Don't Go Into the Water! SHARK WEEK Returns to Discovery Channel Today

SHARK WEEK, television's longest running and most anticipated summer event returns to Discovery Channel today, July 5 with the most hours of shark programming in its 28-year history. In addition to kicking off SHARK WEEK earlier than ever before, for the first time, Discovery is introducing a special weekend of all-new SHARK WEEK programming at the end of the summer in August, officially making 2015 the "Summer of the Shark" with a total of 19 hours of Prime Time SHARK WEEK programming.

70 years after the largest Great White shark was caught off the Cuban coast, a 21-foot Great White named "El Monstruo". Tiburones: The Sharks of Cuba (WT) marks a first ever for SHARK WEEK; a shark expedition in Cuba that brings together American and Cuban scientists in search for a great white shark population in an unexplored area of the world, untouched by man for decades. Filmmaker Ian Shive and a team of shark researchers headed to Havana earlier this year because of El Monstruo, and while searching Cuban waters for these Great White sharks, Shive and his team for the first time ever electronically tag a rare species of shark.

Shark Planet (WT) captures spectacular all-new footage of shark behavior, delving into how they hunt as well as their social lives, courtship and growing up. With over 13 shark species filmed across the globe in the latest 4K and high-speed camera technology, Shark Planet (WT), a BBC co-production, reveals the global world of the shark rarely seen before with the most up to date technology.

Alien Sharks: Close Encounter is the third installment in the SHARK WEEK fan favorite series, Alien Sharks. This year shark researcher and scientist Paul Clerkin heads back into the deepest and darkest unexplored oceans armed with the newest technologies available to get as close as possible to some of the most incredible and unusual sharks on the planet, rarely seen on film. In a first ever, a 20 foot mega mouth shark is tagged with a pop-up satellite tag, filmed off the eastern coast of Taiwan.

Shark Trek (WT) features Dr. Greg Skomal, Massachusetts' senior marine fisheries marine biologist, as he tags Great White sharks off the coast of Cape Cod and attempts to determine their swim patterns once they leave the Massachusetts coast. As patterns point to the southern U.S., Dr. Skomal tries to determine why the Florida coast is the new Great White shark hotspot in the Atlantic.

Mako sharks are the fastest of all species of sharks in the world. They live in warm waters, colder temperatures, in the depths of the ocean and close to shore in shallow waters. However, little is known about the large Mako sharks that live in the Gulf of Mexico. In Monster Mako, SHARK WEEK explores this area as scientists outfit a Mako shark with cameras in order to unlock and reveal the mysteries of their swift, immediate and unseen world. And a rare sighting is caught on film as a Mako shark breaches the waters during the expedition.

Island of the Mega Shark follows famed shark experts Jeff Kurr, Andy Casagrande and Dickie Chivell as they travel to the volcanic Pacific island of Guadalupe, off the west coast of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, home to some of the largest Great White sharks on earth. Kerr, Casagrande and Chivell search for one of the largest Great White sharks ever recorded with new technologies and innovative methods.

Return of the Great White Serial Killer seeks to find answers for a series of Great White shark attacks that have occurred with clocklike precision at the same beach, in the same month, every two years. The location is Surf Beach, CA and the last two attacks in 2010 and 2012 both resulted in fatalities. According to this schedule, the next attack would occur in October 2014. Shark expert Ralph Collier and Brandon McMillian seek answers to the main questions in this case - is the same shark responsible for the previous attacks, will there be more attacks, and why?

In Sharks of the Shadowland, divers in New Zealand for the very first time tag a Sevengill Shark as they are charged with protecting and saving a pristine underwater environment, home to this species of shark that has seven gills vs. five. The Sevengill shark remains somewhat of a mystery and a team of shark experts are on a mission to find out how they hunt and more importantly how to better understand their behaviors and prevent shark attacks.

Shark Island (WT) explores the latest in a string of deadly bull shark attacks. Shark experts are in a race to determine what is causing so many attacks, and how to stop them.

Additional SHARK WEEK 2015 programming will include Bride of Jaws which searches for Joan of Shark, the largest female Great White ever tagged; Super Predator (WT) which explores a deep sea trench in New Zealand that is home to a super predator large enough to take on a Great White shark; and Ninja Sharks that explores six sharks with unique adaptations that have evolved over millions of years making them the most lethal hunters in the sea. Also this year is Shark Clans (WT), featuring Rodney FOX and his team as they dive with, tag and track Great White shark clans moving ever closer to Australia's shores and Sharksanity 2 which takes a look at the most insane bites, strikes and close calls from SHARK WEEK as viewers rank their favorite viral shark clips.

Shark After Dark will return for its third consecutive year with an all-new host, award-winning film director, producer, writer and actor Eli Roth ("Inglourious Basterds", "The Green Inferno," and "Knock Knock" amongst other projects). For five consecutive nights, Roth will bring his unique style to SHARK AFTER DARK and make his mark on SHARK WEEK with celebrity guests, shark fans and shark experts, among many others. Additionally, Roth will look back at some of the highlights from SHARK WEEK and look ahead to give viewers a sneak peek at the next day's SHARK WEEK programs.

This year, Discovery will partner again with Oceana through multi-platform content and public service announcements. Oceana is the largest international non-profit group working solely to protect the world's oceans and wins policy victories for the oceans using science-based campaigns. Since 2001, they have protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. Additionally, SHARK WEEK will also partner with One World One Ocean a for-purpose, multi-platform media campaign that is harnessing the power of film, television and new media to generate greater global awareness of the ocean's importance to society.

SHARK WEEK for the first time will partner with Sea Save Foundation which strives to protect our oceans by raising awareness about the beauty of marine ecosystems and their fundamental importance to human survival. They seek solutions, advance public policy, and drive advocacy and have also brought global attention to the plight of sharks through their "Give Em the Fin" campaign. Additionally, SHARK WEEK will partner for the second time with Ghost Fishing, a non-profit organization that collects, motivates and initiates 'ghost fishing' projects around the globe. Derelict fishing gear, sometimes referred to as "ghost gear" or "ghost nets" is any discarded, lost or abandoned fishing gear in the environment. This gear continues to fish and trap animals, entangle and potentially kill marine life, smother habitats and act as a hazard to navigation. Ghost Fishing is a network of experienced and well-trained divers who remove marine debris and make the problem of ghost fishing visible to a worldwide audience.

SHARK WEEK shows no signs of slowing down. Last year, SHARK WEEK reigned with Discovery earning its highest-rated SHARK WEEK ever in its 27-year history across several key demos including Persons and Women 25-54, and Women 18-49 ratings, no exclusions. The week drew in over 42 million viewers (6 minute P2+ cume). Additionally, SHARK WEEK 2014 was the highest rated week ever in Discovery's history among Women 18-49, surpassing the record held since 2000. The return of SHARK WEEK's late-night talk show, Shark After Dark, out-delivered every late-night cable talk show across key demos.

SHARK WEEK has long been a pop culture juggernaut, giving online and social media even more bite each summer. Leading up to and during SHARK WEEK, Discovery Channel is collaborating with filmmakers, scientists, photographers, artists and advocates to share their passion and insight about sharks online - including the issues our finned friends face - through the Shark Finbassadors program. During SHARK WEEK, the Shark Finbassadors will be connecting with fans through live Q&As, discussing SHARK WEEK programs and taking over Shark Week's Instagram account highlighting beautiful shark photography.

SharkWeek.com continues to be the best destination for all things shark online, and the all-new Sharkopedia will give visitors access to the ultimate guide to everything they ever wanted to know about sharks - featuring an ocean of shark facts shared through stunning photography, infographics, maps, quizzes and other jaw-dropping interactives. Additionally, Daily Shark Feed will keep fin-atics updated on the latest shark news so they won't miss a beat during SHARK WEEK.

In partnership with Oceana, Discovery's Saving Sharks program will be woven throughout experiences available on SharkWeek.com, enabling visitors to take action on behalf of sharks everywhere. Fans can also keep up on all things sharks by following SHARK WEEK on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and Pinterest.

Nearly all of Discovery's affiliate partners are participating in promotion around SHARK WEEK with advanced screenings, sneak peaks, Shark adventure sweepstakes, social promotions and a robust Video On Demand slate. Details include screenings and family day events at city aquariums and museums and cross channel spots across all major markets nationwide.

Discovery Education, the global leader in standards-based digital content and professional development for K-12, brings the Science of sharks to students around the world through Sharks, an innovative content collection available year-round through Discovery Education Streaming. With engaging K-12 multimedia and lesson plans, the collection offers teachers and students an opportunity to learn more about nature's most feared-and often misunderstood-predators. Students will also be able to participate in shark-related activities and explore Discovery's finest shark-infested learning resources as part of Discovery Education's Worldwide Summer Adventure, with experiences to help students continue learning all summer long. Serving 3 million educators and over 30 million students, Discovery Education's services are in half of U.S. classrooms, over 40 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries.

SHARK WEEK fans can gear up for the summer with everything from beach towels, apparel and more at Target; to custom great white and hammerhead plush toys, puzzles and lunch kits at Toys "R" Us. Keep the SHARK WEEK celebration going all summer long with must-have merchandise available exclusively on DiscoveryStore.com, from themed t-shirts and beach gear to home decor and toys, as well as new collectible gold, silver and COPPER coins. Discovery At Sea, in partnership with Princess Cruises, will deck out two ships in their fleet for SHARK WEEK, featuring premiere screening parties, games, giveaways and much more.

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