    JON & KATE PLUS 8: "Yard Sale"   Wednesday, April 22 from 10:30-11PM ET    For more information please visit TLC.Discovery.com    ANIMAL PLANET   GROWING UP POLAR BEAR   Wednesday, April 22 from 9-10AM ET    GROWING UP PENGUIN   Wednesday, April 22 from 10-11AM ET    BLUE PLANET: MAKING WAVES   Wednesday, April 22 from 11AM-12PM ET    BLUE PLANET: DEEP   Wednesday, April 22 from 12-1PM ET    BLUE PLANET: OPEN OCEAN   Wednesday, April 22 from 1-2PM ET    BLUE PLANET: FROZEN SEAS   Wednesday, April 22 from 2-3PM ET    BLUE PLANET: SEASONAL SEAS   Wednesday, April 22 from 3-4PM ET    BLUE PLANET: CORAL SEAS   Wednesday, April 22 from 4-5PM ET    BLUE PLANET: TIDAL SEAS   Wednesday, April 22 from 5-6PM ET    BLUE PLANET: COASTS   Wednesday, April 22 from 6-7PM ET    BLUE PLANET: OCEAN WORLD   Wednesday, April 22 from 7-8PM ET    For more information please visit AnimalPlanet.Discovery.com    SCIENCE CHANNEL  

Anchored by the world premiere of CITY 2.0, Science Channel's Earth Day Marathon introduces viewers to the science behind groundbreaking technology and eco-engineering that not only provide more efficient ways of living today, but also showcase ways to reduce our carbon footprint and reshape our future.

   ECOPOLIS: BUILDING GREEN   Wednesday, April 22 from 12PM-1PM ET    ECOPOLIS: BUILDING THE FUTURE   Wednesday, April 22 from 1-2PM ET    ECO-TECH: FUTURE FUEL   Wednesday, April 22 from 2-3PM ET    ECO-TECH: ROAD TO THE FUTURE   Wednesday, April 22 from 3-4PM ET    ECO-TECH: ZERO WASTE   Wednesday, April 22 from 4-5PM ET    ECOPOLIS: POWERING THE FUTURE   Wednesday, April 22 from 5-6PM ET    ECO-TECH: EXTREME WEATHER   Wednesday, April 22 from 6-7PM ET    ECOPOLIS: A WORLD OF TRASH   Wednesday, April 22 from 7-8PM ET    ECO-TECH: POWERING UP   Wednesday, April 22 from 8-9PM ET    CITY 2.0   World Premiere: Wednesday, April 22 from 9-10PM ET    ECOPOLIS: ULTIMATE ECOPOLIS   Wednesday, April 22 from 10-11PM ET    For more information please visit Science.Discovery.com    DISCOVERY HEALTH   GET FRESH WITH SARA SNOW: TOP EARTH TIPS   Wednesday, April 22 from 4-5PM ET    For more information please visit Health.Discovery.com  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Discovery Communications

CONTACT: Bryan Hughes, +1-240-662-3002, Bryan_Hughes@discovery.com, or
Tammy Shea, +1-240-662-6506, Tammy_Shea@discovery.com, both of Discovery
Communications

Web Site: http://www.discoverycommunications.com/

---

Profile: International Entertainment