MUMBAI: Infotainment channel Discovery Channel will kick off on 9 September a ten-part series of ?Coal? every Sunday at 7 pm.

The show will go underground to explore the workings of a modern coalmine and meet the people who undertake the potentially lethal, complex task of extracting this vital natural resource.

Every aspect of the job will be covered, from the dangers behind the super-charged explosions needed to open surface mines, to the well-publicised daily dangers of working in the dark recesses of the earth?s crust in a traditional shaft mine.

Discovery South Asia senior VP, GM Rahul Johri said, "Discovery Channel?s series ?Coal? will explore the daily lives and the communities spawned by an industry that?s been around for centuries."

The miners work long shifts, often hunched over - the size of the mine limited to the size of the coal seam, some as small as 32 inches. Men toil in cramped spaces doing a job their fathers and grandfathers did before them. At any moment a pillar could collapse, the makeshift roof could cave-in, or trapped methane gas could cause an explosion killing everyone in the mine.

Each episode will feature different members of the crew. From the workers at the mine, to the shift bosses who oversee the whole operation, the series will focus on both their work and personal lives. The series will delve into the lives of workers - the mine operators, who do the actual drilling; the roof bolters, who reinforce the ?top? after each cutting away of the coal; the buggy runners, who haul away the load; and the scoopers, who pick up the excess.

The programme will also feature some of the first coalmines that existed in the 1800s, towns sprung up and thrived creating a culture of coalminers that still exists today.

MUMBAI: Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey captures her experience in India in a two-part show, ?Oprah?s Next Chapter?, that will simulcast on Discovery Channel, TLC and Discovery Channel Tamil from 20-21 July at 8 pm.

In Oprah?s Next Chapter, she discloses her emotional link that she could feel for the people and culture during her visit to first India this year.

Discovery South Asia senior VP, GM Rahul Johri said, ?Discovery Channel takes viewers to rediscover India with one of the most iconic television personalities in the world. Oprah has connected with audience through her chat shows and in Oprah?s Next Chapter, she transitions to a new phase in her life. Audience will see her embrace Indian culture through in-depth conversations with people from different walks of life.?

Upon arrival in Mumbai, Oprah accompanies Australian author Gregory David Roberts of bestselling novel Shantaram to make a trip to the slums and to meet a family of five members living on a meagre salary. She is moved by the aspirations of the family which lives, eats, cooks and sleeps in a 10-foot-by-10-foot concrete room.

Oprah also gets enthused by the close-knit Indian families when she is invited to visit an upper-middle-class family which has four generations living happily under one roof. She also dines her first traditional Indian meal in a thali.

Oprah is invited to a party hosted by industrialist Parmeshwar and Adi Godrej and is pleasantly surprised by the grandeur of the night which has celebrated guests from Mumbai?s glitterati and Bollywood including A.R. Rahman, Priyanka Chopra, Anil Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and others. On her way to the party, Oprah halts to meet leading Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai and the Bachchan family. She also reveals her favourite fit as she is draped in a traditional saree designed by leading designer Tarun Tahiliani.

In the second episode, Opray travels to Taj Mahal in Agra to see the epitome of love. Her next destination is Jaipur, where she is mesmerised by the land of extremes to see camels wandering along other vehicles on its metropolitan city streets. She sits down with spiritual guru Deepak Chopra for a thought-provoking conversation on spirituality, karma, aging and meditation.

Oprah is invited to the Palace walls of Jaipur where the Royal Family gives her a traditional Indian regal welcome. She travels to Vrindavan and goes inside a shelter run by Dr. V. Mohini Giri?s Guild for Service, which provides safe haven, job training and dignity to more than 100 displaced women.

Oprah gets inspired by the spirituality and harmony and draws her views on the paradox realities.

It is after 25 years of her stint with television and having interviewed over 28,000 guests that Oprah has stepped out of the studio to have conversation with newsmakers, celebrities and ordinary people.

Oprah said, "After 25 years I got myself out of the studio chairs. I moved into the next chapter, and I am having more fun than ever - moving around the country and the world talking to people I?m really interested in getting to know and I think viewers will be, too. It is so energising to be out and about in the world exploring new people, new places and new ideas."

Meanwhile, Discovery will air a four part special on the Olympic Games every Sunday at 7 pm from 8 July. This will show the amount of preparation that London has done to get ready for the sporting spectacle in terms of things like logistics, engineering and preparing various facilities.

MUMBAI: Lifestyle channel TLC will showcase the cuisine of Spain peppered with its history and cultural influences in a new series - ?Rick Stein?s Spain?.

The series is showcased through the lens of one of the most applauded Chefs, Rick Stein, who travels the length and breadth of the country in an old campervan, going off the beaten track to discover the authentic soul (?duende?) of Spanish cooking.

The show will air every Thursday at 9 pm.starting 5 July. The show follows the course that Rick Stein embarks on to discover if it is still the old Spain he visited as a young boy or is Spain becoming more like the new Europe. He unravels the traditions of Spain and learns if Spanish cuisine is changing or is it sill the old sort of beans, stews and quite heavy peasant food.

Discovery South Asia senior VP, GM Rahul Johri said, ?TLC was the first international lifestyle channel to introduce food programming in India. It offers the finest repertoire of food shows hosted by iconic personalities such as Nigella Lawson, Anthony Bourdain, Bobby Chinn amongst many others. We are delighted to present a new host Rick Stein who will enthrall the audience with his culinary expedition of Spain.?

Stein wanders around the country and the restaurants, giving a sneak peek into the unparalleled recipes and ingredients that are sure to excite viewers about the country?s unique cuisine. According to Rick, no one cooks fish with more respect or grills meat better.

In the past, French and Italian cooking have been seen to have more finesse, but thanks to a handful of really dedicated Spanish chefs and a growing enthusiasm for its rugged flavours, that has all begun to change. Rick introduces the viewers to contrasting recipes and offbeat ingredients, like Valencia paella, Monkfish, Manchego cheese and others.

MUMBAI: Infotainment broadcaster Discovery has announced that it will produce a programme on the Indian Army?s Women Expedition to Mount Everest. The show will air later this year.

Discovery?s production team will follow the expedition to capture the summit, attempted by a group of seven Indian Army Women officers. The cameras will follow the contingent as they endeavour to reach the summit and achieve the ultimate mountaineering goal. For the first time, an Army Women Contingent is scaling the summit from the South ridge route. This route was used by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

Discovery South Asia senior VP, GM Rahul Johri said, "Discovery Channel is delighted to cover this unique and distinguished expedition by Indian Army?s Women Officers. We are committed to present stories of success and achievement from India to audiences around the world."

Johri adds that Discovery has been working on this project for a few months. "The adventure wing of the army has given us support. We have been following the progress of these women who were trained for months. This year we have done a few local shows already. We did one on the evolution of Indian television. We also did another on the making of Ra.One. So local shows are an important part of what we do."

Indian Army AVSM, Director General of Military Training Lt Gen SP Tanwar said, "Indian Army has appreciated the efforts of Discovery Channel to undertake the coverage of such an expedition for the first time. Such coverage besides projecting the unique and glorious feat of the Indian Army, will be a boon to the large international audience that watches this esteemed channel and will provide a platform for future joint ventures with the Discovery Channel on issues related to sports and adventure in the Indian Army."

The team is led by Col Ajay Kothiyal, KC, SC, VSM, and includes seven Indian Army Women officers: Capt Deepika Rathore (Rajasthan), Capt Namrata Rathore (Uttarakhand), Capt Prachi R Gole (Maharastra), Maj N Linyu (Nagaland), Maj Neha Bhatnagar (Rajasthan), Capt Poonam Sangwan (Haryana), and Capt Smitha (Karnataka).

Meanwhile, Discovery has also soft launched its kids channel Discovery Kids. Johri said, "35 per cent of this country is under the age of 14. That is why we are confident about the scope of this genre. The official launch will take place in the second half of this year. An announcement will be made shortly."

MUMBAI: Discovery?s Tamil channel will celebrate the Tamil New Year on 13 April, with a line-up of programmes showcasing the history, art and traditions of Tamil Nadu.

The shows will air from 2 ? 6 pm on Discovery Channel Tamil.

From ancient temples to the ingenious tribes and exotic jewellery, ?Tamil New Year Special? will celebrate its glorious past, magnificence and rich heritage.

Discovery South Asia senior VP, GM Rahul Johri said, ?The special line-up is an offering to engage and entertain the audience with the best of programming showcasing Tamil Nadu.?

The Tamil New Year Special will kick off with ?Oh My Gold!?. The show?s host Lisa Ray, showcasing the art of temple jewellery-making, will delve into Tamil Nadu?s extravagant jewellery tradition and rich cultural fabric.

?The Lost Temples Of India?, meanwhile, journeys to Tamil Nadu to give viewers a taste of the majestic and splendid temples in Southern India. ?The Irulas Of Tamil Nadu? explores the lives of one of the rare tribes in India ? the Irulas. Each programme included in the ?Tamil New Year Special? has been selectively programmed to highlight a different facet of Tamil Nadu ? history, art, travel, food and culture, their sustainable lifestyle, social fabric, vibrant culture and unique tradition.

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor John Abraham joins Animal Planet to raise awareness about tiger conservation in India. Next month Abraham will share his personal message with the viewers in Animal Planet?s special programming line-up ?Where Tigers Rule? to protect the magnificent animal.

?Where Tigers Rule?, the month long celebration of tigers, kicks off on 1 March and will air every night at 9 pm.

The show will aim to enlighten viewers about tigers? behaviour, predatory skills, family life and issues related to illegal poaching. It will feature man-eating tigers from Sunderbans, the motherly love of a tigress in Bandhavgarh, a family of tigers in Ranthambore forest, amongst others.

Supporting the conservation of Tigers, Abraham said, "The Tiger is the most magnificent animal and its protection and preservation is of national importance. Each of us should contribute in our own way and help increase awareness levels to secure the future of wild tigers. It is a great initiative by Animal Planet to dedicate one full month to tigers, where viewers can enjoy superb programmes and get to know more about the big cat?s behaviour, hunting habits and habitats."

Discovery South Asia senior VP, GM Rahul Johri said, "Animal Planet is India?s foremost wildlife destination that offers immersive, engaging and high quality entertainment to viewers. Where Tigers Rule is a unique initiative that leverages Animal Planet?s reach and popularity to create awareness and support the national cause of tiger conservation."