"Science Daily" Discovery Science Channel
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Recent breakthroughs such as the human genome project have whet the American
public's appetite for science news, and Discovery Science Channel is capitalizing
on the trend. Watch for the debut of a newsmagazine dedicated solely to breaking
science and technology news Oct. 16. "Science Daily" arrives in the U.S. as
a spin-off of Discovery Canada's award-winning science program "@discovery.ca,"
now in its fifth season. The daily, one-hour program will air weeknights, targeting
science enthusiasts of all ages. Discovery Science Channel, a Discovery Digital
Network, plans to air 400-500 hours of original programming in the next year.
Contact/Contents
"Science Daily" will share both news segments and talent with its Canadian
counterpart, "@discovery.ca." Toronto-based co-hosts Jay Ingram and Gillian
Deacon will serve as anchors, but the new show will also generate original,
U.S.-focused content from a Washington science news bureau, and producers plan
to announce an additional DC-based host in September.
Story themes will run the gamut, from "astrology to zoology," according to executive producer Judy Plavnick. The show also is slated to expand upon the offerings of current
weekly Discovery programs such as "Discovery News" and "Science Live!" (a weekly series focused more on topical features than hard news).
Each show will include five segments per one-hour block, with breaking science news at the top of the program, followed by features, "mindbenders" and interviews with
contributing scientists.
For now, direct story pitches to Michelle Brafman-Helf at [email protected]. Brafman-Helf is executive producer at Ventana, an
outside production company handling the program.
Pitch Tips
Global issues surrounding science, nature, medicine and technology are good bets for pitching purposes. Also, look for the science angle in mainstream news stories. "We will
cover the science and technology angle, as opposed to the budgetary or political angle," Plavnick says. "Our stories focus on the how [of major scientific events]."
"As long as we can break it down, we'd love to hear about it. It's a daily show, so we can work on hours' notice. But the more notice, the better -
especially for more in-depth stories," she says.
Comments
If the program were up-and-running this week, hot topics might include the mapping of the human genome, water on Mars, the outbreak of the West Nile virus and the discovery of
nine new planets, Plavnick says.
"There is a real thirst for science news," among TV viewers today, she adds. "Important discoveries can happen at any time. We want to be the prime destination for people
seeking that information. If it's in the paper and we haven't broken the story, then we hope to be the source for other organizations to quote the next day."