Discovery Communications : Science Channel To Go Live For Great American Eclipse On Monday, August 21

ONE-HOUR SPECIAL WITH SAME DAY ECLIPSE FOOTAGE PREMIERES MONDAY, AUGUST 21 AT 9PM

(NEW YORK) - For the first time in 99 years a total solar eclipse will span the continental United States, the path of totality stretching from Oregon to South Carolina. The Great American Eclipse will likely be one of the most viewed events in history and Science Channel will be on the ground to capture the excitement with live coverage as it happens on Monday, August 21. In primetime, the network will premiere a one-hour special, THE GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE (wt), with same-day footage of the eclipse, on the 21 at 9 PM ET/PT. The announcement was made today, the Summer Solstice, by Marc Etkind, General Manager of Science Channel.

Eclipse totality starts on the Oregon coast at about 1:20 PM ET and ends around 2:50 PM ET on the South Carolina coast, with the highlight of the eclipse at each location being about two minutes of total darkness-called 'totality.' Science Channel will be in Madras, Oregon, partnering with the Lowell Observatory on the Lowell Solar Eclipse Experience (lowellsolareclipse.com), as astronomers and educators narrate the eclipse as it happens. Madras is considered by experts to be one of the nation's premier viewing spots, because of its location in the high desert of Central Oregon, typical weather patterns, and unobstructed views.

The network is planning to provide live footage from other prime viewing destinations across America including locations in Tennessee, Idaho, Nebraska, and South Carolina. Science Channel also plans to offer glimpses of the eclipse taken from the International Space Station.

'The Great American Eclipse is truly once-in-a-lifetime,' said Etkind. 'With live coverage and a post-eclipse special, along with updates throughout the day on our digital and social platforms, Science Channel promises to be the destination for this mind-blowing experience.'

Scientists have been waiting a lifetime for an opportunity like this as the Great American Eclipse is a unique opportunity to study the Earth, the sun, and their interaction. Total solar eclipses are the only opportunity to study the sun's corona in clear detail in visible light. Researchers believe that the inner regions of the corona are the missing link in understanding the sources of space weather, so total solar eclipses are truly invaluable in understanding the sun-Earth connection.

Science Channel today launched an eclipse micro-site on ScienceChannel.com complete with blog posts, photo galleries and an original eclipse companion guide video series. On August 21, the network will Facebook Live the eclipse from Madras, capturing crowd reactions of the remarkable spectacle, and will offer live eclipse updates throughout the day.

THE GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE (wt) will be produced by Pioneer Productions, part of the Tinopolis Group. Executive Producers for Pioneer are Thomas Viner, Stephen Marsh and Helen Williamson. Kyle McCabe will serve as Executive Producer for Science Channel.

About Science Channel

Science Channel, a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications, is the home of all things science around the clock, including series such as THROUGH THE WORMHOLE WITH MORGAN FREEMAN, OUTRAGEOUS ACTS OF SCIENCE, WHAT ON EARTH?, HOW THE UNIVERSE WORKS, UNEARTHED, and HOW IT'S MADE. Science Channel is the premiere TV, digital and social community for those with a passion for science, space, technology, archeology, and engineering, providing immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment across all Science Channel assets including: Science Channel television network, available in more than 72 million homes in the U.S; complimentary Video On Demand offering; SCI Go app allowing viewers to catch up on full episodes of their favorite shows anytime; deep video, interactive storytelling and virtual reality at www.sciencechannel.com; and conversations on Science Channel's popular social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat via @ScienceChannel.

About Discovery Communications:

Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) satisfies curiosity and captivates superfans around the globe with a portfolio of premium nonfiction, lifestyle, sports and kids content brands including Discovery Channel, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Animal Planet, Science and Turbo/Velocity, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. Available in more than 220 countries and territories, Discovery's programming reaches 3 billion cumulative viewers, who together consume 54 billion hours of Discovery content each year. Discovery's offering extends beyond traditional TV to all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio and Discovery Kids Play; over-the-top streaming services such as Eurosport Player; digital-first and social video from Group Nine Media; and virtual reality storytelling through Discovery VR. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com

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